To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to prepare a comprehensive security assessment of the transportation security card program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-710
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2015-02-04 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Government studies and investigations
Homeland security
Marine and inland water transportation
Performance measurement
Technology assessment
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-04
text: 

Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act

 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit to Congress and the Comptroller General (GAO) a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the transportation security card program at enhancing security and reducing security risks for maritime facilities and vessels. Requires the assessment to be conducted, to the extent practicable, by a national laboratory within the DHS laboratory network or a maritime security university-based center within the DHS centers of excellence network.
 
Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a corrective action plan responding to the assessment which: (1) includes an implementation plan with benchmarks, and (2) shall be considered in any DHS rulemaking with respect to the transportation security card program.
 
Directs the Comptroller General, within 120 days after the corrective action plan is issued, to: (1) review the extent to which it implements the recommendations of the national laboratory or the maritime security university-based center and of the Comptroller General, and (2) inform Congress as to the plan's responsiveness to such recommendations.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from issuing a final rule requiring the use of transportation security card readers until: (1) the Comptroller General informs Congress that the submission is responsive to the GAO recommendations, and (2) the Secretary issues an updated list of transportation security card readers that are compatible with active transportation security cards.
 
Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on implementation of the plan at least 18 months after it is issued, and every 6 months thereafter for the ensuing 3-year period.
 
Declares that no additional funds are authorized to carry out this Act. Requires this Act to be carried out using amounts otherwise available for the purpose.

action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act 

 
 (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit to Congress and the Comptroller General (GAO) a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the transportation security card program at enhancing security and reducing security risks for maritime facilities and vessels. Requires the assessment to be conducted, to the extent practicable, by a national laboratory within the DHS laboratory network or a maritime security university-based center within the DHS centers of excellence network.
 
Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a corrective action plan responding to the assessment which: (1) includes an implementation plan with benchmarks, and (2) shall be considered in any DHS rulemaking with respect to the transportation security card program.
 
Directs the Comptroller General, within 120 days after the corrective action plan is issued, to: (1) review the extent to which it implements the recommendations of the national laboratory or the maritime security university-based center and of the Comptroller General, and (2) inform Congress as to the plan's responsiveness to such recommendations.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from issuing a final rule requiring the use of transportation security card readers until: (1) the Comptroller General informs Congress that the submission is responsive to the GAO recommendations, and (2) the Secretary issues an updated list of transportation security card readers that are compatible with active transportation security cards.
 
Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on implementation of the plan at least 18 months after it is issued, and every 6 months thereafter for the ensuing 3-year period.
 
(Sec. 3) Declares that no additional funds are authorized to carry out this Act. Requires this Act to be carried out using amounts otherwise available for the purpose.

action_date: 2016-04-25
text: 

Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to commission a national laboratory or a university-based center within the DHS centers of excellence network to conduct a two-phase comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Program at enhancing security and reducing security risks for maritime facilities and vessels that pose a high risk of being involved in a transportation security incident. 
 
The assessment shall include: (1) in Phase 1, a review of the credentialing process; (2) in Phase 2, which shall follow the implementation of the TWIC reader rule, an evaluation of the extent to which the TWIC Program addresses security risks in the maritime environment and the technology, business process, and operational impacts of the use of the transportation worker identification credentials and TWIC readers in the maritime environment; (3) an evaluation of the extent to which deficiencies identified by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have been addressed; and (4) a cost-benefit analysis of the TWIC Program.
 
 If the assessment identifies a deficiency in effectiveness of the TWIC Program, DHS shall submit to Congress a corrective action plan that: (1) responds to the assessment and includes an implementation plan with benchmarks, and (2) shall be considered in any DHS rulemaking with respect to the TWIC Program.
 
The DHS Inspector General, after submission of the corrective action plan, shall: (1) review the extent to which such plan implements the recommendations of the national laboratory or university-based center and of the GAO, and (2) notify Congress about the plan's responsiveness to such recommendations.
 
DHS may not issue additional rules with respect to the issuance of transportation worker identification credentials or use of TWIC readers until: (1) the Inspector General notifies Congress that the corrective action plan is responsive to the Inspector General's recommendations, and (2) DHS issues an updated list of TWIC readers that are compatible with active transportation worker security credentials. Such prohibition is inapplicable with respect to any final rule issued pursuant to the notice of proposed rulemaking on TWIC-Reader Requirements published by the Coast Guard on March 22, 2013.
 
The Inspector General shall report to Congress on implementation of the corrective action plan within 18 months after the plan is issued and every 6 months thereafter for the next three years.

action_date: 2016-12-10
text: 
(Sec. 1) This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to commence actions to improve its process for vetting individuals with access to secure areas of vessels and maritime facilities.
 
These actions shall include:
 
 
conducting a comprehensive risk analysis of security threat assessment procedures, including identifying procedures that need additional internal controls as well as best practices for quality assurance at every stage of the assessment;
 
implementing such internal controls and best practices;
 
improving fraud detection techniques;
 
updating the guidance provided to Trusted Agents (Credentialing Office) regarding the vetting process and related regulations;
 
finalizing a manual for such agents and adjudicators on the vetting process; and
 
establishing quality controls to ensure consistent procedures to review adjudication decisions and terrorism vetting decisions.
 
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall commission a national laboratory, a university-based center within the Science and Technology Directorate's centers of excellence network, or a qualified federally-funded research and development center to conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Program at enhancing security and reducing security risks for maritime facilities and vessels that pose a high risk of being involved in a transportation security incident.
 
The assessment shall review:
 
 
 the credentialing process,
 
the process for renewing TWIC applications, and
 
the security value of the TWIC program.
 
 
If the assessment identifies a deficiency in effectiveness of the TWIC Program, DHS shall submit to Congress a corrective action plan that:
 
 
responds to assessment findings and includes an implementation plan with benchmarks, and
 
shall be considered in any DHS rulemaking with respect to the TWIC Program.
 
 
The DHS Inspector General must review and report on the corrective action plan.

action_date: 2016-12-16
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 10, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 
(Sec. 1) This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to commence actions to improve its process for vetting individuals with access to secure areas of vessels and maritime facilities.
 
These actions shall include:
 
 
conducting a comprehensive risk analysis of security threat assessment procedures, including identifying procedures that need additional internal controls as well as best practices for quality assurance at every stage of the assessment;
 
implementing such internal controls and best practices;
 
improving fraud detection techniques;
 
updating the guidance provided to Trusted Agents (Credentialing Office) regarding the vetting process and related regulations;
 
finalizing a manual for such agents and adjudicators on the vetting process; and
 
establishing quality controls to ensure consistent procedures to review adjudication decisions and terrorism vetting decisions.
 
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall commission a national laboratory, a university-based center within the Science and Technology Directorate's centers of excellence network, or a qualified federally-funded research and development center to conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Program at enhancing security and reducing security risks for maritime facilities and vessels that pose a high risk of being involved in a transportation security incident.
 
The assessment shall review:
 
 
 the credentialing process,
 
the process for renewing TWIC applications, and
 
the security value of the TWIC program.
 
 
If the assessment identifies a deficiency in effectiveness of the TWIC Program, DHS shall submit to Congress a corrective action plan that:
 
 
responds to assessment findings and includes an implementation plan with benchmarks, and
 
shall be considered in any DHS rulemaking with respect to the TWIC Program.
 
 
The DHS Inspector General must review and report on the corrective action plan. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Became Public Law No: 114-278.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Became Public Law No: 114-278.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-15
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-15
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-13
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-12-13
text: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H7585-7586; text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H7585-7586)
action_date: 2016-12-13
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(consideration: CR H7585-7586; text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H7585-7586)
action_date: 2016-12-13
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and agree to the Senate amendment.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7146)
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7145-7147)
action_date: 2016-04-25
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 436.
action_date: 2016-04-25
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-244.
action_date: 2016-04-25
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-244.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2319)
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2319)
action_date: 2015-02-11
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H899-900)
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H899-900)
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 710.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H899-903)
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Mr. Carter (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2015-02-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2015-02-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2015-02-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-02-04
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 114-278