TSA Should Update Known Shipper, Move Cargo Inspections Under Policy Division, Airforwarders Head Tells Congress
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) should update its Known Shipper program to reflect modern e-commerce and move cargo inspectors under the agency’s policy division, Airforwarders Association Executive Director Brandon Fried said in testimony (here) submitted prior to a July 25 House Homeland Security Transportation and Protective Security Subcommittee hearing. Fried noted that e-commerce has grown from being “nascent” when the program started in 2001, into a $500 billion industry in U.S. retail sales over the past year. The program eliminated anonymous shipment of all documents, parcels, counter-to-counter packages and freight on flights originating in the U.S.
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Fried also noted that airforwarders rely on consistent regulatory interpretations across facilities. “Interpretation of policy and implementation of policy should be joined at the hip,” Fried said. “At the end of the day, security deteriorates when operators do not have a clear understanding of regulations due to inconsistent policy interpretations.” AfA is supportive of the government’s Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) initiative, but forwarders shouldn’t be the only ones required to submit data and the program should be accessible through a “readily available government portal,” he said. The House last week passed the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act, which would require the department to issue a final rule within 180 days of enactment to implement the program (see 1707210033). Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said in an emailed statement that he looks forward to working with “colleagues and other Senate committees to consider this important legislation.”