AviationHouse considers bill to send lost airport money to USO

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would send unclaimed money left at airport security checkpoints to the USO, a major armed forces support group.

The proposed law, currently moving through the House Homeland Security Committee, would direct unclaimed money to the USO, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising the morale of the U.S. military and providing recreational services. The organization relies primarily on private donations for funding, but does receive some support from the Department of Defense.

Currently, unclaimed money at airport checkpoints is kept by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and used for operating expenses, but under the bill that money would be transferred to the USO on an annual basis.

The bill was introduced last year by Representative Jeff Miller (R – Florida) and has thirty bi-partisan co-sponsors. So far it has passed a voice vote in subcommittee and is moving on to the full committee for consideration.