H.R. 8770: SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026
Sponsor
Dale Strong
Republican · AL-5
Your airport security fee should fund airport security
Why it matters
You already pay this fee when you fly. H.R. 8770 would steer at least $750 million a year of that passenger-paid money into screening equipment, checkpoint technology, and airport security grants starting in fiscal year 2028.
H.R. 8770 would dedicate at least $750 million a year in passenger-paid 9/11 Security Fee revenue to airport security instead of letting those dollars be treated like general Treasury money.
The bill's sense of Congress says the fee should be used only for aviation security, including passenger screening, baggage screening, technology upgrades, and support for security personnel. It also says diversion of that revenue to other purposes should end by 2027.
Starting in fiscal year 2028, the first $500 million collected each year from the fee would go to the Aviation Security Capital Fund. TSA could use that money for airport security grants and related agreements.
After that, the next $250 million each year would go into a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund inside the Department of Homeland Security. That money could pay for testing, buying, installing, deploying, and maintaining checkpoint technology.
For travelers, the practical change is straightforward: the security fee already on your ticket would be more tightly locked to scanners, screening systems, and other airport security upgrades.
The bill does have one major condition. These deposits only kick in once Congress ends the current budget treatment that sends some of this fee revenue into the Treasury's general fund.
If that budget rule is not changed first, the bill's new security funds cannot fully take effect.
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jul 14, 2026
Passed the House, received in Senate
H.R. 8770 Bill Summary
What H.R. 8770 actually does.
Passenger security fees get tied to security use
The bill says 9/11 Security Fee revenue should be used only for aviation security activities, including passenger screening, baggage screening, technology upgrades, and support for aviation security personnel.
Fee diversion is supposed to end by 2027
The bill's sense of Congress says using this passenger-paid fee for non-aviation purposes should stop no later than 2027.
$500 million a year goes to airport security grants
Starting in fiscal year 2028, the first $500 million collected each year from the fee would go to the Aviation Security Capital Fund, where TSA could use it for grants and related agreements.
$250 million a year goes to checkpoint technology
After the first $500 million is deposited, the next $250 million each year would go to a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund within the Department of Homeland Security.
Technology money stays available until it is spent
Money in the checkpoint technology fund would not expire at the end of the fiscal year. TSA could keep using it for testing, procurement, deployment, installation, and sustainment of screening technology.
Nothing starts unless Congress changes the budget rule
Both funding streams depend on ending the current practice that treats some of this fee revenue as offsetting receipts deposited into the Treasury's general fund.
Who benefits from H.R. 8770?
Air travelers who already pay the fee
Anyone who buys a plane ticket and pays the 9/11 Security Fee could benefit if that money is more directly reinvested into screening systems, checkpoint equipment, and airport security operations.
Airports seeking security upgrades
Airports could compete for TSA-backed grants from the first $500 million a year deposited into the Aviation Security Capital Fund.
TSA and frontline screening operations
TSA would gain two dedicated funding streams totaling at least $750 million a year to support grants, equipment purchases, and checkpoint modernization.
Companies that build and maintain screening technology
Vendors that test, supply, install, and service checkpoint systems could see steadier demand from the new $250 million annual technology fund.
Who is affected by H.R. 8770?
Treasury's general fund
If Congress changes the current budget treatment, money that had been counted as general Treasury receipts would instead be reserved for aviation security.
Department of Homeland Security
DHS would host the new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund and oversee a dedicated stream of fee revenue for checkpoint upgrades.
TSA administrators
TSA would have to collect enough fee revenue to support at least $500 million a year for the capital fund and at least $250 million a year for the technology fund.
Congress and Senate negotiators
Lawmakers would need to resolve the budget treatment of the 9/11 Security Fee before the bill's new funding structure can operate as written.
Cost & Funding
Authorization
At least $750 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2028, if Congress first ends the current Treasury offset treatment for this fee revenue.
- The first $500 million collected each year from the 9/11 Security Fee would go to the Aviation Security Capital Fund.
- The next $250 million each year would go to a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund.
- Taken together, that is at least $750 million a year dedicated to aviation security uses.
- That works out to roughly two-thirds for capital grants and one-third for checkpoint technology.
- The checkpoint technology fund would stay available until spent, so TSA would not have to rush purchases before year-end.
- The bill does not fully work on its own; Congress must also end the current practice of routing some of this revenue into the Treasury's general fund.
HR8770 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Jul 14, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
House: Vote: 4389-4390
Jul 13, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4389-4390)
House: Committee Action
Jul 9, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 119-737.
House: Vote: 26-3
Jun 24, 2026
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 3.
House: Committee Action
May 13, 2026
Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
House: Committee Action
May 12, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
About the Sponsor
Dale Strong
Republican, Alabama's 5th congressional district · 3 years in Congress
Committees: Homeland Security, Appropriations
View full profile →
Cosponsors (6)
This bill has 6 cosponsors: 1 Democrat, 5 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 5 states: Colorado, Mississippi, New York, and 2 more.
Committee Sponsors
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
0 of 28 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Homeland Security Committee
6 of 33 committee members cosponsored
28 Republicans across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 8770 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Transportation and Public Works
- Introduced
- May 12, 2026
Passed the House, received in Senate
Jul 14, 2026
Official Sources
Official legislative status page for the SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026, including actions, text, and summaries.
TSA is the agency responsible for administering aviation security screening and would manage the bill's security-related funding.
Official U.S. Code entry for the 9/11 Security Fee statute referenced throughout the bill text.
Official U.S. Code section covering the Aviation Security Capital Fund, which H.R. 8770 would amend and expand.
DHS would house the new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund created by the bill.
CBO is the official source for any cost estimate or budgetary analysis that may be produced for this bill.
H.R. 8770 Common Questions
What would H.R. 8770 do with the 9/11 Security Fee?
It would direct at least $750 million a year from that passenger-paid fee into aviation security starting in fiscal year 2028: $500 million for the capital fund and $250 million for checkpoint technology.
Would this change what travelers pay on their tickets?
Not directly. H.R. 8770 is mainly about where the existing fee revenue goes, not about setting a new ticket charge in the bill text provided.
Does H.R. 8770 stop Congress from using the fee for other purposes?
That is the bill's goal. Its sense of Congress says the 9/11 Security Fee should be used only for aviation security and that diversion should end by 2027.
What is the new checkpoint technology fund for?
It would pay for testing, buying, deploying, installing, and maintaining airport checkpoint technology, with $250 million a year available after the first $500 million goes to the capital fund.
Can airports get grants under H.R. 8770?
Yes. TSA could use money from these funds to make grants or related agreements for aviation security projects.
When would the new funding start?
The bill sets the new deposits to begin in fiscal year 2028, not immediately.
Is the $750 million guaranteed under this bill?
Only if Congress first ends the current budget treatment that sends some of this fee revenue into the Treasury's general fund. Without that change, the new deposits cannot fully start.
Where is H.R. 8770 now?
It passed the House and was received in the Senate, where it was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 14, 2026.
Based on H.R. 8770 bill text
H.R. 8770 Bill Text
“To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish funds for investments in aviation security, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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