WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today titled Are Our Nation’s Ports Secure? Examining the Transportation Worker ID Credential (TWIC) Program.

Witness List:

Mr. John S. Pistole, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Rear Admiral Kevin Cook, Director, Prevention Policy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

Mr. Steve Lord, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office (GAO) 

Key Quotations from Today’s Hearing: 

“I want the TWIC program to live up to its mandate. I want it to keep our nation’s ports more secure. But as today’s report reveals, things need to change—and fast. The program needs stronger fraud controls. We also need to take a clear, hard look at whether we are getting enough return on our investment. In the coming months, I will introduce a port security authorization bill which will address shortcomings in port security credentialing. I look forward to working with the U.S. Coast Guard, the TSA, the GAO, as well as our stakeholder community to make sure we’re doing all we can to keep our ports secure and our travelers safe.”

Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV

“This investigation raises a disturbing question: Are America’s ports actually safer now than they were a decade ago? Federal investigators have identified serious problems with the transportation worker ID program—including startling evidence that this program might actually diminish the safety of our ports. Ports are a vital part of our economy, but they have also been identified as targets for terrorist attacks. The results of this investigation are a wake-up call for America and I will be going to work immediately to fix this broken program.”

Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Chairman, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security

“The TWIC program strengthens the security of our nation’s ports while facilitating trade through the provision of a tamper-resistant biometric credential to all port workers requiring unescorted access to secure areas of MTSA-regulated port facilities and vessels. To date, TSA has vetted more than 1.8 million TWIC applicants. The national implementation of the TWIC as the common credential verifying the identity and background suitability significantly enhances national maritime security, which previously relied on a patchwork of private and public identity verification and threat assessment architectures to allow access to secure and restricted areas.”

Mr. John S. Pistole, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

“The U.S. Coast Guard continues to work closely with the TSA to facilitate outreach to the maritime industry in an effort to enhance the overall Transportation Worker Identification Credential experience for workers and maritime operators—from improving the enrollment and activation processes to ensuring the necessary guidance and support is in place for maritime operator enforcement. We have accomplished important milestones, strengthened working relationships with public and industry stakeholders, and held a steadfast commitment to securing the maritime transportation system while facilitating commerce. As we continue to make improvements regarding compliance, enforcement, and continued industry engagement, we will ensure Congress remains informed of our progress.”

Rear Admiral Kevin Cook, Director, Prevention Policy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

“Internal control weaknesses governing the enrollment, background checking, and use of the TWIC potentially limit the program’s ability provide reasonable assurance that access to secure areas of MTSA-regulated facilities is restricted to qualified individuals. In addition, TWIC’s effectiveness at enhancing security has not been assessed, and the Coast Guard lacks the ability to assess trends in TWIC compliance. As the TWIC program continues on the path to full implementation—with potentially billions of dollars needed to install TWIC card readers in thousands of the nation’s ports, facilities, and vessels at stake—it is important that Congress, program officials, and maritime industry stakeholders fully understand the program’s potential benefits and vulnerabilities, as well as the likely costs of addressing these potential vulnerabilities. The report we are releasing today aims to help inform stakeholder views on these issues.”

Mr. Steve Lord, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office

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