A bill proposed by U.S. Reps. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) would ensure the nation’s more than 44,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) would have basic federal workplace protections and rights under Title 5 of the U.S. Code.
The bill, Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act of 2017 (H.R. 2309), would put TSOs’ rights and protections inline with other federal employees.
Rights include whistleblower protections, protections against discrimination based on age or handicap and collective bargaining.
“TSA’s (Transportation Security Administration) current personnel system has not served the agency well and lacks the means to attract and retain a strong workforce,” Thompson said. “This legislation we introduced today will ensure TSA’s personnel and labor management systems are brought in line with the rest of the federal government under Title 5. I hope my colleagues will agree that these frontline security workers should receive the rights and benefits they have earned.”
The bill was introduced the day Republicans passed H.R. 1351, the Strengthening Oversight of TSA Employee Misconduct Act. H.R. 1351 would establish an unfunded and unannounced inspection program in which inspectors would review misconduct administration records at more than 400 airports.
Lowey is the ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations, and Thompson is the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security.