LINCOLN PARK SLAM DUNKS THE COUGARS!!

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Lincoln Park came out a little slow on offense but got the ball bouncing up and down the gym , you might of thought you were listing to a all star game with the slam dunks and the NBA three point range shots. The Cougars had a problem moving the ball against a very stiff defense that was putting the press on and challenging Blackhawk up and down the court. Lincoln Park put on a show for their fans with slam dunks N B A three point range shots and a real good defense, Final score Lincoln Park 81 Blackhawk 42, Mike Azadian and Joe Sager had the game on 99.3 95.7 1230 WBVP and !460 WMBA and Beaver County Radio World wide.

Austin Davis Sworn in as Pennsylvania’s first Black Lieutenant Governor

Photo provided by Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, PA. – The son of a union bus driver and hairdresser, a proud native of a steel town and a first-generation college graduate, Austin Davis today became the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor, joining a growing group of leaders of color serving as their states’ second-highest executive.

 

“Today we are sending a message to the next generation of leaders – young people across our state, and especially Black and brown young people – that Pennsylvania has and will always be a place where all are welcomed and where everyone has the opportunity to succeed,” said Davis, in his inaugural remarks.

 

“I say to all the young people watching right now, who are worried and unsure about their future – that the American Dream is alive and well in Pennsylvania. That no matter how you grew up, no matter where you come from, or what you look like – this Commonwealth will always be a place where you can create your own destiny.”

 

Davis’s election is historic for multiple reasons. At the age of 33, Davis is now the youngest lieutenant governor in the nation.

 

Davis got an early start in public service. After the epidemic of gun violence punctured the safety and security of his neighborhood in McKeesport, he lobbied the mayor to create a youth advisory council. He then went on to work for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

 

In 2018, Davis joined the legislative body where he had worked just a few years before, winning a special election to the state House, becoming the first Black legislator to represent his majority-white district. He chaired the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation and was the vice chair of the House Democratic Policy Committee.

 

Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor must fulfill the duties of the governor if he or she is incapacitated for health reasons or steps down. As lieutenant governor, Davis will also chair the state Board of Pardons, which hears requests for pardons and commutations, and will preside over the state Senate. He will also serve as a member of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, a member of the Military Base Community Enhancement Commission and chair of the Local Government Advisory Committee.

Governor Shapiro Inaugural Address As Prepared

Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro speaks with the press. Governor Tom Wolf joined Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor- Elect Austin Davis to announce the first steps in the transition to the Shapiro-Davis Administration. NOVEMBER 16, 2022 – HARRISBURG, PA

Harrisburg, PA – Today, following his swearing-in as the 48th Governor of Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro delivered his inaugural address to Pennsylvania. The following is the address as prepared:

 

I am humbled to stand before you today as Pennsylvania’s 48th Governor.

 

Along the winding road that led to this moment, I’ve been grounded in my faith and family.

 

And so I begin by saying to my high school sweetheart and Pennsylvania’s First Lady – I love you, babe.

 

Lori and I are blessed with four amazing children – Sophia, Jonah, Max and Reuben.

 

They’ve sacrificed so much so we could serve and I am so grateful to each of them. We will work as hard for your children as we do ours.

 

I appreciate our history making Chief Justice, Debra Todd, for doing me the honor of administering the oath of office.

 

May wisdom and the pursuit of justice continue to guide you and your fellow Justices of the Supreme Court, several of whom are with us today.

 

I’m pleased to be joined by the legislative leaders and legislators of both parties – another history maker, President Pro Tem Ward, Speaker Rozzi, Leader Pittman, Leader Costa, Leader McClinton and Leader Cutler – I look forward to making progress together.

 

And I’m pleased to be joined by Acting Attorney General Henry, Treasurer Garrity, and Auditor General DeFoor.

 

I am grateful to have members of our congressional delegation here in Harrisburg, led by Senator Fetterman and Senator Casey.

 

We say a special prayer today for our senior senator for a full and speedy recovery. There is no doubt that you’ll be stronger than ever and continue to do good for the people of Pennsylvania for many years to come.

 

To our history making Lieutenant Governor, Austin Davis, and his wife, Blayre, thank you for joining Lori and me on this journey, for your partnership and for your commitment to service.

 

I am particularly touched that several of our former Governors are with us today.

 

It’s an honor to have Governor Ridge, Governor Schweiker and Governor Corbett here – and Governor Rendell watching from home.

 

Your presence formally celebrates the peaceful transfer of power. It also reminds us that while I am now entrusted with this awesome responsibility – it is just for a moment in the long history of our Commonwealth.

 

I’ll now do my part to build on your work and to leave this place better off – the way that each of you did before me.

 

And, of course, I want to recognize my dear friends, Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf.

 

Lori and I are so grateful for your friendship over nearly two decades and your guidance through this transition.

 

Governor Wolf has led our Commonwealth and our residents through some of the most challenging times in our history – and he has done so with integrity, acumen, and an unwavering commitment to service.

 

Governor Wolf expanded health care to nearly 1 million Pennsylvanians, invested record amounts in our public schools, and modernized state government.

 

Thanks to his leadership we now find ourselves in the strongest financial shape in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, allowing us to make critical investments for tomorrow.

 

Governor, you have exemplified what I spoke of a moment ago. You inherited the work of those who came before you, you served with honor, and you are leaving us in a better place than when you started. Thank you.

 

I set out to build a Cabinet and senior team that looks like Pennsylvania, and reflects the people and the communities that I just took an oath to serve and protect.

 

Led by our Chief of Staff, Dana Fritz, sitting behind me here today, is the most well-qualified and diverse set of public servants in our history.

 

I look forward to doing this work, with them, for you.

 

But most of all, I want to thank you, the good people of Pennsylvania.

 

You inspired me. You taught me important lessons.

 

You invited me into your homes, your union halls, your places of worship and your community centers.

 

We walked our main streets together and I listened to you. I heard your stories.

 

And those stories fuel my drive to serve.

 

Your struggles give me purpose. Your smiles and your tears have filled my heart.

 

Your problems have become my priorities. Your causes, my concerns.

 

And together we’ve taken on the powerful and empowered the people.

 

People like Alexis, who was ripped off by a predatory student lender and whose story inspired a fight to take on that powerful entity and bring real relief to thousands of Pennsylvanians.

 

Like Tim, who did backbreaking work on our roadways for decades, just to have company executives steal his hard-earned benefits but whose courage led to accountability and change.

 

Like the families I’ve met who lost loved ones to the opioid crisis.

 

They’ve shared their grief with me, but also their resolve to keep up the fight to protect others from the dangers of addiction made worse by corporate greed.

 

And like the thousands of brave survivors I’ve met, who come no matter where I am, and in hushed tones tell me their stories of abuse so that the institutions who cover it up can be held accountable.

 

Your stories and your courage have stayed with me. And, they will motivate me each and every day as your Governor.

 

Because ultimately, in a functioning democracy, it’s your voices that should be heard in the halls of government.

 

The voices of people like Danielle, who has bravely told us her own story about her decision to have an abortion to save her life and who I’m honored to have on this stage with me today.

 

The voice of the grandma in Lawrence County who I met over 15 months ago in the first week of our campaign. She came up to me, grabbed me by lapels, pulled me close, and in that stern voice that only comes from a grandma, looked me in the eye and said do not let us go back to what it was like before Roe.

 

And thanks to so many of you, we won’t.

 

The small business owners like Jarrod Bets who owns a community barber shop in Lancaster and is with us on stage today.

 

Like so many others, he told me about his dream and built it and now just needs a level playing field to thrive.

 

I remember the voices of the grieving moms who have lost their children to gun violence.

 

Your children mattered and so do you. Thank you for being on the stage with me today.

 

I remember the students, brave enough to speak openly with me about their mental health struggles. They’re the strong ones and it’s up to us to help them.

 

The family farmer looking to leave his land to his daughter, but lacking the capital to make the investments to carry on the family legacy long enough to see her take over.

 

And the voices of those who put on the uniform at home and abroad to keep us safe and those they leave behind in service to all of us.

 

We are joined today by Stephanie Mack and Brittany Sisca, the wives of Trooper Martin Mack and Trooper Brandon Sisca who were killed in the line of duty a few months ago.

 

Thank you for being with us today. We continue to honor and respect your husbands. May their memories be a blessing.

 

You, the good people of Pennsylvania, will always be my north star.

 

I’m mindful of the fact that you’ve shared those stories with me because you believe I can make a difference for you.

 

And that is humbling – humbling that you’ve entrusted me with such a great responsibility.

 

Not just the honor to serve as your Governor, but the responsibility to stand up for what’s right, to bring people together and to get things done for you.

 

That is my covenant with you – the people.

 

That is our deal.

 

You spoke up loud and clear and gave me direction with your voice and with your vote – a record number of votes in fact.

 

People from all different walks of life – from rural, urban and suburban communities united to tell me what you think.

 

You showed the underlying goodness within our Commonwealth – that you want a society that creates opportunity for all people.

 

From God’s Country to Gettysburg, I heard you when you said you want good schools for our kids, safe communities, and an economy that gives people a shot and lifts them up.

 

You also sent a clear message – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – when you came together to resoundingly reject extremism.

 

Together, hope defeated fear.

 

Unity triumphed over division.

 

We proved that we value our freedoms, and we’re willing to do the hard work necessary to protect our fundamental rights.

 

And to those who didn’t cast their vote for me, I heard you too. And I will do my best every day to be a Governor for all Pennsylvanians.

 

Now is the time to join together behind the unifying strength of three simple truths that have sustained our nation over the past two-and-a-half centuries – that above all else, beyond any momentary political differences – we value our freedom, we cherish our democracy, and we love this country.

 

Our democracy is indeed now stronger because that historic coalition came together and fought for it, voted for it. But our democracy is not a given.

 

As our own Pennsylvania history shows, our democracy is a constant work in progress.

 

Pennsylvania’s first Constitution in 1776 was regarded as the most democratic of its time, but it still took another 150 years for women to gain the right to vote.

 

Pennsylvania was the first state to pass a law abolishing slavery just four years later in 1780 – but it took until 1847 for total abolition.

 

We worked at it. Together. Because we value our freedom and we, as a people, are committed to progress.

 

Consider this – our Commonwealth was founded on the promise of religious tolerance.

 

Pennsylvania, a place where Penn invited all to come and live and worship in peace and security.

 

And now, in this place of tolerance, I stand before you, a proud American of Jewish faith who just took the oath of office to be the 48th Governor of this great Commonwealth on a bible from the Tree of Life synagogue, the scene just four years ago of the deadliest act of antisemitism in our nation’s history.

 

Pennsylvanians can indeed find light in the midst of darkness and drown out the voices of hate and bigotry.

 

You see, in every chapter of this Pennsylvania story, we got better. We got stronger. We got more tolerant.

 

Our story is one of progress and prosperity, and today we come together under the banner of this new Administration to write our next chapter with a keen understanding of our history and the voices that will guide our future.

 

It will require all of us to build on Penn’s promise.

 

My own faith teaches me that no one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it.

 

In this Capitol and throughout our Commonwealth, we have a unique responsibility to keep doing the hard and necessary work to strengthen the democracy that was born here 246 years ago.

 

Each of us can make a contribution. And, in many different ways, we’ve shown that when it is all on the line, Pennsylvanians step up, and do their part.

 

We rallied. Like Gen-Z who continue to make progress on climate change and gun violence and reproductive rights.

 

Like the two women in Montgomery County who bravely walked into a county courthouse and asked for a marriage license before it was legal and sparked a movement.

 

Like those who marched with Dr. King at Girard College during the Civil Rights movement to demand righteous change.

 

Like the Pennsylvania service member who carried with him one of the other bibles I was sworn in on, when he fought to save the world from fascism and defeat the Nazis in World War II, and earned himself a Purple Heart in the process.

 

They stepped up. The Pennsylvania way.

 

We are all stewards of our democracy, and I’m mindful that as we celebrate the peaceful transition of power, we are proving once again that our democracy endures and the collective work to strengthen it continues.

 

This work is more important now than ever, because over the last several years, we have been reminded of the fragility of our democracy. How we have to keep working at it, keep fighting to protect it.

 

Here in Pennsylvania, we didn’t allow the extremists who peddle lies drown out the truth. We showed that our system works and that our elections are free and fair, safe and secure.

 

We assume this obligation to defend democracy not merely to honor the work of our ancestors but rather to build on a foundation so we can make progress for our children.

 

Only by setting the table of opportunity and inviting all to sit and partake, can we advance the cause of real freedom.

 

The kind of real freedom that comes when we devote real resources to that young child’s public school to make sure she has a shot.

 

The kind of real freedom that comes when we invest in public safety to make sure she lives past her 18th birthday.

 

The kind of real freedom that comes when we create pathways to new opportunities by investing in vo-tech and job training programs like the ones that prepared IATSE members to construct this very stage and trained apprentice cabinet makers from the Carpenters Union to craft this podium I now speak from.

 

The kind of real freedom that comes when you live in a Commonwealth that respects you for who you are – no matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love or who you pray to.

 

Real freedom that makes government a productive force for good. That allows us to tackle big challenges again and dream of brighter, more prosperous tomorrows.

 

Where our air is clean, our water pure and our communities healthier and our economy stronger.

 

Where poverty doesn’t get ignored and prosperity isn’t limited to certain zip codes.

 

Where political differences cause debate, but do not give rise to demagogues.

 

The real freedom that leaves its citizens with the confidence of knowing that the doors of opportunity will swing open for them if they push through.

 

Where everyone gets a shot and no one is left behind.

 

That is real freedom. That is our challenge. That is our calling. And, that is the next chapter in our Pennsylvania story that we start writing today – together.

 

I honor the work of those who came before me, I affirm my pact with the people to listen and be your voice, and I accept the responsibility you’ve bestowed upon me to be the next link in the chain of progress – with humility.

 

And so, with my faith firmly rooted in we the people of Pennsylvania, with my heart open to others and my eyes fixed ahead, I am prepared to do my part to move our Commonwealth forward.

 

Thank you for this honor. May god bless you and watch over the women and men of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

 

Thank you.

Greta Thunberg carried away by police at German mine protest

Police officers carry Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg away from the edge of the Garzweiler II opencast lignite mine during a protest action by climate activists after the clearance of Luetzerath, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. After the eviction of Luetzerath ended on Sunday, coal opponents continued their protests on Tuesday at several locations in North Rhine-Westphalia. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)

BERLIN (AP) — German news agency dpa is reporting that Swedish climate activist Great Thunberg and several other protesters have been carried away by German police from the edge of an open coal pit mine. They were demonstrating against the ongoing destruction of a village to make way for the mine’s expansion. Hundreds of others resumed the anti-mine protests elsewhere a day after the last two activists holed up in a tunnel beneath the village of Luetzerath left the site. Dozens glued themselves to a main street in the city of Cologne and to a state government building in Duesseldorf on Tuesday. A group of about 120 activists occupied the coal car tracks to a power plant.

Bucs: Gage hospitalized with neck injury, to have more tests

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage is taken off the filed after being injured against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL wild-card football game, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers say wide receiver Russell Gage had movement in his extremities after suffering a neck injury and concussion in the team’s wild-card playoff game against Dallas. Gage will continue to undergo more tests in the hospital after spending the night there. He was injured Monday night in the fourth quarter when he stumbled on a route, went to the ground, couldn’t make the catch and took a hard shot to the neck from Donovan Wilson. Gage appeared to try to get up but couldn’t and slammed his hand into the ground in frustration. He was taken off the field by stretcher.

Shapiro takes oath of office to become 48th Pa. governor

FILE – Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro speaks at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., on Jan. 11, 2023. Shapiro will become the 48th governor of Pennsylvania at Tuesday’s Jan. 17 inauguration at the state Capitol, taking the oath of office in the nation’s fifth-most populous on the heels of a blowout win in November’s election. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democrat Josh Shapiro has become the 48th governor of Pennsylvania at the inaugural ceremony at the state Capitol. The 49-year-old Shapiro took office Tuesday with more experience in state government than any recent predecessors. Chief Justice Debra Todd administered his oath on a stage erected behind the state’s ornate Capitol in Harrisburg, with lawmakers, members of Congress and others looking on. Shapiro succeeds term-limited Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, and is the first governor of Pennsylvania since 1966 to be elected to succeed a member of his own party. Meanwhile, Democrat Austin Davis was sworn in as Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor.

Brown Announces Upcoming Hard to Read License Plate Event in New Castle

NEW CASTLE – Rep. Marla Brown (R-Lawrence) is teaming up with the New Castle Police Department to help constituents with free replacement of license plates that have become difficult to read.

Brown’s Hard to Read License Plate Event will take place on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. to noon, at her district office parking lot located at 28 N. Mill St., New Castle.

“A registration plate is deemed illegible when one of more numbers or letters cannot be recognized from 50 feet or if the registration plate shows any blistering, peeling, discoloration or loss of reflectivity,” said Brown. “I encourage residents to bring in their vehicles and begin the free license plate replacement process.”

A member of the New Castle Police Department will inspect plates and determine the need for replacement. If deemed eligible for replacement, Brown’s district office team will be on hand to assist local residents with filling out the appropriate paperwork.

Drivers must bring along their unexpired Pennsylvania driver’s license and current vehicle registration card. Specialty plates such as those for veterans, Pennsylvania zoos, college alumni, etc. cannot be processed at this event.

Once submitted to PennDOT, the new replacement plates should arrive in approximately two weeks. There is no fee for the plate replacement or this service.

Residents who are unable to make this event can reach out to Brown’s New Castle district office for assistance at 724-498-4397.

TSA highlights its top accomplishments of 2022

WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recognized a year of accomplishments and progress in 2022, setting a new record in firearm interceptions by Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) at checkpoints, making significant strides to improve transportation security and screening an average of more than two million passengers daily at airports across the country.

TSA provided airport screening at or near pre-pandemic travel volumes despite multiple instances of challenging weather conditions; enhanced cybersecurity resilience of critical transportation infrastructure with performance-based security directives and continued to test and deploy new technologies that significantly improve security effectiveness, efficiency and the passenger experience throughout the transportation system. Additionally, TSA officers stopped more than 6,500 firearms at airport checkpoints.

“I am incredibly proud of our dedicated TSA employees who perform the critical task of securing our nation’s transportation systems each day,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “We had a very successful year that ended with the enactment of the FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which included funding to bring TSA employee compensation to a level commensurate with other federal employees, in addition to funding to expand collective bargaining rights for our non-supervisory screening workforce. For years, our employees have not been paid fairly, and securing pay parity was necessary from an operational standpoint as we continue to see increasing travel volumes, and will also help our ability to recruit and hire new employees and retain the talent we have.”

During 2022, TSA achieved the following highlights and accomplishments:

OUR SECURITY OPERATIONS

20 years of federalized security: TSA recognized the 20th year of checkpoint federalization as more than 400 airports nationwide reached this milestone anniversary.

Technology improvements: TSA improved security effectiveness and reduced physical contact by deploying 534 Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units and adding 243 Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray scanners at airport checkpoints. The FY23 Omnibus Bill, which President Biden signed into law in December 2022, will enable technology deployments to continue across the agency’s nearly 2,400 security checkpoint lanes to raise the bar on identity verification and security efficiency, accommodate future improvements in liquids screening and take initial steps for screening at speed.

Cybersecurity resilience efforts: TSA worked with industry partners to revise previous rail and pipeline Security Directives and issue performance-based pipeline Security Directives to enhance cybersecurity resilience for the nation’s critical pipelines and rail systems. Performance-based criteria recognizes the diversity of organizations and systems that exist throughout the transportation sector and seeks to incorporate practices that strengthen those systems against attack.

Officers stopped a record number of firearms: TSOs prevented more than 6,542 firearms from entering the secure areas of airports in 2022; 88% of the firearms were loaded. TSA also announced several new measures to mitigate firearms threats including enhanced screening for passengers in possession of a firearm at a TSA checkpoint and loss of TSA PreCheck® eligibility for up to five years. In December 2022, TSA also increased the maximum civil penalty for a firearms violation to nearly $15,000.

Federal Air Marshal Service 60th Anniversary: In March 2022, TSA recognized its Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) for 60 years of protecting domestic and international flights and providing a visible security presence for surface transportation modes. The FAMS was initially founded as part of the Federal Aviation Administration in 1962 in response to increased international airline hijacking incidents, and transitioned to TSA after its establishment following the 9/11 attacks.

Expanded canine teams: TSA trained and deployed more than 1,000 explosives detection canine teams at airports and mass-transit facilities to support large-scale events such as Super Bowl LVI, the Kentucky Derby, Indy 500 and enhance security operations at airports and surface transportation systems nationwide.

Announced open architecture initiative: TSA partnered with Airports Council International (ACI) – Europe to begin piloting open architecture airport security technology. Open architecture offers agility in technology development, adoption and updates, promoting competition and improving security and the traveler experience.

TSA Insider Threat:  Executed a multimedia insider threat awareness campaign, increasing workforce knowledge of potential risk indicators of an insider threat and reporting streams; expanded TSA office and program membership within the TSA Insider Risk Mitigation Hub and increased external domestic and international transportation stakeholder and partner outreach efforts. The agency also continued advancement of TSA Insider Threat with the deployment of a case management system and threat data analytics.

Global incident management: TSA supported Operation Allies Welcome with the safe transport of over 90,000 people from Afghanistan to the U.S. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, TSA continued to lead cybersecurity efforts as a sector risk management agency for transportation.

OUR CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS

Passenger volumes continue to recover: Travel volumes returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, with TSOs screening 736 million passengers, averaging over two million passengers per day. On average, 99.4% of passengers waited less than 30 minutes at airport security checkpoints, while 99.4% of passengers in TSA PreCheck lanes waited less than 10 minutes.

TSA PreCheck reduced enrollment fee: Seven new airlines joined the TSA PreCheck expedited screening program and over 3.3 million people enrolled, bringing the total number of active TSA PreCheck members to more than 14 million. The agency also reduced the initial enrollment cost to $78 and renewal cost to $70.

First TSA PreCheck at an international checkpoint: In February, TSA opened its first TSA PreCheck lanes outside of the U.S. making its debut in Nassau, Bahamas.

TSA improved the passenger experience: The TSA Contact Center answered 1.9 million traveler calls and email messages; AskTSA responded directly to 2.2 million traveler questions, typically within two minutes, over social media and introduced a new feature enabling airline passengers to text AskTSA (275-872) with security-related questions. The TSA Cares helpline provided assistance to 46,000 travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances. Additionally, TSA implemented enhanced screening technology, improving the Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) units in airport checkpoints with a software update that enhances accuracy and efficiency. Through a partnership with Apple, TSA also continued to test the acceptance of mobile driver’s licenses to enable a more seamless airport security experience for travelers in participating states including Arizona, Maryland and Colorado.

Collaboration and strategic partnerships: TSA conducted over 500 domestic response plan exercises; provided self-defense training for airline employees; offered truck, port and rail workers online options to securely renew credentials and increased intelligence sharing with surface and aviation partners.

TSA leveraged innovation and identity management: TSA published its Innovation Doctrine to highlight how the agency embeds innovation into its business processes. Additionally, TSA issued an Identity Management Roadmap, outlining a cohesive identity management approach that enhances standards, improves data sharing and privacy protocols across systems and expands collaboration efforts among stakeholders to improve the traveler experience.

TSA introduced its virtual Mission Hall: In November 2022, TSA launched a virtual tour of TSA’s Mission Hall, which is located at TSA headquarters. The exhibit is a collection of historical archives and artifacts documenting the agency’s establishment, its evolution and critical events in transportation security.

OUR PEOPLE

Increased compensation for TSA employees: In late December 2022 President Biden signed into law the FY23 Omnibus Bill, which was a top priority for DHS and TSA, that includes funds to pay TSA employees at a level commensurate with other federal agencies. The new compensation plan will begin in July 2023 and recognizes the critical role TSA employees play in protecting the nation’s transportation systems.

Expanded collective bargaining rights for non-supervisory screeners: The FY23 Omnibus Bill included funding to support implementation of an expanded labor framework, including broad collective bargaining rights for the non-supervisory screening workforce. On December 30, 2022, Administrator Pekoske signed a new Determination on Transportation Security Officers and Collective Bargaining that sets forth this new labor framework. The spending bill also included funding for continued Merit Systems Protection Board rights for TSOs. The agency first established these rights for TSOs in September 2021.

TSA hired a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Officer: TSA hired its first-ever executive officer to lead diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives for the agency. The Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Officer is responsible for designing, developing, and recommending a diversity management strategy that aligns with and contributes directly to TSA’s mission and strategic goals.

TSA continues to hire and train officers: TSA hired more than 10,000 new TSOs and opened its new TSA Academy West adjacent to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas. The new training academy graduated over 1,000 TSOs while others were trained at the TSA Academy East in Glynco, Ga. TSA offered a hiring bonus for TSO positions in some areas of the country where it is hard to recruit applicants and provided an opportunity for candidates to onboard as Security Support Assistants (SSA) within just a few weeks. The SSA position allows candidates to quickly obtain employment at TSA to perform non-screening duties in support of checkpoint operations, while they complete the TSO hiring process.