[House Report 113-516]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
113th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 113-516
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HONOR FLIGHT ACT
_______
July 3, 2014.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. McCaul, from the Committee on Homeland Security, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 4812]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 4812) to amend title 49, United States Code, to
require the Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration to establish a process for providing expedited
and dignified passenger screening services for veterans
traveling to visit war memorials built and dedicated to honor
their service, and for other purposes, having considered the
same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend
that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 2
Committee Consideration.......................................... 3
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 3
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 3
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 3
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 4
Duplicative Federal Programs..................................... 4
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits....................................................... 4
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 4
Preemption Clarification......................................... 4
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings.............................. 5
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 5
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 5
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 5
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 5
Purpose and Summary
The purpose of H.R. 4812 is to amend title 49, United
States Code, to require the Administrator of the Transportation
Security Administration to establish a process for providing
expedited and dignified passenger screening services for
veterans traveling to visit war memorials built and dedicated
to honor their service, and for other purposes.
Background and Need for Legislation
The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization that
works to transport veterans on charter flights operated by
commercial airlines to Washington, DC, in order to visit
memorials built and dedicated in honor of their service. The
organization was created in 2005 after Earl Morse, a former
physician's assistant with the Department of Veterans Affairs
and a private pilot, saw his patients' desire to visit the
newly-built World War II Memorial and recognized that many of
these patients lacked the resources to make the trip on their
own.
Currently, the Honor Flight Network prioritizes
transporting WWII veterans, as well as veterans from any war
who have a terminal illness, but the organization intends to
expand the program to transport veterans who served during the
Korean and Vietnam Wars, eventually extending to veterans of
more current wars.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) supports
the Honor Flight Network by expediting the screening process
for veterans visiting their memorials in the District of
Columbia, saving the veterans time and showing them their due
respect and appreciation.
H.R. 4812 authorizes the collaboration between TSA and the
Honor Flight Network, as well as with other non-profit
organizations that transport veterans to visit memorials, so
that the agency's practice of ensuring expedited and dignified
screening for veterans continues.
Hearings
No hearings were held on H.R. 4812. However, the Committee
held the following oversight hearings.
On March 14, 2013, the Subcommittee on Transportation
Security held a hearing entitled ``TSA's Efforts to Advance
Risk-Based Security.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from
Hon. John S. Pistole, Administrator, Transportation Security
Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The
purpose of the hearing was to provide an opportunity for the
TSA Administrator to discuss efforts of applying a risk-based
approach to TSA's aviation and surface transportation programs
and ongoing efforts to make TSA more effective and efficient.
The Subcommittee on Transportation Security held a second
hearing on April 11, 2013, entitled ``TSA's Efforts to Advance
Risk-Based Security: Stakeholder Perspectives.'' The
Subcommittee received testimony from Mr. Ken Dunlap, Global
Director, Security & Travel Facilitation, International Air
Transport Association; Ms. Sharon L. Pinkerton, Senior Vice
President, Legislative and Regulatory Policy, Airlines for
America; Mr. Geoff Freeman, Chief Operating Officer and
Executive Vice President, U.S. Travel Association; Mr. Michael
C. Mullen, Executive Director, Express Association of America;
Mr. Christopher U. Browne, Airport Manager, Washington Dulles
International Airport, testifying on behalf of the American
Association of Airport Executives; and Mr. David A. Borer,
General Counsel, American Federation of Government Employees.
Committee Consideration
The Committee met on June 11, 2014, to consider H.R. 4812,
and ordered the measure to be reported to the House with a
favorable recommendation, without amendment, by voice vote.
Prior to consideration, the Chair discharged the Subcommittee
on Transportation Security from further consideration of H.R.
4812.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded
votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments
thereto.
No recorded votes were requested during consideration of
H.R. 4812.
Committee Oversight Findings
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee has held oversight
hearings and made findings that are reflected in this report.
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R.
4812, the honor Flight Act, would result in no new or increased
budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or
revenues.
Congressional Budget Office Estimate
The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, June 26, 2014.
Hon. Michael McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4812, the Honor
Flight Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan
Carroll.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
H.R. 4812--Honor Flight Act
The Honor Flight Network is a private organization that
transports U.S. veterans to visit war memorials built to honor
their service. H.R. 4812 would direct the Administrator of the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to provide an
expedited screening process for veterans traveling on flights
operated by the Honor Flight Network or other not-for-profit
organizations providing similar services to veterans.
CBO estimates that any increased costs to TSA under H.R.
4812 would be negligible, particularly because of the
relatively small number of veterans who would qualify for
expedited screening under the bill. Any such spending would be
subject to the availability of appropriated funds. H.R. 4812
would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-
as-you-go procedures do not apply.
H.R. 4812 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Megan Carroll.
The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, H.R. 4812 contains the following
general performance goals and objectives, including outcome
related goals and objectives authorized.
This bill would require the Transportation Security
Administration to establish, in collaboration with the Honor
Flight Network or other not-for-profit organization that honors
veterans, a process for providing expedited and dignified
passenger screening services for veterans traveling to visit
war memorials on charter flights.
Duplicative Federal Programs
The Committee finds that H.R. 4812 does not contain any
provision that establishes or reauthorizes a program known to
be duplicative of another Federal program.
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits
In compliance with rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the rule
XXI.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
Preemption Clarification
In compliance with section 423 of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974, requiring the report of any Committee on a bill or
joint resolution to include a statement on the extent to which
the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt State,
local, or Tribal law, the Committee finds that H.R. 4812 does
not preempt any State, local, or Tribal law.
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings
The Committee estimates that H.R. 4812 would require no
directed rule makings.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title
This section provides that bill may be cited as the ``Honor
Flight Act''.
Section 2. Honor Flight program
This section amends section 44927 of title 49 by
establishing a new section requiring the Administrator of TSA
to establish a process for providing expedited and dignified
passenger screening services for veterans traveling on an Honor
Flight Network private charter, or such other not-for-profit
organization that honors veterans, to visit war memorials built
and dedicated to honor the service of such veterans. Such a
process shall be established in collaboration with the Honor
Flight Network or other not-for-profit organizations that honor
veterans.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is
printed in italic and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE
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SUBTITLE VII--AVIATION PROGRAMS
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PART A--AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY
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SUBPART III--SAFETY
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CHAPTER 449--SECURITY
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SUBCHAPTER I--REQUIREMENTS
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Sec. 44928. Honor Flight Program
The Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration shall establish, in collaboration with the Honor
Flight Network or other not-for-profit organization that honors
veterans, a process for providing expedited and dignified
passenger screening services for veterans traveling on an Honor
Flight Network private charter, or such other not-for-profit
organization that honors veterans, to visit war memorials built
and dedicated to honor the service of such veterans.
* * * * * * *