U.S. Representative Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) advanced the SAFEGUARDS Act and a second homeland security measure through the House Homeland Security Committee this week, targeting aviation security funding and the nation’s preparedness for attacks on the food and agriculture sector.
Strong, who chairs the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, secured committee approval for both bills.
“Keeping Americans safe requires both investing in proven security capabilities and preparing for the threats of tomorrow,” Strong said. “From ensuring our aviation security systems have the resources they need to keep travelers safe, to protecting our food supply, we are taking decisive steps to enhance our Nation’s security, resilience, and preparedness.”
The SAFEGUARDS Act would require that revenue collected through TSA’s 9/11 Passenger Security Fee go toward aviation and airport security, consistent with the fee’s original intent. The bill supports long-term investment in checked baggage screening systems and advanced checkpoint technology. Huntsville International Airport, Airlines for America, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and several industry groups have endorsed the legislation.
“The SAFEGUARDS Act would ensure that passenger fees are returned to their intended purpose, investing in advanced technologies that enhance the safety and efficiency of air travel across the U.S. Maintaining a modern, secure aviation system is essential,” said Butch Roberts, CEO of the Port of Huntsville/Huntsville International Airport.
The Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a nationwide exercise focused on preventing, responding to, and recovering from an attack on the nation’s food and agriculture sector. The exercise would bring together federal, state, local, tribal, and private-sector partners to identify gaps before a real-world incident occurs.
Strong introduced the agroterrorism legislation earlier this week. It builds on his subcommittee’s two-part hearing series last year examining threats to America’s agricultural security.
Sawyer Knowles is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
