Date: 2009-06-04
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

minutes to. the distinguished genfornia. Mr. Chairman. I rise in support tleman from the State of Georgia tMr. of H.R. 2200. the Transportation Secu- BROUN). rity Administration Authorization Act. Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Recently. and I would like to engage the honor- while I was on a hunting trip up north. able Member from Mississippi. the I flew out of an airport in Montana. chairman. Mr. THOMPSON. in a colloquy The number of screeners actually outregarding the Transportation Worker -numbered the number of passengers. Identity Credential. or TWIC as it is So. when this bill came before the known here in the Congress.. Homeland Security Committee. I ofDuring the full committee markup. I fered several amendments. one of offered an amendment addressing sev- which would have required a GAO eral important issues within the TWIC study of the current staffing levels at program. and I was pleased that my TSA to determine their appropriateamendment was passed unanimously. ness and whether or not staffing levels A key provision in my amendment could be reduced by consolidation of requires that the Secretary of Home- duties and functions or by enhanced land Security work with owners and use of technology. operators of facilities and vessels to de- In March 2009. GAO reported that. velop procedures which allow those "TSA has not followed Federal internal who are waiting for their TWIC card to control standards to assist it in implehave access to secure and restricted menting DHSs risk management areas. as long as they are escorted. framework and informing resource alThis also applies to those who are wait- location." I wanted to ensure that ing for a reissuance of an existing card. hardearned taxpayer funds were being Without clear collaboration between used in the most costeffective and effiDHS and port officials. individuals cient manner and ensure that TSA waiting for their TWIC card have been wouldnt become known as Thousands unable to work. Some workers have Standing Around. waited up to 15 months to receive their 0 1245 TWIC card. And the goal of my amendment is to Im disappointed that my amendment ensure that these workers are still able was not accepted. A number of comto support themselves and their fami- monsense provisions were not included lies. by the majority. or were watered down Many people have been negatively af- to avoid the jurisdiction of other comfected by TSAs delays in issuing the mittees. Rather than produce a good TWIC. For example. theres the case of bill and negotiate final language with a longshoreman in the Port of Seattle other committees. our committee only who applied for a TWIC on October 25. allowed provisions to be considered in 2008. more than 4 months before he was committee that were wholly within the required to do so at his port. And un- Committee on Homeland Securitys fortunately. the gentleman was unable rule 10 jurisdiction. This bill could be to work for several weeks since it took muchbetter. 4 months for TSA to come back to him For example. the majority showed and to ask. for a copy of his birth cer- that they saw no value in affirming tificate. You see. he had been born on TSA employees rights to protect a military base abroad. and I under- themselves during a public health stand that the gentleman had to drain emergency. One of my amendments ofhis savings account to support his fain- fered in committee would have simply ily while he waited for his TWIC. and . allowed any TSA employee to choose thus. this is unacceptable. to wear a protective face mask in the I hope this legislation becomes law event of a pandemic flu outbreak or soon. and in the meantime. we must other public health emergency. act immediately to ensure that our TSA employees encounter 2 million port workers are able to work and sup- domesic and international passengers port their families. every day and should not be prohibited I want to thank Chairman THOMPSON by their supervisors from wearing the for his support on this issue. appropriate peisonal protective equip-