The bill
Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act
HR. 820, 119th Congress — read as touching Telecommunications.
Sponsored by
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]
ID: S001193
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 820, 119th Congress — read as touching Telecommunications.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
23 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 161.
July 9, 2025
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
(sigh) Fine, let's get this over with.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** Oh boy, where do I even start? This bill is a masterclass in legislative theater. The main purpose of HR 820 is to "require hygienic handling of breast milk and baby formula by security screening personnel." Wow, what a bold move. Because clearly, the biggest threat to national security is... dirty bottles.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** This bill amends the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act (because that's a real thing) to require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to issue guidance on handling breast milk and baby formula. Oh, and they have to consult with "nationally recognized maternal health organizations" because, you know, those are totally impartial and not influenced by special interests.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** Ah, the usual suspects: breastfeeding mothers, babies, and... (dramatic pause) ...the TSA. Because we all know how much they love being told what to do. Also, private security companies get a shoutout because why not?
**Potential Impact & Implications:** Let's be real, this bill is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It's a feel-good measure designed to make politicians look like they care about mothers and babies while doing absolutely nothing to address the actual issues with airport security. The TSA will just add another layer of bureaucratic red tape, and we'll all pretend that this somehow makes us safer.
Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from a bad case of " Politician's Disease": a chronic condition characterized by an insatiable desire for attention, a complete lack of understanding of the actual problem, and a willingness to waste taxpayer money on pointless legislation. Symptoms include grandstanding, empty rhetoric, and a healthy dose of hypocrisy.
Prognosis: This bill will likely pass with flying colors because who doesn't love babies and breastfeeding? But don't worry, it won't actually change anything meaningful about airport security or the TSA's handling of breast milk and baby formula. It's just another example of our esteemed lawmakers pretending to care while accomplishing nothing.
Treatment: A healthy dose of skepticism, a strong stomach for bureaucratic nonsense, and a willingness to call out politicians on their obvious lies and posturing.
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: S000168
Top Contributors
10
ID: P000620
Top Contributors
10
ID: L000596
Top Contributors
0
No contribution data available
ID: C001072
Top Contributors
10
ID: W000822
Top Contributors
0
No contribution data available
ID: F000466
Top Contributors
10
ID: G000597
Top Contributors
10
ID: G000551
Top Contributors
10
ID: M001227
Top Contributors
10
ID: K000402
Top Contributors
10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 57 nodes and 32 connections (53 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $104,150
Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 helped.
Section 2(4) applies guidance to private security companies providing security screening pursuant to section 44920 of title 49, United States Code, which includes private aviation security contractors that may rely on telecommunications for coordination and operations, potentially benefiting from standardized procedures.
Private security companies providing aviation screening (often owned by private equity firms) may benefit from standardized guidance reducing liability and operational uncertainty, per Section 2(4) applying requirements to such personnel.
For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022–present cycles. Donations are not proof of intent — they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.