TSA collected $400,000 in spare change left by passengers in airports in 2011

[boston bean]

Airline passengers left more than $400,000 at airport security checkpoints operated by the Transportation Security Administration in 2011.

TSA found $409,085.56 in spare change last year that was unclaimed by passengers, according to figures released by the agency. Historically, if no one comes back to get the leftover money, it stays with the TSA.

A Florida lawmaker is trying to change that, however: Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) filed a bill in April of 2009 that would require TSA to transfer money that is not claimed by passengers when they leave airport security checkpoints to United Service Organizations.

Miller said Thursday in a statement provided to The Hill that the amount of change left at airport security checkpoints in 2011 could be put to better uses than the TSA’s operating budget.

[link:http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/tsa/203895-tsa-collected-400000-in-spare-change-left-by-passengers-in-airports|

[dipsydoodle]

1. I thought such stuff went to charity

[boston bean]

2. I thought so too. I guess not.

[valerief]

4. I guess TSA is a charity organization now. nt

[dipsydoodle]

7. If thats a euphemism for thieving bastards then yes.

[justiceischeap]

3. Are they paying taxes on that loose change? nt

[Blue_Tires]

5. why should the USO get it??

and where's Miller's bill to decide which charity the FBI/CIA/etc. "found" monies should go to??

[izquierdista]

6. I view this as a positive development

When the TSA and the Department of Defense have to rely on spanging for their ENTIRE budget, then I'll be really happy.

[Mira]

8. Shirley McLaine calls TSA Agents "Thugs Standing About". I think she's got it right. n/t

[mainer]

9. So now taxpayers have to pay for another new military cost

Why must we build another new infrastructure for the military? And this new program will cost way more than half a million dollars, which means we will be seeing more new tax money going to pay for airport R and R facilities, just as we're supposedly winding down our military action in the middle east.

It's going to be next to impossible for anyone in Congress to turn this down because they'll look like they're not supporting our troops.

But a new bill, called The TSA Loose Change Act (H.R. 1095), which was introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller (R - Fla.) in March and passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday, would instead direct the money towards building rest and recuperation areas at U.S. airports for members of the military.

“I would much rather see unclaimed change go to help military personnel on their way home from the battlefield,” Miller said, according to a press release on his website. “The lost change should be put to good use, and I know that the thousands of coins will have a positive impact on millions of our nation’s warriors."

But Miller and his supporters have had difficulties implementing their proposal. The Congressional Budget Office estimated an earlier version of the bill would have cost $1 million to put into action, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.

More on the topic: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/07/tsa-loose-change_n_4404634.html