H.R. 710 would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess the effectiveness of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. That program was established under the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), which requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide a biometric security credential for personnel who require unescorted access to secure areas of MTSA-regulated facilities and vessels and for all mariners who hold credentials issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Based on the findings of the proposed assessment, H.R. 710 would direct the Secretary to identify and implement corrective actions necessary to improve the effectiveness of the TWIC program and would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Congress on the status of those efforts. Finally, H.R. 710 would specify conditions that would pertain to certain rulemakings related to the TWIC program.
Based on information from the Coast Guard and GAO, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 710 would cost about $1.5 million in 2016, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. That estimate is based on the historical cost of studies and analyses undertaken by those agencies that are similar in scope to those envisioned under the legislation. Enacting H.R. 710 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
H.R. 710 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
