Posted:
August 16, 2018
The following article was posted by the U.S. Coast Guard on the Maritime Commons blog.
A separate press release posted by the office of U.S. Congressman John Katko (R-NY), who introduced the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Accountability Act of 2018, stated: The bill addresses concerns expressed by many industry stakeholders over the pending implementation of a biometric reader requirement for Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) card holders at high-risk ports. The TWIC program was established after 9/11 to improve security at high-risk ports. However, since its inception, DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has failed to issue timely implementation guidance in advance of this rulemaking, leaving stakeholders unsure as to how and where to direct resources for compliance. Rep. Katko's bipartisan bill will delay the implementation of the "reader rule" until an ongoing study on the effectiveness of the TWIC program is complete.
Maritime Commons is sharing an update from the Office of Port and Facility Compliance in order to keep our readers informed of the latest developments regarding the TWIC Reader Final Rule.
Latest developments regarding TWIC Reader Final Rule
The following article was posted by the U.S. Coast Guard on the Maritime Commons blog.
A separate press release posted by the office of U.S. Congressman John Katko (R-NY), who introduced the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Accountability Act of 2018, stated: The bill addresses concerns expressed by many industry stakeholders over the pending implementation of a biometric reader requirement for Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) card holders at high-risk ports. The TWIC program was established after 9/11 to improve security at high-risk ports. However, since its inception, DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has failed to issue timely implementation guidance in advance of this rulemaking, leaving stakeholders unsure as to how and where to direct resources for compliance. Rep. Katko's bipartisan bill will delay the implementation of the "reader rule" until an ongoing study on the effectiveness of the TWIC program is complete.
Maritime Commons is sharing an update from the Office of Port and Facility Compliance in order to keep our readers informed of the latest developments regarding the TWIC Reader Final Rule.
- The President of the United States signed into law Aug. 2, 2018, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Accountability Act of 2018 (HR.5729). This prohibits the Coast Guard from implementing the rule requiring electronic inspections of Transportation Worker Identification Credentials until after the Department of Homeland Security has submitted an assessment of the TWIC program to Congress.
- Additionally, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a court order July 24, 2018, delaying the TWIC Reader Final Rule implementation at Certain Dangerous Cargo transfer and non-transfer facilities until further order of the Court, in response to a lawsuit brought by industry groups.
- The Coast Guard received 13 comments before the TWIC Reader Rule Notice of Proposed Rulemaking comment period closed July 23, 2018. The Coast Guard values public participation in the rulemaking process and looks forward to engaging further with industry. To view the comments, please visit regulations.gov, USCG-2017-0711.