HR 1703 · 118th Congress 2023–2025, ended

SECURE Flights Act

Introduced Mar 22, 2023 Originated House Sponsor Lance Gooden R-TX

Fact sheet Spreadsheet

Latest action · Mar 22, 2023 Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedMar 22, 2023
  2. Passed HouseNot reached
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Strengthening Enforcement and Criminalizing Unlawful Records Enabling Flights Act or the SECURE Flights Act

This bill prohibits the use of certain warrants and other documents issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as proof of identification at airport security checkpoints.

If an individual uses a prohibited document as proof of identification, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) must inform ICE, CBP, and local law enforcement to determine whether the individual is in violation of any term of release from custody of the agency. An individual who is in violation may not be permitted to enter a sterile area (e.g., the boarding area) unless the individual (1) is being removed or deported from the United States, or (2) presents a covered valid and unexpired identification document. Examples of covered identification documents include a U.S. passport, a biometrically secure card issued by a DHS trusted or registered traveler program, a state-issued enhanced driver's license, and an employment authorization document issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Further, prior to authorizing entry into a sterile area, the TSA must collect biometric information from an individual who (1) does not present a covered identification document, and (2) the TSA cannot verify is a U.S. national. The TSA must submit the information to the national Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT).

Cosponsors 24

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Mar 22, 2023 to Nov 13, 2024; 9 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
R-TXBrian BabinOriginalMar 22, 2023
R-WIDerrick Van OrdenOriginalMar 22, 2023
R-WIGlenn GrothmanOriginalMar 22, 2023
R-TXJake EllzeyOriginalMar 22, 2023
D-NJJefferson Van DrewOriginalMar 22, 2023
R-COLauren BoebertOriginalMar 22, 2023
R-ILMary E. MillerOriginalMar 22, 2023
R-TNScott DesJarlaisOriginalMar 22, 2023
R-KSTracey MannOriginalMar 22, 2023
R-NYGeorge SantosApr 6, 2023
R-OKJosh BrecheenApr 19, 2023
R-TXBeth Van DuyneMay 10, 2023
R-FLByron DonaldsSep 1, 2023
R-MOEric BurlisonDec 22, 2023
R-SCRalph NormanDec 22, 2023
R-MNPete StauberJan 9, 2024
R-OHWarren DavidsonJan 9, 2024
R-FLAnna Paulina LunaJan 18, 2024
R-AREric A. "Rick" CrawfordApr 23, 2024
R-SCNancy MaceApr 23, 2024
R-MSMichael GuestOct 11, 2024
R-ALBarry MooreOct 18, 2024
R-WIThomas P. TiffanyOct 29, 2024
R-MNBrad FinstadNov 13, 2024

Committees 1

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
HouseHomeland Security Committee
Referred Mar 22, 2023
Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee
Referred Mar 22, 2023

Actions 3

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Mar 22, 2023Introduced in House
  2. Mar 22, 2023Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
  3. Mar 22, 2023Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Constitutional authority

Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: The Constitutional authority on which this bill rests is the power of Congress to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises to pay the debts and provide for the common Defense and general welfare of the United States, as enumerated in Article I, Section 8, Clause 1. Thus, Congress has the authority not only to increase taxes, but also, to reduce taxes to promote the general welfare of the United States of America and her citizens. Additionally, Congress has the Constitutional authority to regulate commerce among the States and with Indian Tribes, as enumerated in Article I, Section 8, Clause 3. The single subject of this legislation is: This bill would prohibit TSA from allowing an illegal immigrant's arrest warrant to serve as identification in airports by requiring a non-citizen who does not have identification to submit biometric information and go through enhanced security screening. The bill would also require TSA to go through the official rulemaking process to allow additional forms of identification for non-citizens

The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 169, no. 52, March 22, 2023, page H1328.

Related bills 5

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
HR 2Secure the Border Act of 2023Related billDec 17, 2024
S 918SECURE Flights Act of 2023Related billMar 22, 2023
HR 2794Border Reinforcement Act of 2023Related billDec 17, 2024
S 2824Secure the Border Act of 2023Related billJan 11, 2024
HR 6587SECURE Flights ActReintroduction ofFeb 4, 2022

Titles 3

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
To direct the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to prohibit the use of certain identification documents at airport security checkpoints, and for other purposes.
Short Title(s) as Introduced
Strengthening Enforcement and Criminalizing Unlawful Records Enabling Flights Act
SECURE Flights Act

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Transportation and Public Works.

Text 1

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Mar 22, 2023Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.