Senator Markey Statement Ahead of 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Terror Attacks

Senator’s FASTER Act would ensure airline security fees bolster aviation safety Markey is author of mandate in law passed after 9/11 that requires screening of all cargo on passenger plans before being loaded onboard Washington (September 10, 2026) - Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement honoring the victims and calling for passage of his Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act to bolster funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and its workforce, ensuring that the agency has the necessary funds and resources to secure America’s air travelers and pay its dedicated Transportation Security Officers (TSO), and invest in twenty-first century security technology. In 2013, Congress began diverting one-third of the revenue collected from an airline passenger security fee—known as the September 11 Security Fee, as it was established after the September 11 terrorist attacks—to pay for unrelated government spending; each year, this diverted funding totals over $1 billion. The FASTER Act would eliminate this diversion, ensure passenger security fees go solely toward aviation security, and prevent Congress from raiding the funds in the future. The legislation would also give TSA access to September 11 Security Fee revenue during a lapse in appropriations. “Everyone in this country felt unspeakable loss that tragic day 25 years ago, with a direct and profound impact on victims’ families in Massachusetts. The planes took off from Logan Airport in Boston with hundreds of passengers and crewmembers, and our communities were forever changed. We honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 people we lost on 9/11, remember the strength and resilience of the American people after the attacks, and recommit to ensuring that the scale and horror of such a tragedy never occurs again,” said Senator Markey. “The TSA must be able to rely on regular funding just as traveling Americans rely on the TSA to keep them safe. We must pass the FASTER Act to ensure funds from the September 11 Security Fee are delivered to TSA without delay. We have made great progress towards a safer America, but there is more work to be done.” The FASTER Act is endorsed by American Federation of Government Employees AFL-CIO Council 100, the Air Line Pilots Association, Airports Council International-North America, American Association of Airport Executives, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, U.S. Travel, and the Global Business Travel Association. Senator Markey is a former senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee and author of a mandate in the law passed after 9/11 that requires screening of all cargo on passenger plans before being loaded onboard. ###