Wicker, Fischer Introduce TSA Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act

Hearing

U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., ranking member of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports, today introduced the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act. The legislation would help reduce the burden on workers applying for two or more of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), hazardous materials endorsement (HME), or TSA PreCheck programs by standardizing the enrollment and renewal systems administered by TSA.

"Time and again, freight transportation workers have risen to the occasion and delivered critical products across the country," Wicker said. "Workers who need multiple TSA credentials face burdensome enrollment requirements and fees. I am glad to introduce legislation to reduce the bureaucratic barriers for workers who need these credentials to keep goods moving."

"This common-sense legislation would streamline the TSA's certification process for transportation workers who need approval from credentialing programs to do their jobs. By cutting down on duplicative red tape, the bill will also save truckers time and money when obtaining licenses. Importantly, these process improvements would all be made without impacting security concerns," Fischer said.

Current TSA policies often require separate applications for TWIC, HME, and PreCheck programs, even though TSA conducts a Security Threat Assessment (STA) for each program. Requiring applicants who have already enrolled and paid for a TWIC, HME, or PreCheck credential to do so again for another credential represents an extra cost and duplicative burden because the applicant will have already gone through an STA. The Senators' legislation would allow applicants for two or more of these credentials to enroll at a TSA enrollment center once and use the standardized application to enroll in any or all three of these credentials. Standardizing the enrollment process will reduce the time these workers spend applying for the credentials and remove duplicative fees.

The bill has been endorsed by the American Trucking Associations, the Teamsters, National Propane Gas Association, the Transportation Trades Department, the Border Trade Alliance, the National Tank Truck Carriers, Mississippi Trucking Association, the Association of the American Railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, and the National Energy and Fuels Institute.

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