05.30.2008 House Chairman Outlines Problems with TWIC enrollment

House Chairman Outlines Problems with TWIC enrollment

May 30, 2008

The TSA is under fire again from Congress for problems with its program to distribute tamper-proof identification cards for access to secure areas of ports and vessels by maritime industry workers and service providers.

According to House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the Help Desk for the TWIC is plagued by poor customer service that is making it difficult for workers to enroll for the program.

The Help Desk is operated by the TSA contractor implementing the TWIC program.

More than 1.2 million workers are expected to require a TWIC card for unescorted access to port facilities.

Workers who contact the Help Desk are often placed on hold for hours and given misleading or inaccurate advice, and some waterfront employers are considering hiring special administrative personnel just to shepherd their workers through the TWIC enrollment process, Thompson charged in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

Earlier this month, the TSA extended the deadline by seven months for mariners, port workers and other personnel to obtain a TWIC card. The government will now require persons at most ports to obtain their card by April 15, 2009, rather than Sept. 25 of this year. —

Source: MARAD