Strong Homeland Security Bills Advance in House

Two homeland security bills sponsored by U.S. Representative Dale Strong (R-AL-05) cleared the House Committee on Homeland Security this week, advancing legislation aimed at strengthening airport security and improving the nation's readiness for threats against the food supply.

The committee approved Strong's SAFEGUARDS Act and the Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026 during a markup session Wednesday as part of a package of bipartisan homeland security legislation. The measures now move forward in the legislative process.

Strong, who Chairs the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, said both bills address critical security gaps facing the United States.

"Keeping Americans safe requires both investing in proven security capabilities and preparing for the threats of tomorrow. These measures ensure that critical security resources are used as intended while strengthening our ability to prevent and respond to evolving threats," Strong said. "From ensuring our aviation security systems have the resources they need to keep travelers safe, to protecting our food supply, we are taking decisive steps to enhance our Nation's security, resilience, and preparedness."

The SAFEGUARDS Act would require revenue generated by the Transportation Security Administration's 9/11 Passenger Security Fee to be spent on aviation security rather than diverted to other federal purposes. The legislation would direct those funds toward modern checkpoint technology, upgraded baggage screening systems and other airport security improvements.

According to Strong's office, roughly $15 billion collected through the passenger security fee has been redirected to non-security spending since 2014. The bill seeks to restore the fee to its original purpose as Congress prepares for increased international travel surrounding several major events scheduled to be held in the United States over the next several years.

The legislation has drawn support from Huntsville International Airport, Airlines for America, American Airlines, the U.S. Travel Association, Southwest Airlines, Airports Council International–North America and the American Association of Airport Executives, according to Strong's office.

The committee also approved Strong's Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026, which would require the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a nationwide preparedness exercise focused on a potential attack against the nation's food and agriculture sector.

The exercise would bring together federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments alongside private-sector partners to identify weaknesses in existing plans and improve coordination before an actual emergency occurs.

The proposal builds on Strong's oversight of agricultural security issues, including a two-part hearing series conducted earlier this year by the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee examining threats to America's food and agriculture system and the federal government's preparedness efforts.

As Chairman of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, Strong has made modernization of homeland security capabilities, protection of critical infrastructure and preparedness for emerging threats central priorities of the panel's work.