Ted Cruz proposal to shield lawmakers, judges at airports blocked
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. His proposal to give extra security to lawmakers at airports was rejected by House Homeland Security ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson on Monday
April 29 (UPI) — A proposal by Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz to provide airport security escorts for lawmakers was blocked Monday.
A provision to the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization championed by Cruz would have provided special security escorts at airports for legislators and judges facing credible threats.
The plan’s failure comes after objections from House Homeland Security ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson, according to The Hill.
The bill would have given special escorts and screenings to members of Congress, judges and Cabinet members who faced “credible threats,” according to federal authorities.
These individuals currently go through regular TSA screenings just like practically everyone else.
The provision would have given them equal protection as senior administration officials, Congressional leaders and mayors of large cities.
Critics suggested, though, that the legislation would help lawmakers from being seen among the public while traveling. Cruz faced major embarrassment when travelers spotted him boarding a plane to Cancun in 2021 in the middle of a historic winter storm in Texas that shut down large sections of the state’s electric grid.
Cruz ended up making a public apology for the trip after photos of him boarding the plane appeared on social media, leading to ridicule in the news media and among the public.
Thompson said the provision was unnecessary and would create a hardship for already over-extended TSA staff by taking them away from their primary duties.
“I’m glad that sanity prevailed and this provision — which almost no one really wanted — wasn’t included in the final FAA bill text,” Thompson told The Hill. “Hopefully, this issue is now put to rest. Congress should be focusing on improving TSA and keeping our skies more secure, not burdening its workforce and potentially diminishing security.”