Bipartisan TWICE Act Championed by Reps. Carter, Higgins Passes in the House

September 16, 2026 Press Release Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) announced that the bipartisan TWIC Efficiency (TWICE) Act introduced by himself and Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA), passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation will improve access to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program by assisting those currently in Federal, State, or local prisons through the TWIC card application process to gain this credential needed for specific transportation sector jobs. “I am incredibly proud that my colleagues passed the TWICE Act, a bill which I know will have a lasting impact in Louisiana and across the country,” said Rep. Carter. “So many jobs in the United States require a TWIC card just to work behind a secure facility’s gate, and this bill gives returning citizens a fair shot and ensures that workforce training can improve people’s lives.” “A man’s character shouldn’t be measured by how he falls, it should be measured by how he stands back up. By cutting red tape and streamlining access to the TWIC program, this legislation will address maritime and transportation workforce shortages in the Gulf of America and Louisiana waterways while extending a second chance to formerly incarcerated Americans,” said Rep. Higgins. “I commend Congressman Carter for his leadership on this effort and hope my Senate colleagues will swiftly deliver these reforms to President Trump’s desk.” Background The TWICE Act would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to: Develop guidelines to improve returning citizens' access to the TWIC program. Develop guidelines to assist individuals in custody to pre-apply for TWIC cards and to assist those requesting an appeal or waiver after issuance of a “Preliminary Determination of Ineligibility.” Provide a briefing to Congress within a year on improvements to access to the TWIC program. The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program was created by the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002 as a response to September 11th and extenuating concern over national security. TWIC remains critical to national security by regulating access to maritime facilities and vessels. Across the country, there are 13,825 vessels and 3,270 facilities under MTSA’s jurisdiction. These facilities are often major employment hubs – ports, terminals, factories, refineries, power plants, and more. TWIC assists in controlling workers’ access, like those involved in the surface transportation of containers in or out of ports or those involved in the construction, maintenance, or operation of adjacent facilities and their associated infrastructure. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) manages TWIC card applications. In total, 2.3 million Americans have TWIC cards, and about 500,000 Americans enroll per year. TWIC cards are often required for employment in high-demand professions for which labor is in low supply. Facilities within MTSA’s jurisdiction are critical to the supply chain yet are egregiously affected by labor shortages. Nationally, as of October 2023, there is a 2-million-person gap between job openings and unemployed workers, and the labor participation rate has fallen from 67% in 2000 to 62% today. Before issuing a TWIC card, TSA will conduct a security threat assessment to determine a person’s eligibility. Applicants with criminal records, depending on the offense, will be temporarily or permanently disqualified from the TWIC program. According to TSA, individuals in the custody of Federal, State, and local prisons are not eligible until after they are released from custody. After, they will receive a “Preliminary Determination of Illegibility” for one-year post-release, regardless of offense. Applicants may appeal a preliminary determination and go through a redress process, and TSA issues a waiver in most circumstances. Based on a TSA-verified sample, approximately 98% of applicants are issued a TWIC card, including redress cases. However, approximately 62% of applicants do not respond to redress notifications. Only 0.1% of those requesting redress are denied due to TSA standards. The redress process is burdensome and often takes months for TSA to review conviction details, circumstances, and proof of rehabilitation. Assisting applicants with the redress process – and minimizing the number of applicants going through this process – can accelerate hiring, increase the labor pool, and reduce TSA’s administrative burden. Nearly 30% of American adults have a criminal record, yet adult incarceration nationally has declined by 30% in the past decade. Just in Louisiana, about 13,000 formerly incarcerated persons are released back into communities each year. The TWICE Act is endorsed by American Trucking Association, American Waterways Operators, American Association of Port Authorities, World Trade Center of New Orleans, Transportation Institute, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), GNO Inc., Right on Crime, IMTT, The Cooper Group, Cooper Consolidated, Prison Fellowship, Riverview Boat Store - St. Louis barge company, We Work the Waterways, Central Ohio River Business Association (CORBA), Bayaud Enterprises, Bridgeways, Church World Service, Commercial Drivers License of California, Community Kitchen Pittsburgh, Conservation Corps of Long Beach, First 72+, JOB1 Business & Career Solutions, Justice & Accountability Center of Louisiana, JustUS Coordinating Council, Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration,  National Skills Coalition (NSC), New York Association of Training & Employment Professionals, REDF, Repowered, The Fortune Society, Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, The Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership, Valeo Vocation, Jobs for the Future, JustLeadershipUSA, and Reentry Working Group. Read the full bill here . ###