(Image Source: Fox News)

BY NEWSY STAFF

Two New York lawmakers are calling on the TSA to hire passenger advocates. The plan was spurred after TSA employees allegedly strip-searched several elderly women. NY1 has the story.

“U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Queens State Senator Michael Gianaris are recommending that passenger advocates be placed at every airport. The push comes after several elderly women were strip-searched, including a Long Island grandmother who said screeners at JFK made her undress. She had asked for a pat-down instead of going through a medical detector because of medical equipment. TSA maintain they handled each situation properly.”

That woman was one of three who say they were strip-searched by TSA employees. TSA has denied the allegations, saying it does not conduct strip searches. But 88-year-old Ruth Sherman’s son, Ralph, doesn’t believe the agency. He tells The Queens Chronicle:

"They're basically saying my mother is lying .. You have three women who have never met and never spoke to each other with similar stories taking basically the same flight in a 24-hour period … The head of the TSA union says they [have] video proof that it didn't happen. I think they should produce it."

TSA admits there was confusion about exactly what type of medical equipment the different women had-- and different equipment requires different types of screenings. The agency has also apologized -- and The Boston Globe reports, is being proactive.

“ … TSA officials convened a call last week with members of various advocacy groups to talk about policies and procedures and to let them know that the agency plans to set up an 800 number to offer guidance to travelers with disabilities and medical conditions about screening procedures.”

Fox News explains what exactly the advocates would do -- and anchors seem to support the idea.

“Two New York lawmakers to hire so-called passenger advocates at all U.S. airports. Their job would be to address passengers’ complaints about security screenings right there on the spot. Can you imagine? We wouldn’t have 80-year-old women in wheelchairs getting frisked.”