The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers Association welcomed the US House’s unanimous approval of legislation which would delay implementation of a US Department of Homeland Security requirement for use of biometric identification card readers for transportation workers at high-risk domestic ports.
H.R. 5729, which Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced on May 9, would defer implementation of a requirement developed following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) readers be used at such facilities until a congressional study of its effectiveness can be completed.
Industries have awaited guidance from DHS regarding the TWIC ‘reader rule’ as the Aug. 23 deadline for compliance approaches, Katko said following the House’s July 11 action.
“Delaying the implementation of the TWIC reader rule until completion of a congressionally required assessment of the program will provide the much-needed certainty to AFPM member facilities working to comply with the rule and ensure these sites are as secure as possible,” AFPM said in its statement. It urged the US Senate to move quickly and pass the bill.
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