New Legislation Could Cap $5 TSA Fee for Travelers
September 18, 2014
WASHINGTON -- Annoyed by excessive airline fees? There could be relief in sight thanks, in part, to new legislation introduced in Congress by a North Carolina lawmaker.
The $5 Transportation Security Agency fee you pay on each leg of a flight would be capped under new legislation co-sponsored by Republican Congressman Richard Hudson.
On Wednesday, the House passed the legislation unanimously. The vote tally was 423 to 0. The measure allows the TSA to only charge a fee of $5.60 per one-way trip and $11.20 per round trip.
Hudson said the TSA initially misinterpreted the fee structure set by Congress.
“But what they've done is exceeded their authority, and they’ve hit you on every segment. And so, they've gone beyond the intent of Congress in terms of levying that fee to travelers, and so my legislation clarified that and saves the traveling public about $60 to $70 million in fees,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, 8th District.
The House vote comes as even the airlines are complaining that travelers are just overburdened by extra taxes and fees.
The U.S. Travel Association says that user fees collected by the TSA should only go toward projects that directly benefit passengers.
The TSA, so far, hasn’t weighed in.
TWC News, By: Geoff Bennett