Original Legislation to Give TSA Employees a Raise
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8411
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T08:06:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill aims to provide a 15% increase in the annual basic pay for career employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the agency responsible for airport security screening, to improve compensation for frontline workers.
Key Provisions
- Pay Increase Timing: The 15% raise applies starting from the first pay period that begins on or after the date the bill is enacted (and before the second pay period after enactment).
- Affected Employees:
- All career employees (defined as TSA agents or officers who are not senior executives, career appointees, or senior career employees, per existing law in 49 U.S.C. § 114(n)(2)).
- All pay bands under the TSA's Core Compensation System (a special pay structure for TSA, separate from standard federal pay scales).
- Short Title: "Original Legislation to Give TSA Employees a Raise."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a targeted, one-time 15% pay hike specifically for TSA career staff and pay bands, which exceeds typical annual federal pay adjustments (usually 1-5% based on locality and inflation).
- Does not alter broader federal pay systems but modifies TSA's unique compensation framework established under prior laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: TSA faces increased payroll costs (exact amount unspecified), potentially straining its budget unless offset by new funding; may improve employee retention and morale, reducing turnover in high-stress screening roles.
- Citizens: Could lead to more stable airport security staffing, indirectly enhancing travel safety and efficiency; funded by taxpayers, so minor effect on federal spending.
- International Relations: None directly addressed or implied.
Main Stakeholders
- Primary Beneficiaries: TSA career employees (e.g., Transportation Security Officers or screeners).
- Affected Entities: TSA leadership and the Department of Homeland Security (oversees TSA); U.S. taxpayers and Congress (for budget implications).
- Others: Federal employee unions or advocacy groups supporting TSA workers.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on Congress's authority over federal agency pay (Article I, U.S. Constitution); may require separate appropriations bill for funding, as it does not allocate money itself—potentially leading to implementation challenges if unfunded.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; aligns with congressional power of the purse.
- Political: Signals priority on supporting essential security workers; could inspire similar pay bills for other agencies; referred to House Committee on Homeland Security for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
- 2026-04-21: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
- 2026-04-21: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Original Legislation to Give TSA Employees a Raise — issued 2026-04-21 — PDF (2 pages)