Bill Overview
Title: Registered Traveler Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides statutory authority for the Transportation Security Administration to establish and maintain the Registered Traveler Program.
Sponsors: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Target Audience
Population: Air travelers worldwide
Estimated Size: 100000000
- The Registered Traveler Program is designed to expedite security screenings at airports for individuals who have undergone pre-screening and paid a fee, generally frequent travelers.
- Passengers who qualify and register for this program will likely experience more efficient airport security processes.
- Airports implementing the Registered Traveler Program may adjust resource allocations based on altered traveler flows, potentially impacting airport employees.
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel might need to adapt to new protocols or technologies associated with the Registered Traveler Program.
- All individuals who travel by air can potentially be indirectly impacted as expedited processing for some may affect waiting times for others.
- Airlines could see the effects in terms of boarding processes and flight timing due to changes in passenger flow.
- Companies offering registered traveler services could see business opportunities or increased demand due to legislative backing.
Reasoning
- The Registered Traveler Program is likely to have a differential impact across various segments of the population. Frequent flyers, such as business travelers and affluent leisure travelers, are expected to benefit strongly from the expedited security processes, hence showing improvements in their wellbeing scores.
- Less frequent travelers or those unable to afford the program may not experience direct benefits, although they might see indirect effects if overall airport efficiency improves.
- TSA employees could experience a moderate impact as they adapt to new processes and technologies. Their wellbeing will depend on how well they adjust to these changes.
- Airport employees might face changes in workflow and could experience either improvement or disruption depending on how resources are reallocated.
- Since the program targets a niche group of travelers, overall population impact might seem limited; however, its ripple effect on airport operations, travel efficiency, and related industries can extend benefits more broadly.
Simulated Interviews
Corporate Executive (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I look forward to faster processing times at airports.
- This program should have been implemented years ago, considering the frequent travel I do for work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Software Engineer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested in the convenience, but the cost is a bit high for me.
- I'll evaluate joining if I start traveling more frequently for work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Startup Founder (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The program will definitely help me save time during my travels.
- It's a worthwhile investment for frequent travelers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Federal Employee (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about possible job impact and training requirements.
- If implemented well, it could improve operational efficiency.
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 |
College Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rarely travel, so this doesn't really affect me.
- I might consider it after I start working full-time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This sounds useful for younger, frequent travelers.
- I don't think it justifies the cost for someone like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Travel Blogger (Miami, FL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This program will be very useful considering how often I travel.
- I look forward to writing about my experiences with the program.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Airline Pilot (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I foresee smoother processes once travelers adapt to the new system.
- It's important airlines coordinate with the TSA effectively.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Airport Security Manager (Seattle, WA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This program will require careful planning and resource allocation.
- I hope to see a positive outcome in terms of efficiency.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Entrepreneur (Denver, CO)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm exploring business ventures that could align with this program.
- The program is beneficial and expands business travel efficiency.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $450000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $550000000)
Year 3: $400000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $500000000)
Year 5: $350000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $450000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Key Considerations
- The fee structure for participation should aim to cover a substantial portion of operating costs to ensure sustainability.
- Coordination with private companies offering registration services will be critical for system functionality and cost management.
- The adoption rate of travelers will greatly influence both the cost and savings projections, necessitating reliable enrollment forecasts.