By: Congressional Newsroom – vantaylor.house.gov – June 13, 2019

After hearing from constituents at his Coffee with your Congressman Event, U.S. Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) introduced legislation to provide more certainty and protections to parents traveling with baby supplies such as breast milk and formula.

H.R. 3246, the Traveling Parents Screening Consistency Act aims to ensure the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) consistently and correctly enforces regulations pertaining to the screening of breast milk, baby formula, and nursing products.

Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03), author of the legislation said, “As parents to three daughters, my wife and I know the stress of traveling with young children. Despite established, clear procedures, families across the United States, including many from Collin County, have faced confusion and difficulty when flying. My legislation will provide certainty to parents when traveling with breast milk, baby formula, and nursing products.”

Lead Democrat of the legislation, Representative Kathleen M. Rice (NY-04) stated, “I am proud to cosponsor this bill to make sure that TSA is appropriately accommodating traveling families. I thank Congressman Taylor for introducing it and look forward to its passage.”

Specifically, H.R. 3246 requires the Comptroller General to review TSA’s implementation of current legislation as well as the effectiveness of the Agency in ensuring screening protocol clarity and screening consistency relating to the screening of formula and breast milk. Finally, the bill requires the Comptroller General to issue recommendations for improving TSA’s overall screening practices for such products.

Specifically, H.R. 3246 requires the Comptroller General to review TSA’s implementation of current legislation as well as the effectiveness of the Agency in ensuring screening protocol clarity and screening consistency relating to the screening of formula and breast milk. Finally, the bill requires the Comptroller General to issue recommendations for improving TSA’s overall screening practices for such products.

Background
While formula, breast milk, and juice in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces have been permitted in carry-on luggage by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for years, enforcement of such screening procedures has been inconsistent, causing confusion and headaches for parents across the United States traveling with or without their children.

In order to provide parents with more certainty when traveling, Congress enacted the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Act in 2016.

However, parents traveling with breast milk, baby formula, and nursing products are still receiving inconsistent treatment from TSA when going through airport security. Whether traveling through specific airports not following clearly defined protocol or as a result of individual TSA Agents disregarding official procedures, parents across the nation are left confused and inconvenienced.

After hearing about the issue from constituents attending his Coffee with your Congressman Event, and receiving statements from dozens of Collin County parents, Congressman Taylor began researching the issue and appropriate solutions. His legislation will provide parents the certainty needed when traveling with critical supplies for their children.

More information on H.R. 3246, theTraveling Parents Screening Consistency Act can be found online. Text of H.R. 3246 is available here.

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Source: Congressman Taylor Introduces the Traveling Parents Screening Consistency Act | U.S. Representative Van Taylor