Congress yesterday passed a bill limiting airline security fees. The bipartisan bill, H.R. 5462, caps airline security fees at $11.20 per round trip.
"In tough economic times, I know that every extra dollar spent on more fees and taxes adds up. Rolling back fees and reducing taxes on airline passengers benefits everyone -- from helping families save money when traveling for the holidays to cutting costs for small businesses whose employees travel for work," the bill's sponsor, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), said in a statement.
Aviation user fees have helped the federal government fund the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) since Sept. 11, 2001, when TSA was created. Congress simplified the aviation user fee structure last year by creating a flat $5.60 fee per one-way trip, with the intent of keeping a round-trip cap in place. Instead, the TSA began charging this fee without a round trip cap, significantly increasing fees for air passengers -- especially those in small, rural communities who must take multiple flights to get to their final destination. If the president signs it, H.R. 5462 will close this security-fee loophole.
"I'm proud of the bipartisan, bicameral support this legislation received, and I hope the president will join us in our efforts to save American taxpayers from shelling out millions of dollars in extra fees," Hudson continued. "I came to Washington to make life better for folks … and I remain committed to working with leaders on both sides of the aisle to champion real solutions like this."
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