The House passed a bill Tuesday to codify existing Transportation Security Administration rules allowing breast milk, bottles and other nursing-related items through airport security and onto planes, after reports that TSA isn’t following its own guidance.
Lawmakers passed the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act, or the BABES Act, in an easy voice vote Tuesday afternoon. Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, R-Wash., said she introduced the bill because it’s clear TSA screeners don’t always understand that the agencies rules allow these items to pass through security.
“Unfortunately, although this exemption is in place, we’ve seen problems with compliance,” she said on the House floor. “There have been too many instances reported by parents that TSA officials either didn’t know or simply refused to follow these exemptions.”
“Parents who are trying to follow these rules are consistently singled-out for harassment-like scrutiny by TSA,” she added. “This has led to breast milk being forcibly tossed out, equipment being broken and flights missed.”
Under the bill, TSA would have 90 days to tell all airlines, screeners and other personnel about the current exemption that allows parents to transport breast milk, pumps, bottles and other equipment. It would also require TSA to train its screeners so they know that TSA allows these items to pass through security checkpoints.
House Republicans called up the bill under a suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority vote for passage. But the voice-vote approval indicates broad support for the bill, which now heads to the Senate.
