The Senate today passed a House bill requiring the TSA, best known for pat-downs and scanners that disrobe, to help clothe the needy.
Rep. Kathy Hochul’s (D-N.Y.) Clothe a Homeless Hero Act was agreed to in the House by voice vote late last month. Introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) in the upper chamber, the Senate today passed it by unanimous consent.
“In disposing of unclaimed clothing recovered at any airport security checkpoint, the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall make every reasonable effort to transfer such clothing to local veterans organizations or other local charitable organizations for distribution to homeless or needy veterans and veteran families,” the bill reads.
“Thousands of pieces of clothing are left unclaimed at airport security checkpoints – clothing that could be put to good use. The Clothe a Homeless Hero Act helps our heroes by giving unclaimed clothing to those most in need,” Toomey said. “I’m so glad this important, bipartisan piece of legislation to help our veterans has been approved by the U.S. Senate and look forward to seeing it signed into law.”
“This nation has an obligation to make sure that we are doing all we can to assist our veterans, who have already sacrificed so much for our nation,” said Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.). “Having the TSA work to donate unclaimed clothing to veterans organizations is a small, but significant opportunity to help our nation’s heroes. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to pass this bill and have the president sign it into law.”
“Too many veterans who bravely served our country are today falling through the cracks back home, going without warm clothes or a roof over their head,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said. “This bipartisan, common sense bill is just the right thing to do to help deliver clothes to more struggling veterans and their families who need it most.”
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