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To establish a system to expedite gate passes and flight access procedures at domestic airports to allow caregivers, parents, and guardians to accompany minors and passengers needing assistance to their flights, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration to establish a system at domestic airports to expedite gate passes and flight access procedures for caregivers, parents, and guardians. Air carriers would be authorized to issue up to two gate passes to individuals accompanying minors under age 18 or passengers needing special assistance such as wheelchair users to their departing flights. Individuals holding TSA Pre-Check status can apply their existing credentials to gate passes through their Known Traveler Numbers. For wheelchair users specifically, gate passes may only be issued to the caregiver who is physically pushing the wheelchair. The system must be established within 180 days of the law's enactment.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
7 cosponsors
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to W. Gregory Steube’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- CHENEY BROTHERS $7,800
- NEXTGEN MANAGEMENT $6,600
- STEPHENS, INC. $6,600
- NEPTUNE WELLNESS SOLUTIONS $6,600
- COOLTODAY $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for W. Gregory Steube → · Outside spending →
Actions (3)
- Aug 11, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security. · house
- Aug 8, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security. · house
- Aug 8, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 8, 2025
Mr. Steube introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
A BILL
To establish a system to expedite gate passes and flight access procedures at domestic airports to allow caregivers, parents, and guardians to accompany minors and passengers needing assistance to their flights, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Accommodating Individuals Requesting Familial Assistance in Riding Efficiently Act” or the “AIRFARE Act”.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SYSTEM TO EXPEDITE GATE PASSES AND FLIGHT ACCESS PROCEDURES TO ALLOW CAREGIVERS, PARENTS, AND GUARDIANS TO ACCOMPANY MINORS AND PASSENGERS NEEDING ASSISTANCE TO THEIR FLIGHTS.
(a) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) Caregivers.—The term “caregivers” means individuals responsible for the care of minors or passengers needing assistance.
(2) Minors.—The term “minors” means individuals under the age of 18.
(3) Passengers needing assistance.—The term “passengers needing assistance” means individuals requiring special assistance related to their health or mobility, such as wheelchair users.
(b) Implementation.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shall establish a system at domestic airports to expedite gate passes and flight access procedures. The system shall ensure the following:
(1) Air carriers may offer up to two gate passes to caregivers, parents, and guardians who are accompanying a minor or a passenger needing assistance to a departing flight.
(2) If applicable, caregivers, parents, and guardians may apply their existing TSA Pre-Check privileges to such gate passes via their Known Traveler Numbers, and such gate passes shall note such status in the same manner and to the same extent as such status would be noted on a ticket issued to such caregivers, parents, and guardians.
(c) Requirement.—In the case of a passenger needing assistance who makes use of a wheelchair, a gate pass may be issued to a caregiver of such passenger pursuant to subsection (b) only if such caregiver is the individual pushing such wheelchair. <all>
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