[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 159 (Tuesday, December 11, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 2838, THE COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2012

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                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2012

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 
legislation before us today to authorize the activities of the United 
States Coast Guard.
  While I am dismayed that the measure does not include broader 
provisions to authorize the Coast Guard's important homeland security 
missions, I am pleased that it provides a much-needed and long overdue 
refinement to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential 
program.
  The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, 
administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and 
Coast Guard, is focused on protecting the Nation's maritime 
transportation facilities and vessels by requiring workers who need 
unescorted access to secure port facilities to obtain a biometric 
identification card.
  Currently, workers must travel to TWIC enrollment centers to enroll 
in the program and then make a second trip to pick up and activate 
their approved TWICs.
  This unnecessary process of requiring workers to make two trips to 
enrollment centers, which may be hundreds of miles from their home or 
workplace, has burdened American maritime and transportation workers 
since the program's inception in 2007.
  The measure before us streamlines the program by requiring DHS to 
develop a process to mail TWICs to approved applicants rather than 
making workers return to an enrollment center to do so.
  Unfortunately, however, this bill fails to fully address a number of 
maritime security provisions that passed in the House this Congress.
  Nevertheless, on balance I support the legislation before us today 
and in particular the provision to streamline the TWIC process for 
American workers.
  I urge Members to give it their support.

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