CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE STATEMENT ON THE PASSAGE OF HR 3202 THE TRANSPORTATION WORKER IDENTIFICATION CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT ACT WHICH PASSED OUT OF SUBCOMMITTEE TODAY

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Senior Member of the House Homeland Security Committee and Ranking Member on the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, released the following statement after HR 3202 – the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act was passed out of the Homeland Security Border and Maritime Subcommittee by voice vote:

“I was pleased that my bill, HR 3202 was passed out of the Homeland Security Border and Maritime Subcommittee by voice vote today. The nationwide recognition of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) promotes security and standardization.  A common credential enables facility and vessel operators as well as federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement entities to verify the identity of individuals—a step that was not feasible prior to TWIC implementation with potentially thousands of different facility-specific credentials. TWIC also allows transportation workers to move among facilities, vessels, and geographic regions as needed for routine market demands and during emergencies, while still maintaining security.

“In the interest of security and in order to provide proper stewardship of appropriated funds and collected TWIC fees, I introduced legislation to insist that DHS demonstrate how the TWIC Program will improve maritime security. The Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act’ will require the Secretary of Homeland Security to complete and submit to Congress and GAO a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the TWIC Program at enhancing or reducing security risks for maritime facilities and vessels. The comprehensive assessment will be completed by an independent, not-for-profit laboratory. Many problems and vulnerabilities persist and will have to be resolved if the TWIC Program is to ever realize the security benefits envisioned by Congress.

“As we all know, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Unaccompanied Alien Children coming across our borders, and especially increasingly younger children, attempting to enter this country without authorization along the southwest border. I also had an amendment accepted that would require the Customs and Border Patrol to report to Congress on the scope of the problem, the agency's efforts to address it, and any additional resources that may be necessary.  The Secretary of Homeland Security recently announced measures the Department is undertaking to address this situation, including assigning additional personnel to South Texas where much of this activity is occurring; identifying additional short-term bed-space; and conducting a campaign to raise awareness in Mexico and Central America about the dangers of attempting to send children to enter the U.S. without authorization. 

“I look forward to the successful passage of this measure through the Full Committee.”

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