MEMBER OF CONGRESS

Andrew R. Garbarino

Republican NY 27 statements translated

Garbarino consistently pushes for more government spending on security programs, especially for his own district. He introduces bills to create new reports, requirements, and funds to direct money to security priorities. While light on specifics, he typically wants expanded programs and more taxpayer dollars directed to them.

House of Representatives

Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Reporting Act of 2026

2026-07-13

“I want the government to spend money on reports about spending money. I want information on security in cities. Some cities have less funding now. I want more funding.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8874, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Reporting Act of 2026. This legislation requires DHS to provide a report to Congress every 3 years on the Homeland Security capabilities of urban areas that have previously received funding through the Urban Area Security Initiative, or UASI. The FEMA Grant Programs Directorate provides preparedness funding to assist States, localities, urban areas, and Tribal and territorial governments and strengthen the Nation's ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies. Every year, FEMA determines eligible high-risk urban areas for UASI funding through analysis of relative risk of terrorism experienced by urban areas in the United States. As relative terrorism risk undertaken by urban area jurisdictions changes every year, this can sometimes lead to urban areas that were once eligible for UASI funding in one year no longer being eligible in future years. This legislation will provide consistent information to Congress on the ability of urban areas at risk of terrorism threats to maintain their Homeland Security capabilities. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want the government to spend more money on this program. I want more reports and requirements.”

House of Representatives

Improving Travel for Military Members Act

2026-07-13

“I want this bill to pass so military families can travel more easily. The government should spend money on this. I am restating what the bill does. I thank my colleague for her work.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 9328, the Improving Travel for Military Members Act. The Improving Travel for Military Members Act will allow the TSA Administrator to establish a 3-year pilot program to expedite access to security screening for traveling Active-Duty military personnel and their accompanying family members. If established, this pilot program will focus on airports closest to military installations with large Active-Duty populations, which will help to ease travel for the men and women bravely serving our Nation. I want to thank Representative Biggs for her leadership and encourage my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want this bill to pass so military families can travel more easily. The government should spend money on this.”

House of Representatives

Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety Act of 2026

2026-07-13

“I want more money for airport security equipment. Right now some of the money is spent on other things. My bill would make sure the money goes to equipment first. I want everyone to support this bill and pass it.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. As you heard from my colleague from Colorado, $4.5 billion was brought in last year under the 9/11 Passenger Security Fee. What passengers don't know is that the first $1.6 billion last year was diverted to something else other than passenger security. This bill would say the first $750 million of that passenger security fee would go directly to equipment, and then the balance of that money would go to the TSA discretionary fund, which actually would allow the TSA to get access to this money. Last year, the TSA discretionary fund didn't have access to this money until the first $1.85 billion was spent. Now, they are going to get access, if this bill becomes law, after the first $750 million is spent on security equipment to make our traveling public safe. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8770, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Babin). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8770, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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“I want taxpayers to spend more money on airport security. I want to pass a bill to say that fees should pay for new x-ray machines. I don't want this bill to hurt any jobs or other spending. Let's all support this bill.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8770, the SAFEGUARDS Act. This legislation establishes a sense of Congress that 9/11 passenger security fee revenue should be put toward TSA security screening purposes following the end of the current fee diversion at the end of fiscal year 2027. Additionally, this bill directs funds collected from this fee to modernize and sustain explosive detection systems and technology at TSA security checkpoints beginning in fiscal year 2028. The SAFEGUARDS Act will strengthen aviation security by ensuring passenger security fee revenue is used for its intended purpose: providing additional resources to protect the traveling public. I thank Representative Strong for his leadership, and I look forward to continuing our engagement on both sides of the aisle and with our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to ensure that this bill improves deployment timelines for critical aviation security technology without any unintended consequences for the TSA workforce or any other TSA operations. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to pass a bill to spend more money on aviation security. Let's create a new fund for investments.”