WASHINGTON, D.C. – During consideration of important port security legislation today, the Senate approved an amendment by United States Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) to remove the current cap on the number of full-time Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners nationwide. The cap, which is currently set at 45,000, has led to short-staffing and longer lines at many of the nation’s airports.

The cap has been inserted into appropriations bills by House Republicans based on ideological opposition to allowing more federal workers. However, the cap has undermined TSA’s efforts to hire an adequate amount of full-time screeners. To get around the cap’s requirements, TSA has been forced to hire part-time screeners, but has seen dramatic turnover among these part-time employees.

“This cap serves no useful purpose to the American people. If we want to make our airports safer, and also reduce the long lines travelers are seeing at baggage screening, we need to get rid of this arbitrary cap,” said Senator Lautenberg. “House Republicans need to drop their ideologically based position on this issue and allow TSA to hire as many screeners as needed to protect the American people and get our airports moving efficiently.”

The final vote was 84 to 12 in favor of the Lautenberg amendment.