John Katko: “The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act is commonsense legislation introduced by the gentlewoman from…”

“The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act is commonsense legislation introduced by the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler). This bill codifies into law a current policy of the TSA to allow formula, breast milk, and juice through airport screening checkpoints. Although the 3-1-1 liquids rule was put in place to respond to a very real and critical threat to aviation, we must ensure that these restrictions do not interfere with a woman's ability to feed her child. As a father, a husband, and a brother of five sisters, I know the challenges of providing care to babies; and I know that this challenge is particularly great for traveling mothers who are breastfeeding their children. This bill would greatly alleviate the restrictions relating to breast milk and allow families to go through checkpoints, with babies, quickly. This bill also gives parents one less thing to worry about on the way to the airport and ensures that the frontline officers at the airport checkpoints receive the proper training on implementing this important exception to a security regulation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5065. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”