On Thursday, U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MI), Angus King (I-ME), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Jon Tester (D-MT) recently introduced legislation to standardize the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Clearance Process.
The legislation would standardize the security clearance process for transportation workers nationwide. Currently, transportation workers, including truckers, often have to apply for more than one security clearance program, but do so using the same background check paperwork and fees.
“This legislation will cut through the red tape and streamline the process so workers can get back to moving goods across America, not wasting time and money,” Wicker said.
Current TSA policies require separate applications for required credentials like the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and Hazardous Materials Endorsements (HME). The TSA conducts a Security Threat Assessment for each program. Requiring applicants who have already enrolled and paid for a credential to do the same thing again is duplicative, the legislators said, adding that their legislation would standardize the process so applicants can enroll once and use it for multiple credentials.
The bill has been endorsed by the American Trucking Associations, National Propane Gas Association, Transportation Trades Department, Border Trade Alliance, National Tank Truck Carriers, Mississippi Trucking Association, Association of the American Railroads, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, and National Energy and Fuels Institute.
“Subjecting essential supply chain workers to the same exact background check multiple times in order to receive different credentials from the same agency does nothing to enhance security,” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said. “This system only serves to pad government coffers by forcing truckers and other transportation workers to pay duplicative fees for a background check they’ve already cleared. Congress should not allow the inefficiencies of government bureaucracy to impede the efficiency of our supply chain.”