Chairman:
Edward J. Krause III
CEO
E.J. Krause & Associates, Inc.
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief:
Michael Rosenberg
Vice President of Security
E.J. Krause & Associates, Inc.
Deputy Editor:
Paul Scott Abbott
Operations Manager:
Anna Ferris
Contact Information:
Tel: (301) 493-5500
Fax: (301) 493-5705
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Security bill moves
to Senate committee
The Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act, H.R. 2200, has moved before a Senate committee following its passage in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The bill authorizes U.S. Department of Homeland Security funding for TSA for fiscal years 2010 and 2011, at $7.6 billion and $8.1 billion, respectively. TSA, created following the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, has not previously been subject to an authorization bill.
H.R. 2200 was referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on June 8, after passing the House on June 4 by a 397-to-25 vote. While H.R. 2200 gained bipartisan favor, a separate bill, H.R. 474, providing for consideration of H.R. 2200, passed the House by a 243-to-179 vote, gaining support of 98 percent of Democrats but being opposed by 100 percent of Republicans voting on that bill.
The inclusion in H.R. 2200 of the SAFE Truckers Act is being hailed by the American Trucking Associations as a major industry victory. Since 2006, ATA has been pushing for the SAFE Truckers Act, which eliminates duplicative background checks, preempts states from requiring separate background checks and credentials for drivers transporting hazardous materials, and requires that Canadian and Mexican truck drivers undergo the same security background checks as U.S. drivers. The amendment to include the SAFE Truckers Act in H.R. 2200 was offered by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, and Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif.
Among other bill provisions relating to surface transportation security is the establishment of a Transportation Security Advisory Committee of stakeholders to develop recommendations for improvements to surface transportation security planning, methods, equipment and processes. The committee would include representatives of as many as 27 member organizations, including those from public transportation, railroad carrier, motor carrier, highway and labor sectors. The bill also calls for a freight rail security working group within the committee.
Furthermore, H.R. 2200 directs TSA to coordinate with owners and operators of port facilities to allow individuals who have pending applications for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential card – or those awaiting reissuance of a lost or stolen card – to have access to secure or restricted areas if they are escorted by other individuals with a card.
Also, the legislation requires TSA to process cards and review waivers and appeals within 30 days. Under the bill, TSA will be required to develop a process to permit an approved applicant to receive the TWIC card at the individual’s residence. In addition, the bill authorizes TSA to extend for as long as one year the expiration of a biometric transportation security card to align the expiration with the expiration of a license, certificate of registry or merchant mariner document. Effective April 15, the TWIC program reached nationwide implementation as a flash pass.
Full text, summary and current status of H.R. 2200 may be found online at www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2200.
M&BSN is encouraged by the bipartisan support H.R. 2200 has received and looks forward to the bill’s passage this summer.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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