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.