Bill Overview
Title: VETS Safe Travel Act
Description: VETS Safe Travel Act This bill makes certain veterans eligible for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck Program at no cost if they meet the program's background check and security requirements. Veterans who are eligible for this fee waiver are those who are in the annual patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and require the use of a wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or other assistive device to aid with mobility due to (1) loss, or loss of use, of a limb; (2) full or partial paralyzation; or (3) permanent blindness. The VA and the TSA must develop and implement a process to provide disabled veterans effective outreach about TSA programs that are designed to improve the screening process for passengers with disabilities.
Sponsors: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Target Audience
Population: Disabled veterans who require the use of assistive devices for mobility
Estimated Size: 1000000
- Approximately 19 million veterans live in the United States as of recent estimates.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs annually enrolls a significant portion of these veterans for healthcare services.
- A smaller segment of these veterans specifically requires mobility assistance through wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, or other devices due to specific conditions outlined in the bill.
- The National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics provides data indicating around 30% of veterans have disabilities related to their service.
- Within this group, only a subset will have the specific types of disabilities (amputation, paralysis, blindness) mentioned, reducing the potential eligible population to those specifically needing such devices.
Reasoning
- This policy directly targets a subset of the veteran population who have specific severe mobility-related disabilities. The budget constraints imply that the program needs to be managed efficiently to provide meaningful benefits to this group without overspending.
- The estimated eligible population (1,000,000 veterans) suggests that the policy must account for potentially high administrative costs for both the VA and TSA to verify eligibility and promote outreach, balanced by the benefits in travel conveniences for the affected group.
- Only veterans enrolled in the VA system and meeting strict criteria under the VETS Safe Travel Act will benefit from the fee waiver, meaning the policy's impact is limited to this segment.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Texas)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will definitely make traveling easier for me and reduce stress during airport security checks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Volunteer (Florida)
Age: 75 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a great initiative, but TSA PreCheck still requires some physical effort that might be hard for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Tech Support Specialist (California)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The waiver will save me money and hassle at airports, which is always a relief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Consultant (New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While the policy is helpful, navigating airports still poses significant challenges without assistance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Architect (Ohio)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having PreCheck automatically will make my frequent business travel less burdensome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Student (Illinois)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy would help, but I'm currently more focused on rehabilitation and education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired military officer (Nevada)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any simplification in airport processes is a blessing, but I still need help moving through them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Arizona)
Age: 80 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the thought, but traveling itself is difficult for me regardless of PreCheck.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Engineer (North Carolina)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The TSA PreCheck will help some, but the main challenge is when I need to carry extra equipment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Police Officer (Washington)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The PreCheck waiver is beneficial, but I'm more concerned with securing long-term support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $78000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $85000000)
Year 2: $78000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $85000000)
Year 3: $78000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $85000000)
Year 5: $78000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $85000000)
Year 10: $78000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $85000000)
Year 100: $78000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $85000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy will require cooperation and data-sharing between the TSA and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Determining clear eligibility criteria and a seamless application process for veterans will be crucial to ensuring accessibility and uptake.
- Outreach and communication expenses, though initially non-recurring, may require occasional adjustments to maintain effectiveness.