Congress clears bill to ease military screening

[August 03, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress is sending President Barack Obama a bill that would make it easier for wounded or disabled members of the military and veterans to get through airport security screening.

The House approved the measure by voice vote Friday, a day after the Senate. It would require the Defense Department and Veterans Affairs to work with the Transportation Security Administration on a new protocol.

Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a veteran of the Iraq war, sponsored the bill. Proponents in the Senate were Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire.

Gabbard says that she pushed for the bill after hearing stories from service members who had to remove clothes or prosthetics in front of other passengers, and then struggled through screening machines.

[Associated Press]

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