Review – S 4298 Introduced – TSA Enrollments

Last month, Sen Wicker (R,MS) introduced S 4298, the TSA Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act. The bill would require TSA to standardize the enrollment and renewal processes for the TWIC, HAZMAT endorsement and the TSA PreCheck program. No funding is authorized by this bill. This bill is very similar to HR 6571 that was introduced in the House in February 2022; no action has been taken on that bill.

Moving Forward

Wicker is the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This certainly ensures that there is sufficient influence to see this bill considered in Committee. I do not see anything in this bill that would draw any organized opposition to this bill. I suspect that it would receive significant bipartisan support for this bill in Committee.

Again, this bill will probably not make it to the floor of the Senate as a stand-alone bill. It could be included as part of a spending or authorization bill.

Commentary

As I noted in my HR 6571 post, TSA has made a great deal of progress on making it easier to get multiple transportation credentials. This version of the bill takes more of that into consideration. The removal of the one-stop-shop requirement makes it easier for the eight states that still control their HMI application process to support this legislation.

 

For more details on the differences between this bill and HR 6571, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/s-4298-introduced - subscription required.

 

Bills Introduced – 5-24-22

Yesterday with the Senate in Washington and the House meeting in pro forma session, there were 36 bills introduced. One of those bills will receive additional coverage in this blog:

S 4298 A bill to require the Transportation Security Administration to standardize the enrollment process for individuals applying for multiple TSA security threat assessment programs, including the TWIC, HAZMAT Endorsement, and TSA PreCheck programs of the Administration, and for other purposes. Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

This sounds like it may be similar to HR 6571 that was introduced in February. No action has taken place on that bill.

Review - HR 6571 Introduced – TSA Enrollments

Last week Rep Smith (D,WA) introduced HR 6571, the TSA Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act. The bill would require TSA to standardize the enrollment and renewal processes for the TWIC, HAZMAT endorsement and the TSA PreCheck program. No funding is authorized by this bill.

Moving Forward

While Smith is not a member of the House Homeland Security Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration, two of his cosponsors {Rep Katko (R,NY) and Rep Luria (D,VA)} are members of the Committee. This means that there may be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. I suspect that the bill would receive bipartisan support. The bill would probably be considered under the suspension of the rules process if it were adopted in Committee.

Commentary

In early stages of these three TSA security threat assessment programs there were certainly problems that holders of one of the credentials had when applying for one of the other credentials. Those problems have been reduced in recent years. According to the TSA’s HAZMAT Endorsement web site, States are already authorized “to issue an HME on a state-issued CDL to a driver who holds a valid” TWIC. Similarly, TSA announced in 2020 that: “TWIC® and HME holders can obtain TSA PreCheck expedited screening by entering the identification numbers printed on their TWIC® card or state-issued CDL during the airline reservation process.”

All of this does not mean that there is a centralized location (real or virtual) where there is one stop shopping for all three credentials. One thing that this bill does not address is the fact that there are still eight states (Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin) where CDL holders must apply at a State DMV office to apply for their HME.

For more details about this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-6571-introduced - subscription required.

Bills Introduced – 2-2-22

Yesterday, with both the House and Senate in session, there were 41 bills introduced. Two of those bills may receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 6566 To amend title 17, United States Code, to provide for the diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of certain digital electronic equipment. Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17]

HR 6571 To require the Transportation Security Administration to standardize the enrollment process for individuals applying for multiple TSA Security Threat Assessment programs, including the TWIC, HAZMAT Endorsement, and TSA PreCheck programs of the Administration, and for other purposes. Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]

I suspect that HR 6566 is a piece of right-to-repair legislation. I will be watching for definitions and language that includes cybersecurity provisions within the scope of the bill.

HR 6571 will be covered in this blog.