S. 260: Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act

This bill, officially titled the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act, aims to modify existing procedures related to the security screening of items important for breastfeeding, such as breast milk, baby formula, and related equipment, at transportation security checkpoints.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Guidance Development: Within 90 days of the bill's enactment, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required to issue or update guidance regarding the hygienic handling of breast milk, baby formula, purified water for infants, juice, and items used to keep these items cool (like ice packs). This guidance must be developed in consultation with recognized maternal health organizations.
• Hygienic Standards: The guidance must ensure that there are standards in place for handling these items in a hygienic manner. This includes standards for any additional testing that may be needed during screening to minimize contamination risks.
• Applicability to Security Personnel: The established guidance for hygienic handling applies to both TSA personnel and private security companies working at security checkpoints.

Compliance Audits

• Inspector General's Audit: Within one year of the bill’s enactment, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security is mandated to conduct an audit. This audit will focus on compliance with the new requirements and will provide insights into how different screening technologies (such as scanners for bottled liquids) impact the screening processes for breast milk and baby formula.
• Reporting: The findings from this audit will be reported to relevant committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The report will include statistics about how often these items are denied entry into secure areas during screening.

The overall goal of the bill is to enhance the safety and hygiene of screening procedures for breastfeeding-related items while minimizing the risk of contamination, thereby providing better support for breastfeeding parents traveling through security checkpoints.

Relevant Companies

• None found