Review - S 5487 Introduced – TWICE Act

Last month, Sen Kennedy (R,LA) introduced S 5487, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Efficiency (TWICE) Act. The bill would require TSA to develop guidelines to improve returning [from incarceration] citizens’ access to the TWIC program. No new funding is authorized by the bill. 

The bill is similar in intent to HR 5109, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Efficiency Act, introduced by Rep Carter (D,LA) in September 2025. The House Homeland Security Committee held a business meeting on June 24th, 2026, that included consideration of the HR 5487. The bill was approved by a vote of 30 to 0. On September 16th, the House considered the bill under the suspension of the rule process and passed it on a voice vote. 

Moving Forward  

Kennedy is not a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there is not likely to be sufficient influence for this bill to be considered by that Committee. While I suspect that there would be some level of bipartisan support for this bill were it to be considered, I certainly do not think that there is sufficient time left in the schedule of the 119th Congress to see this bill move through the legislative process. The only way that this bill, or its House counterpart, will make it to the floor in the 119th session of the Senate will be under the unanimous consent process. I would expect an objection to such consideration by any one of several Republican Senators that would consider this to be ‘soft on crime’. 

Commentary  

As I mentioned when this bill was introduced, on September 16th, Laurie Thomas, an expert on all things Coast Guard, MTSA, and TWIC, left a comment on my blog post about the reporting of HR 5109: 

“Just my two cents but I think most facilities would prefer that the just-released establish a pattern of good behavior and compliance with legal norms before coming to work in a place whose risk posture requires a TWIC. Make HR 5109 make sense, please.” 

Nothing in the language of this bill would change the existing TWIC eligibility restrictions for convictions or incarceration for the serious offenses listed in §70105(c); no changes to that subsection have been proposed in this bill. It would simply require TSA to produce formal guidelines on how those restrictions would be applied in practice and what level of assistance TSA would have to provide personnel submitting appeals under 49 CFR 1515.7. Any changes to §1515.7 would have to go through the publish and comment process. 

For more information on the provisions of this bill, including additional commentary about reducing the time standards for interim disqualifying offenses – see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/s-5487-introduced-twice-act - subscription required. 

HR 5109 Reported in House – TWIC for Felons

Yesterday, the House Homeland Security Committee reported HR 5109, a bill requiring TSA to “develop guidelines to improve returning [from incarceration] citizens’ access to the TWIC program.” A copy of the report is not currently available. The Committee held a business meeting on June 24th, 2026, that included consideration of the bill. The bill was approved by a vote of 30 to 0. 

The House is scheduled to consider the bill today under the suspension of the rules process. That process provides for limited floor debate; no amendments may be considered; and passage requires a super majority. 

Review – HR 5109 Introduced – Felons and TWIC

Earlier this month, Rep Carter (D,LA) introduced HR 5109, a bill requiring TSA to “develop guidelines to improve returning [from incarceration] citizens’ access to the TWIC program.” No new funding is authorized by the bill. No new funding is authorized.

This bill is essentially identical to HR 7223 that was introduced by Carter in February 2024. No action was taken on that bill in the 118th Congress.

Moving Forward

Carter is a member of the House Homeland Security Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there may be sufficient influence to see this bill considered in Committee. I suspect that there will be some ‘soft on crime’ opposition to this bill from many Republicans. Whether it will be sufficient to derail this bill in committee is not clear. While I suspect that there would be some level of bipartisan support for the measure, I do not think that it would be enough to allow consideration under the suspension of the rules process which requires a super majority for passage.

For more information on the provisions of this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-5109-introduced-felons-and-twic - subscription required -

Review – Bills Introduced – 9-3-25

Yesterday, with both the House and Senate in session, there were 43 bills introduced. One of those bills will receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 5109 To require the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration of the United States to develop guidelines to improve returning citizens' access to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program, to assist individuals in custody of Federal, State, and local prisons in pre-applying or preparing applications for Transportation Worker Identification Credential cards, and to assist individuals requesting an appeal or waiver of preliminary determination of ineligibility, and for other purposes. Carter, Troy A. [Rep.-D-LA-2]

Space Geek Legislation

I would like to mention one bill under my limited Space Geek coverage in this blog:

HR 5122 To amend title 51, United States Code, to provide for a NASA public-private talent program, and for other purposes. Sykes, Emilia Strong [Rep.-D-OH-13] 

 

For more information on these bills, including legislative history for similar bills in the 118^th, as well as a mention in passing of three biotechnology research bills, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/bills-introduced-9-3-25 - subscription required.