Supporters

SupportDignity.com is a bipartisan effort in the Texas Legislature led by Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview) to defend travelers from virtual strip searches and indecent groping pat-downs in airports as a condition of travel.  Read the text of the bills here.

Texas Legislators and Officials in Support

Author: David Simpson (R-HD 7)

Senate Sponsor: Dan Patrick (R-SD 7)

Joint Authors: Eddie Rodriguez (D-HD 51) except HCR 80, José Menéndez (D-HD 124), Lois Kolkhorst (R-HD 13), Warren Chisum (R-HD 88)

Coauthors of HB 1937:   Aliseda | Anderson, Charles “Doc” | Anderson, Rodney | Beck | Berman | Bohac | Bonnen | Branch | Brown | Burkett | Burnam | Cain | Christian | Coleman | Cook | Creighton | Crownover | Davis, John | Davis, Sarah | Davis, Yvonne | Deshotel | Driver | Dutton | Eiland | Eissler | Elkins | Farias | Fletcher | Flynn | Frullo | Gallego | Garza | Gonzales, Larry | Gooden | Guillen | Hancock | Hardcastle | Harper-Brown | Hartnett | Hilderbran | Hopson | Howard, Charlie | Hughes | Isaac | Keffer | King, Phil | King, Susan | Landtroop | Larson | Laubenberg | Lavender | Legler | Lewis | Lozano | Lucio III | Lyne | Madden | Martinez Fischer | Martinez, “Mando” | Morrison | Murphy | Nash | Oliveira | Orr | Parker | Paxton | Pena | Perry | Phillips | Pickett | Price | Raymond | Reynolds | Riddle | Schwertner | Sheets | Smith, Todd | Smithee | Solomons | Taylor, Larry | Taylor, Van | Torres | Truitt | Turner | Villarreal | Weber | White | Workman | Zedler | Zerwas

Coauthors of HB 1938:   Aliseda | Anderson, Charles “Doc” | Anderson, Rodney | Beck | Berman | Bonnen | Branch | Burkett | Burnam | Cain | Christian | Coleman | Crownover | Davis, John | Deshotel | Driver | Eissler | Elkins | Fletcher | Flynn | Gallego | Garza | Gonzales, Larry | Guillen | Hancock | Howard, Charlie | Howard, Donna | Hughes | Isaac | King, Phil | Landtroop | Larson | Laubenberg | Lavender | Lewis | Lyne | Nash | Oliveira | Paxton | Perry | Pickett | Price | Quintanilla | Reynolds | Riddle | Taylor, Van | Weber | White | Workman | Zedler | Zerwas

Coauthors of HCR 80:   Aliseda | Beck | Berman | Burnam | Cain | Davis, John | Deshotel | Eissler | Fletcher | Flynn | Garza | Gonzales, Larry | Guillen | Hancock | Howard, Charlie | Hughes | Isaac | Landtroop | Larson | Laubenberg | Lavender | Lyne | Nash | Paxton | Perry | Pickett | Price | Quintanilla | Riddle | Taylor, Van | Weber | White | Workman | Zedler | Zerwas

Don Zimmerman, Texas State Republican Executive Committeeman, SD 14

Congressman John Carter - “Our citizens are forced to undergo unconscionable procedures at the hands of the TSA. The fact that someone is traveling is not justification to submit them to humiliating and unconstitutional invasions of their privacy. I am glad to support the efforts of Rep. David Simpson and his co-authors in the Texas Legislature to stop the TSA’s abuses.”

Congressman Louie Gohmert – “Texas State Representative David Simpson is taking a stand for the people of Texas. Security is essential when traveling; however, airport full body scans invade very personal privacy bounds without a warrant, without probable cause, are offensive, and yet would not even detect some dangerous things. It is important that we balance individual privacy and security. Rep. Simpson is simply trying to address the issue and I applaud him for his effort.”

Congressman Ron Paul – “Texans are so sick and tired of an out-of-control TSA poking, prodding and violating us that they are demanding action. I applaud David Simpson for his leadership on this issue and enthusiastically endorse his efforts.”

Organizations in Support

Young Conservatives of Texas –   “The TSA has stepped beyond its mandate to protect American travelers and is now engaged in practices which invade the privacy and dignity of Texas citizens. Our mothers, daughters, and wives should not be subjected to groping pat-downs which would be illegal in any other setting or body scanners which reveal their unclothed bodies in order to fly.  Young Conservatives of Texas praises Representative David Simpson and the other Representatives who have signed onto his bill.”

Texas Republican Freedom Coalition –   “The Travis County Republican Party has joined a number of other groups, including the Texas Republican Freedom Coalition, in protecting the flying public starting right here in Austin.  We are proud to support Representative Simpson’s efforts.”

Texas Campaign for Liberty –   “We stand with Representative Simpson in opposition to the federal Transportation Safety Administration’s egregious assault on our personal privacy and liberty.  We urge the State legislature to support and pass legislation that would ensure the protection of Texans’ right to travel.”

Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (TURF) –   “Naked body scanners are an impediment to our freedom to travel and a violation of our 4th Amendment rights. TURF supports any and all efforts to ban these scanners from the State of Texas.”  – Terri Hall, Founder, Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom

Central Texas Republican Liberty Caucus –   “In his State of the State address, Governor Perry referenced Texans’ concerns for sound law over eminent domain.  There is no possession more valuable than our personal health and that of our loved ones.  Rep. David Simpson’s legislation aims to protect us against an unwarranted and dangerous government intrusion upon our persons.  The Central Texas Republican Liberty Caucus strongly supports his bills.”

Texans for Accountable Government –   “Representative Simpson’s legislation is an excellent example of state government living up to its duty to protect the liberty of Texans, especially when it is our own federal government purveying the intrusion. Texans for Accountable Government commends the trans-partisan effort made by Texas Legislators.”

StopAustinScanners.org –   “Across Texas and the nation, there is overwhelming grassroots’ opposition to the TSA naked body scanners because of the assault on traveler dignity and the grave potential health hazards they constitute.  Stop Austin Scanners fully endorses Rep. Simpson’s legislative initiatives.”

TSA Tyranny –   “Americans instinctively know that to be groped and virtually strip searched by the TSA in the name of keeping us ‘safe and secure’ is unacceptable. Thankfully, a number of state legislators have recognized this obvious fact and are seeking to defend their citizens’ liberties against Washington’s overreach. As with Washington’s disastrous health care bill, numerous states have had enough of the TSA’s outrageous screening policies, with Texas now joining New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and New Jersey in introducing bills to check TSA tyranny. We applaud Rep. Simpson’s legislative efforts in Texas and stand behind the Protecting Freedom and Dignity in Travel acts he has introduced.”

The Tenth Amendment Center –   “Can you imagine the look on the founders’ faces if you told them they had to submit to federal agents looking at their naked bodies and groping them just so they could take a glorified carriage ride? We are thrilled that Texas is taking a stand against this unwarranted federal overreach. The Constitution doesn’t grant the federal government any power to oversee airport security. It’s a matter left to the states. But state sovereignty means nothing until the states stand up and just say, ‘No!’ when the feds overstep their constitutionally enumerated powers. Texas is doing just that – doing exactly what James Madison envisioned: interposing on behalf of its citizens.”