Committee Hearing to Focus on TWIC Program Delays
Full Implementation of TSA’s
Transportation Worker Identification Credential on Hold for a Decade Washington, DC – A Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on Thursday will review the status of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, implementation of which continues to be delayed a decade after Congress directed its establishment.
The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to prescribe regulations requiring individuals needing unescorted access to secure areas of certain vessels and maritime facilities to be issued a biometric identification. The TWIC program was designed to meet these requirements, and since 2007, TSA has issued TWICs to over 2.1 million workers. The Department of Homeland Security has previously estimated the TWIC program could cost the government and private sector a combined total of as much as $3.2 billion over l0 years, and at a cost of $132.50 for a TWIC, maritime workers to date have paid fees in the range of a quarter of a billion dollars.
Thursday’s hearing will examine various problems with the delayed TWIC program. For example, TSA has yet to put in place technology that can actually read the TWIC’s biometric information, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has uncovered significant programmatic weaknesses and raised serious questions about the security of the program, workers are required to appear in person on multiple occasions to complete the TWIC process, and mariners newly applying for a separate Merchant Mariner Credential are also currently required to enroll for a TWIC, even if they do not require access to secure areas. For more information on Thursday’s hearing, click here.
WHAT: Hearing of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL), Chairman:
“A Review of the Delays and Problems Associated with TSA’s Transportation Worker Identification Credential”
WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 28, 2012
WHERE: 2167 Rayburn House Office Building - Washington, DC 20515
A live webcast of this hearing will be available at http://transportation.house.gov
WITNESSES:
· Rear Admiral Joseph Servidio, Assistant Commandant for Preparedness, United States Coast Guard
· Ms. Kelli Ann Walther, Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
· Mr. Stephen Sadler, Assistant Administrator, Transportation Security Administration (Invited)
· Mr. Joseph Lawless, Director of Maritime Security, Massachusetts Port Authority; testifying on behalf of American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)
· Mr. Robert McEllrath , President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union # # # |