Luján Introduces Legislation to Boost Compensation for TSA Workers, Guarantee Pay During Republican DHS Shutdown

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the Workforce Assurance for Transportation and Critical Homeland Personnel Act (WATCH Personnel Act), legislation that would boost compensation for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers and guarantee pay for TSA workers during the current Republican Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. Congressional Republicans have needlessly kept DHS shutdown for over two months, refusing to pass a bipartisan bill that would fund the core agencies of DHS, while holding the line against funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.

"Every day, TSA agents show up to work to protect travelers and make our country safer. These hardworking men and women deserve to be properly compensated and shouldn't miss paychecks in a political shutdown that Republicans created," said Senator Luján. "That's why I'm introducing this legislation to ensure TSA agents are properly compensated and guaranteed paychecks during the Republican DHS shutdown."

Specifically, the WATCH Personnel Act would:

• Establish a statutory minimum base pay rate for TSA personnel at $40,000. This base pay rate should increase with inflation.
• Provide authority for continued pay and operations for TSA personnel during the current DHS shutdown.
• Provide a one-time $10,000 bonus to all TSA personnel that worked during the current DHS shutdown.

Since the start of the DHS shutdown, Senator Luján and Senate Democrats have repeatedly pushed to ensure TSA workers are paid and key agencies are funded.

The full text of the legislation is available HERE.

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