119-s2378

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2378 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

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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