ATA, stakeholders press Congress on TSA threat assessment enrollment bill
From Transport Topics. American Trucking Associations is among the stakeholders recently calling on congressional committees to pass a bill that expedites applications for commercial drivers seeking security credentials. On July 11, the nearly 90 groups representing the trucking industry and various other commercial transportation sectors wrote lawmakers on the transportation panels to express their support…
From Transport Topics.
American Trucking Associations is among the stakeholders recently calling on congressional committees to pass a bill that expedites applications for commercial drivers seeking security credentials.
On July 11, the nearly 90 groups representing the trucking industry and various other commercial transportation sectors wrote lawmakers on the transportation panels to express their support for the Transportation Security Administration Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act.
“Despite our unique perspectives on challenges facing America’s supply chains, we share the common burden of redundant background checks and duplicative fees that make it challenging and onerous for our members to obtain the security credentials they need to do their jobs,” the groups wrote.
The bill “is a long overdue solution for essential workers like truck drivers, pipeline operators, longshore workers and warehouse managers, among many others, who must obtain these credentials as a condition of employment,” they added. “The people who keep our supply chain running deserve a federal credentialing process that respects their time and money, and the TSA Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act directs the implementation of a streamlined system that supports America’s workers.”
Joining ATA were the Association of American Railroads, the Automobile Carriers Conference, the Border Trade Alliance, the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council, the Energy Marketers of America, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association, Government Freight Conference, the Institute of Makers of Explosives, the Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America and the Moving and Storage Conference, among others.
The bill is sponsored by Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). It would seek to assist aspects of the freight workforce with the application process for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and other requisite security credentials such as the hazardous materials endorsement (HME) and TSA PreCheck. Specifically, it would standardize enrollment and renewal procedures at the Transportation Security Administration.
See the complete article online at Transport Topics.