HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — Senator John Cornyn, the Texas Republican, introduced a bill Tuesday that would require lawmakers to pass through airport security just like everybody else.
The End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act would prohibit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is operating without funding, from giving legislators preferential treatment at checkpoints.
“It is hypocritical for Democrats to continue to refuse to fund TSA and other Department of Homeland Security functions, while getting expedited treatment at airports unlike their constituents,” Cornyn said in a social media post.
It’s unclear how many lawmakers the bill would affect. Some have agreements with airports for quicker service, but others wait in lines like many other travelers.
Everyone has been able to pass through TSA while its officers work without pay, though. The agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is required to continue running even if there is a lapse in funding.
DHS has been operating without annual appropriations for over a month as Congress and the White House negotiate on legislation. Funding for several bodies, like TSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coast Guard and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, dried up at the expiration of a stopgap bill on Feb. 14.
Democratic senators, who have demanded changes to DHS immigration operations before allocating money to the department, are asking Republicans to help fund non-immigration agencies while talks with the White House continue. Negotiations have stalled over the past couple of weeks.
“Democrats are ready to fund TSA. Republicans are blocking it,” Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a debate with Majority Leader John Thune last week. “Democrats are ready to fund CISA. Republicans are blocking it. Democrats are ready to fund FEMA and Coast Guard and most of DHS operations. We will give Republicans a chance – a chance – to say yes.”
Thune told Schumer that Democrats have had chances to fund all the agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, but have chosen not to. He has expressed frustration over the Democratic opposition since then, most recently in a Tuesday Fox News interview.
“They are holding all these agencies of government hostage, including TSA, including the cyber office, which runs all of our cyber operations,” Thune said.
“It’s FEMA … Coast Guard, there are a whole range of DHS functions that are funded by that appropriations bill that the Democrats are choosing not to open,” he added.
Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.
National Headline
