The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program has been under development since 2001 and despite $99.4 million in appropriations from Congress, it is still languishing at the Department of Homeland Security.

 

            In our last hearing on this subject almost one year ago, we heard testimony about severe cost-overruns, contract mismanagement, excessive personnel turnover, poor communications and ineffective planning.  At this hearing, we will examine whether the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the United States Coast Guard have taken actions to address those criticisms. 

 

            Additionally, I hope to hear how the agencies plan to deploy the biometric card enrollment and issuance process, and just as importantly, how the agencies plan to execute the pilot program for card reader technology. 

 

            While I do not want to dwell on the mistakes of the past, this Committee needs assurance that the Administration has taken seriously its mismanagement of the TWIC program.  Given that the comprehensive management plan for TWIC required in the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 is over two years past due to Congress, I can only conclude that the Administration is not taking its responsibility seriously enough.  If the agencies continue to neglect the basic tenets of contract management and programmatic planning, failure is certain to result. 

 

            Completion of this program is a crucial step toward improving the security of our ports.  Failure is unacceptable. 

 

            When Congress considered the SAFE Ports Act, we established implementation deadlines in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security.  We did not want to impose a set of deadlines that the agencies would not be able to achieve.  Working collaboratively, we required TWIC enrollment at the nation’s top ten high risk ports by July 1, 2007.  As of today, we do not have even the most basic deployment schedule.  I am informed that enrollment scheduled to begin in Wilmington, Delaware, in late March has been postponed until late May, at best.

 

            I am also concerned that the low estimates of the population affected by the program are not realistic. This estimate is significant, in that it will determine the number of enrollment stations the contractor sets up and the number of trusted agents the contractor hires to process employees.  An underestimate of the affected population would thus cause a domino effect, resulting in long wait times at the enrollment stations, poor customer service, and ultimately a slowing of the flow of commerce as labor circulates through a clogged enrollment and card issuance process.

 

            As we move forward with testing and implementing card reader technology in the rough maritime environment, the TSA and the Coast Guard must appropriately balance their multiple missions of safety, security and efficiency for both facilities and vessels.  The card reader systems cannot slow the flow of commerce through our terminals.  The security practices the Department puts into place cannot compromise crew safety. 

 

            I can appreciate the challenges associated with addressing these divergent issues.  It is a difficult balancing act. However, after six years and $99.4 million dollars, we still do not have access controls in our ports.  We need to get this program on track, and on schedule, for the safety and security of our nation.