Voted “Yes” on H.R. 719 and H.R. 720

2/12/2015

On Tuesday, I voted in support of two bills (H.R. 719 and H.R. 720) that I believe will strengthen the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) workforce and save taxpayer money.

• TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act (H.R. 719): In 2013, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General (IG) reported that a portion of TSA’s criminal investigators — those responsible for conducting investigations into employee misconduct — may have received improper additional pay and enhanced retirement benefits. H.R. 719 would require the TSA to review eligibility criteria for its criminal investigator workforce for supplemental benefits and then submit a plan of action to the IG for approval.

• Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act (H.R. 720): Currently, TSA lacks a comprehensive plan to coordinate how the TSA and other first responders should work together when responding to an active-shooter situation in our country’s airports. The need for this capability was highlighted in the November 2013 shooting at the Los Angeles International Airport that killed one TSA agent and injured three other individuals. H.R. 720 represents a major step forward in addressing this problem by requiring TSA to work with U.S. airports and ensure that emergency personnel have the tools they need to respond to situations such as the one we saw in Los Angeles.