December 6, 2023
The Honorable Mark Green
Chairman
Committee on Homeland Security
U.S. House of Representatives
176 Ford House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Bennie Thompson
Ranking Member
Committee on Homeland Security
U.S. House of Representatives
H2-117 Ford House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Green and Ranking Member Thompson,
We, the undersigned coalition of associations representing trucking, rail, energy, organized labor, agriculture, third-party logistics providers, and other key supply chain stakeholders, urge Congress to pass the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act (H.R. 5840). Despite our unique perspectives on challenges facing America’s supply chains, we share the common burden of redundant background checks and duplicative fees that make it challenging and onerous for our members to obtain the security credentials they need to do their jobs.
Although the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) houses most credentialing programs critical to supply chain continuity, the programs have distinct regulatory requirements that make them inefficient and costly. The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act would create efficiencies for both the government and supply chain workers by harmonizing programs that require the same background check, including the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME), and TSA PreCheck programs. Additionally, the legislation would allow individuals to apply for enrollment in multiple security threat assessment programs at the same time under a reduced fee structure.
The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act is a bipartisan bill that would codify formal recommendations dating back to 2007 for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to eliminate these redundancies. In 2007, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that DHS coordinate its background check programs and harmonize programs that require the same background check, such as TWIC and HME.
In 2019, DHS tasked the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC) with assessing the security value of the TWIC program, and the HSOAC recommended that DHS allow applicants to apply valid background checks to multiple TSA-managed credentialing programs to reduce costs and hassle for users. The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act is a long overdue solution for essential workers like truck drivers, pipeline operators, longshore workers, and warehouse managers, among many others, who must obtain these credentials as a condition of employment.
We understand and appreciate the need for security credentials to protect the nation from evolving threats, but Congress must take steps to address the harmful impacts that poorly managed programs have on the workers who keep our supply chain running. These individuals deserve a federal credentialing process that respects their time and money, and the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act directs the implementation of streamlined system that supports America’s workers. We urge swift consideration and passage of this important legislation, and we appreciate your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
AATCO
Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference
Agricultural Retailers Association
AgTC Agriculture Transportation Coalition
Alabama Trucking Association
Alaska Fuel Storage and Handlers Alliance
Alaska Trucking Association
Allied Van Lines
American Association of Port Authorities
American Chemistry Council
American Pyrotechnics Association
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
American Trucking Associations
Arizona Moving Association
Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association
Arizona Trucking Association
Arkansas Oil Marketers Association, Inc.
Arkansas Trucking Association
Association of American Railroads
Automobile Carriers Conference
Baggett Transportation
Border Trade Alliance
California Trucking Association
Colorado Motor Carriers Association
Colorado Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
Connecticut Energy Marketers Association
Delaware Motor Transport Association
Empire State Energy Association, Inc.
Energy Marketers Association of Rhode Island
Energy Marketers of America
Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, Inc.
Florida Trucking Association
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
FUELIowa
Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey
Fuel True: Independent Energy and Convenience of Kansas
Fueling Minnesota
Garner Trucking Ltd
Gases and Welding Distributors Association
Georgia Motor Trucking Association
Georgia Oilmen’s Association
Government Freight Conference
Harbor Trucking Association
Hawaii Energy Marketers Association
Hawaii Transportation Association
Idaho Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association
Idaho Trucking Association
Illinois Fuel & Retail Association
Illinois Trucking Association
Indiana Food & Fuel Association
Indiana Motor Truck Association
Institute of Makers of Explosives
Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
International Longshore and Warehouse Union Washington Area District Council
Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
Iowa Motor Truck Association
Kansas Motor Carriers Association
Kentucky Petroleum Marketers Association
Kentucky Trucking Association
Louisiana Motor Transport Association
Louisiana Oil Marketers and Convenience Store Association
Lynden Inc.
Maine Energy Marketers Association
Maine Motor Transport Association
Maryland Motor Truck Association
Michigan Petroleum Association / Michigan Association of Convenience Stores
Michigan Trucking Association
Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Distributors’ Association
Minnesota Trucking Association
Mississippi Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Stores Association
Mississippi Trucking Association
Missouri Petroleum & Convenience Association
Missouri Trucking Association
Montana Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
Montana Trucking Association
Motor Transport Association of Connecticut
Moving and Storage Conference
National Association of Chemical Distributors
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Energy & Fuels Institute
National Industrial Transportation League
National Motor Freight Traffic Association
National Private Truck Council
National Propane Gas Association
National Tank Truck Carriers
National Van Lines
NATSO, Representing America’s Travel Plazas and Truckstops
Nebraska Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
Nebraska Trucking Association
Nevada Trucking Association
New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association
New Hampshire Motor Transport Association
New Jersey Motor Truck Association
New Mexico Petroleum Marketers Association
New Mexico Trucking Association
North American Van Lines
North Carolina Petroleum & Convenience Marketers
North Carolina Trucking Association
North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association
North Dakota Motor Carriers Association
Ohio Energy & Convenience Association
Ohio Trucking Association
Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
Oklahoma Trucking Association
Oregon Fuels Association
Oregon Trucking Associations
Paxton Van Lines
Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
Pennsylvania Petroleum Association
Petroleum & Convenience Marketers of Alabama
Prestera Trucking Inc.
PTS Worldwide, Inc.
Radiopharmaceutical Shippers & Carriers Committee
Railway Supply Institute
Reify Solutions
Republic Moving & Storage
Rhode Island Trucking Association
SIGMA: America’s Leading Fuel Marketers
SJ Transportation
South Carolina Convenience & Petroleum Marketers Association
South Carolina Trucking Association
South Dakota Petroleum & Propane Marketers Association
South Dakota Trucking Association
Tennessee Fuel and Convenience Store Association
Tennessee Trucking Association
Texas Food & Fuel Association
Texas Trucking Association
Transportation Intermediaries Association
Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Tri-State Motor Transit Co.
Trucking Association of Massachusetts
Trucking Association of New York
Truckload Carriers Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Utah Petroleum Marketers & Retailers Association
Utah Trucking Association
Vermont Fuel Dealers Association
Vermont Truck and Bus Association
Virginia Petroleum & Convenience Marketers Association
Virginia Trucking Association
Washington Independent Energy Distributors
Washington Movers Conference
Washington State Labor Council
Washington Trucking Associations
West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association
West Virginia Trucking Association
Western Petroleum Marketers Association
Wisconsin Fuel and Retail Association
Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association
Women in Motion
Wyoming Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association
Wyoming Trucking Association
3GL, Ltd.