New Bill Would Reform the TWIC Enrollment Process
On December 8, 2011, Senator Ayotte (R-NH) and three co-sponsors1 introduced S. 1966, a bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment, to reform the process for the enrollment, activation, issuance, and renewal of Transportation Worker Identification Credentials to require not more than one in-person visit to a designated enrollment center, except under extenuating circumstances2. Similar legislation was introduced in the House in October 2011.
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According to a press release from Senator Ayotte, under current rules, merchant mariners, port employees, truck drivers, and other workers are required to make repeated visits to a TWIC enrollment center in order to apply for and obtain credentials. For some applicants, the nearest enrollment center can be hundreds of miles away from their home or workplace, requiring two expensive and time-consuming round trips. The press release notes that, by contrast, comparable secure identity documents such as passports and merchant mariner credentials require only one in-person visit and can be returned to qualified applicants by mail.
1Senators Begich (D- AK), Rubio (R-FL), and Vitter (R-LA)
2As determined by the DHS Secretary
(See ITT's Online Archives 11102110 for summary of H.R. 3173.
See ITT's Online Archives 11051120 for summary of the GAO and others' testimonies on credentialing shortcomings, TWIC deficiencies, and issues with TWIC readers during a May 2011 hearing. GAO reported during the hearing that during covert tests, its investigators were able to access ports using counterfeit TWICs, authenticate TWICs acquired through fraudulent means, and false business cases.
See ITT's Online Archives 11032432 for summary of a House bill that, if enacted, would delay the expiration of TWICs until the earlier of (i) the deadline for full implementation of an TWIC electronic reader final rule; or (ii) December 31, 2014.)
Senator Ayotte’s press release available here