Allred Votes to Give TSA Workers More Protections, Help Attract and Retain Top Talent

May 12, 2022
Press Release

DALLAS  – Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) today voted for the Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act of 2022. The bill places the TSA under the personnel systems used by most government agencies resulting in pay increases for TSA workers and greater labor protections. The bipartisan legislation, which Allred is a cosponsor of, also preserves TSA’s authorities to respond to emerging threats or national emergencies.

“Our airports wouldn’t be significant economic drivers in North Texas without our dedicated TSA workers, who work tirelessly to keep us safe and to keep goods moving,” said Allred. “TSA workers should have the same protections as most other federal employees so they are able to perform their job to the best of their abilities. I’ll always fight for all our aviation and airport workers here in North Texas, which is why I was proud to cosponsor and vote for this legislation today.”

This legislation has broad support including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the Air Marshal Association (AMA), the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) and the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD). 

This legislation will: 

  • Place the TSA workforce under the title 5 personnel system used by most other Federal agencies to drive major advancements in pay, collective bargaining, and disciplinary appeal rights. 
     
  • Allow TSA to continue to provide certain benefits that may exceed those generally provided under title 5 and allow them to coordinate with groups that help address mental health for Federal Air Marshals.
     
  • Require the DHS Secretary to submit a proposal to Congress to apply hiring standards and disqualifying offenses across the transportation security workforce and require the Comptroller General to submit a review to Congress on TSA’s recruitment efforts, including efforts related to veterans as well as a review on TSA’s implementation of the Act.
     
  • Protect the TSA workforce from COVID-19 by requiring coordination among TSA, the CDC, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIA) to provide proper guidance and resources to employees and provide a one-time hazardous duty bonus payment to employees on the front lines.

 

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