SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026
What does the SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026 do?
HR 8770 is a House bill sponsored by Rep. Dale W. Strong (R-AL-5). Amends title 49, United States Code, to dedicate portions of the 9/11 Security Fee (collected under section 44940) to two aviation security funds beginning in fiscal year 2027. Under subsection (h) of section 44923 as amended, the first $500M in fees each fiscal year is deposited in the existing Aviation Security Capital Fund and the TSA Administrator is directed to impose the fee so as to collect at least $500M for that fund. A new subsection (i) creates the Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund (ASCT Fund) into which the next $250M in fees is deposited each fiscal year — available until expended for testing, procurement, deployment, installation, and sustainment of aviation security checkpoint technology, again with a fee-setting instruction to collect not less than $250M. A sense of Congress declares that the 9/11 Security Fee is airline-passenger-paid and should be used exclusively for aviation security, and that diversion should end no later than 2027.
Did HR 8770 pass? Where it stands
As of July 17, 2026, HR 8770 has passed the House.
Status: Passed House
Latest vote: House Passed by voice vote on July 13, 2026
Outlook: Moderate
Key provisions
- $500M to the Aviation Security Capital Fund
- Beginning FY2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, the first $500M from 9/11 Security Fee receipts is deposited in the Aviation Security Capital Fund
- TSA Administrator directed to set the fee so as to collect at least $500M annually
- Amounts available to the Administrator to make grants or enter related agreements under section 44923
- New Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund
- Establishes ASCT Fund within DHS
- Beginning FY2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, the next $250M in fees (after the $500M Capital Fund deposit) is deposited in the ASCT Fund
- TSA Administrator directed to set the fee so as to collect not less than $250M annually
- Amounts available until expended for testing, procurement, deployment, installation, and sustainment of aviation security checkpoint technology
- Sense of Congress
- 9/11 Security Fee is an airline-passenger-paid fee established to sustain aviation security
- Revenue should be used exclusively for aviation security (screening, technology upgrades, personnel support)
- Use of the fee for unrelated purposes undermines public trust
- Diversion of fee revenue should end no later than 2027, per section 44940(i)(4) of title 49, U.S.C., as in effect on the date of enactment
- Conforming Cross-Reference
- Section 44940(j)(1) reference updated from "section 44923(h)" to "subsections (h) and (i) of section 44923"
Last updated July 15, 2026