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New bill seeks to mandate airport temperature checks
A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the US Senate which would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to administer temperature checks at airports.
Senate Bill 4623 requires the TSA to set up a trial program in consultation with the secretaries of transport, homeland security and health and human services, as well as the CDC.
When selecting airports for the pilot, tthey must ‘represent diverse operating conditions, with high, medium, and low passenger throughput,’ the bill says.
It must establish the 120-day pilot program within 30 days of the bill’s passage.
"For workers and the traveling public, a temperature check program provides important data. The legislation I introduced would require TSA to use innovative temperature screening technology to better protect passenger and worker health," said bill co-sponsor, Sen. Maria Cantwell.
The bill also requires airlines to allow passengers prohibited from flying, due to a high temperature reading to cancel or change their flights at no cost.
Airlines have urged government officials to mandate temperature checks at airports for many weeks.
However the TSA has knocked back requests, saying it should be the responsibility of airlines or airports.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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