WASHINGTON (September 8, 2016)—U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow released the following statement on calls from Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Transportation Security Administrator Peter Neffenger for Congress to boost TSA funding prior to a likely showdown over a federal budget resolution:
"Mr. Johnson and Mr. Neffenger essentially confirmed today what the travel community has believed all along: that a return to the horrific TSA lines of early summer is not only possible, but likely, if we don't have an eye toward the future and plan accordingly.
"Federal policy tends to be much more adept at solving yesterday's problem than tomorrow's, but the current administration is to be commended for its forward-looking focus on TSA issues. Our hope is that Congress will follow suit. We can ill afford another few months of TSA misery dominating the headlines—seamless air travel has become far too important both to our economic health and to the American way of life."
U.S. Travel plans to release in November—in time for the Thanksgiving travel season—a policy blueprint containing a comprehensive set of recommendations for securing a well-functioning TSA over the long term.
