Sponsors (7)
The bill secures dedicated, predictable funding to improve airport security technology and operations, but does so by locking up fee revenue in ways that may raise passenger fees, reduce budget flexibility, and offer limited enforceability for some provisions.
Air travelers and airport operators will get improved security screening and checkpoint technology because fee revenue is prioritized for aviation security programs and equipment.
Transportation security personnel, airports, and state/local partners gain steadier, more predictable funding that supports testing, deployment, and maintenance of checkpoint technology.
Provides a clear funding floor (at least $750 million annually) focused on checkpoint technology, enabling faster upgrades and sustained operations at airports.
Air travelers and taxpayers could face higher security fees because TSA must set fees to collect at least $750 million annually from the specified fee source.
Restricting fee revenue to security uses and directing large amounts to new funds reduces flexibility for Treasury offsets and other programs that previously received transfers, potentially increasing federal budgetary impact.
Because one provision is a non‑binding sense of Congress, the public may expect enforceable changes that the bill does not legally create, reducing accountability if expected revenue priorities are not followed.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires that beginning FY2028 the first $500M of annual 9/11 Security Fee receipts go to the Aviation Security Capital Fund and the next $250M go to a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund, with TSA setting the fee to raise those amounts and funds available for grants and procurement.
Directs how a portion of the airline passenger "9/11 Security Fee" must be collected and spent: beginning in fiscal year 2028 the first $500 million of that fee each year must go to the Aviation Security Capital Fund and the next $250 million must go to a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund. The bill requires the TSA Administrator to set the fee to raise those amounts (subject to prior credited fees), makes those dollars available for procurement, testing, deployment, sustainment, grants, and related agreements, and states Congress’s view that fee revenue should only be used for aviation security and that any diversion must end no later than 2027.
Official title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish funds for investments in aviation security, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 12, 2026 by Dale Strong · Last progress July 14, 2026