Sometimes it seems like members of Congress forget that they aren’t an anointed elite; they are our employees. Yes, they have important jobs, and yes, their time is valuable. But some of the perks seem a little galling to the rest of us.
Case in point: Representatives and senators have long enjoyed the perk of being able to be fast-tracked through TSA (Transportation Security Administration) checkpoints in airports, or even to skip them altogether. Now the Senate has voted to end that perk. I say, good; make them wait in line like everybody else.
The Senate approved by unanimous consent Thursday a proposal to end the special treatment members of Congress get at airports that allows them to speed through or skip the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) screening checkpoints.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) proposed the legislation on the Senate floor Thursday night to force Democratic colleagues to have to wait in the same long security lines as the rest of the flying public during the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which has now stretched for 35 days.
This is a great move, and one that will resonate with a lot of Americans, especially those who travel a lot. It’s even better to see this passed unanimously. Maybe there’s hope for these people yet.
TSA lines have been long and torturous of late, and it’s because of the failure of Congress – Democrats – to get TSA funded as part of the DHS (Department of Homeland Security). Some of these people are working without pay, and others have simply walked off the job. It can’t continue, so why not subject Congress members to the same headaches as the rest of us?
The Hill story, linked above, continued:
Security screening lines have been especially long at Houston’s Hobby Airport, where people have had to wait three to four hours to get through TSA lines.
Wait times have increased dramatically at airports around the country in large part because more TSA agents are missing work during the shutdown as they’re not getting paid.
“Staffing constraints have not only led to longer wait times around the country but also significant delays, disruptions and missed flights,” Cornyn said on the floor, blaming Democrats for the Homeland Security shutdown.
“The only reason I can fathom, other than being completely out of touch, that our Democrat colleagues would do this is not all members of Congress are being forced to experience the same mess of their own making,” Cornyn said.
This is the key concept. Put them back in touch; in this matter, rub their noses in it.
Read More: Trump Drops New Ultimatum: Fund DHS or ICE Moves Into Airports
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Being a member of Congress will inevitably come with a few perks. But these should be minimal. There’s an excellent argument to be made that these people shouldn’t be sheltered from the results of their work, and in too many cases, they are.
Having Senators and representatives wait in line along with the rest of us poor saps will no doubt do them some good. Some of that good may even involve having to meet some of the voting public, and even (heavens!) to engage them in conversation. That alone makes this legislation worth doing. Remind these people of who their employers are!
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives. If there’s any sanity remaining in that institution, it should pass unanimously there, too. Stay tuned.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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