[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2378 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2378
To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish funds for
investments in aviation security checkpoint technology, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 22, 2025
Mr. Moran (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Boozman)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish funds for
investments in aviation security checkpoint technology, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Spending Aviation Fees for
Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety
Act of 2025'' or the ``SAFEGUARDS Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the fee collected in accordance with section 44940 of
title 49, United States Code (commonly known as the ``9/11
Security Fee''), is an airline passenger-paid fee established
with the express purpose of enhancing the safety and security
of the aviation system of the United States;
(2) revenue generated from the 9/11 Security Fee should be
used exclusively to fund activities, programs, equipment, and
initiatives that directly improve the security of commercial
aviation, including passenger and baggage screening, security
technology upgrades, and the support of personnel responsible
for aviation security;
(3) the use of the 9/11 Security Fee for purposes unrelated
to aviation security undermines public trust and the original
intent of the fee, and all proceeds from the fee should be
reserved and expended solely for measures that strengthen the
safety and security of the traveling public within the aviation
sector; and
(4) the diversion of 9/11 Security Fee revenue to other
purposes should be ended no later than 2027, in accordance with
section 44940(i)(4) of title 49, United States Code, as it read
on the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. IMPROVING THE AVIATION SECURITY CAPITAL FUND.
Section 44923(h) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows:
``(h) Aviation Security Capital Fund.--
``(1) In general.--There is established within the
Department of Homeland Security a fund to be known as the
Aviation Security Capital Fund (in this subsection referred to
as the `Fund').
``(2) Source of funding.--
``(A) In each of fiscal years 2004 through 2025 the
first $250,000,000 derived from fees received under
section 44940(a)(1) shall be available to be deposited
in the Fund in paragraph (1). The Administrator of the
Transportation Security Administration shall impose the
fee authorized by section 44940(a)(1) so as to collect
at least $250,000,000 in each of such fiscal years for
deposit into the Fund; and
``(B) Beginning in fiscal year 2026, and for each
fiscal year thereafter, the first $500,000,000 derived
from fees received under section 44940(a)(1) shall be
available to be deposited in the Fund under paragraph
(1). The Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration shall impose the fee authorized by
section 44940(a)(1) so as to collect at least
$500,000,000 in each of such fiscal years for deposit
into the Fund.
``(3) Grant authority.--Amounts in the Fund shall be
available to the Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration to make grants under this section.''.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AVIATION SECURITY CHECKPOINT TECHNOLOGY
FUND.
Section 44923 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by--
(1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new
subsection (i):
``(i) Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund.--
``(1) In general.--There is established within the
Department of Homeland Security a fund to be known as the
Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund (in this
subsection referred to as the `ASCT Fund').
``(2) Funding.--Beginning in fiscal year 2026, and for each
fiscal year thereafter, after the first $500,000,000 is
deposited into the Aviation Security Capital Fund pursuant to
subsection (h)(2), the next $250,000,000 from fees received
under section 44940(a)(1) shall be available to be deposited in
the ASCT Fund. The Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration shall impose the fee authorized by section
44940(a)(1) so as to collect not less than $250,000,000 in each
of such fiscal years for deposit into the ASCT Fund. Amounts in
the ASCT Fund shall be available until expended to the
Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to
fund the procurement, deployment, and sustainment of aviation
security checkpoint and exit lane technology.
``(3) Grant authority.--
``(A) In general.--Amounts in the ASCT Fund shall
be available to the Administrator of the Transportation
Security Administration to make grants under this
section.
``(B) Retroactive application of grant funds.--The
Administrator may retroactively approve the use of
grant funds under this subsection for projects to
support the procurement, deployment, and sustainment of
aviation security checkpoint and exit lane technology
that were implemented on or after January 1, 2023.''.
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