U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01) is asking the U.S. Coast Guard to hold off on proceeding with a proposed rule mandating the use of electronic card readers to access vessels and port facilities, until the card readers are thoroughly reviewed and tested.
“I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Coast Guard’s proposed rule, and while I am pleased the rule takes the risk-based approach of requiring readers at only high risk terminals, I believe that there are outstanding issues surrounding the program that must be evaluated,” Hanabusa said.
“The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program has been plagued with inefficiencies, which place increasing burdens on our maritime industry. Replacing trained security guards with card readers that have not been properly evaluated does not improve port safety. It is my hope that a thorough assessment of the TWIC program can accommodate affected stakeholders at all levels.”
The results of a recent Government Accountability Office report on the functionality of the TWIC program were found to be “incomplete, inaccurate, and unreliable for informing Congress and for developing a regulation about the readers.”
Report from the office of Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, D-HI