Tester Goes to Bat for Montana’s Truckers and Transportation Workers with Bill to Cut Red Tape on Redundant Background Checks

Senator’s Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act streamlines clearance process for transportation workers

U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) recently introduced the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill to standardize the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Clearance Process which is used by transportation workers nationwide. Applicants often have to apply multiple redundant security clearance programs using the same background check paperwork and pay additional fees.

“Montana’s truckers and transportation workers fuel our economy – and forcing those folks to face expensive and redundant security certifications is a waste of time and money,” said Senator Jon Tester. “Streamlining that process is a no-brainer, plain and simple. Together, we’ll keep working until we get this bipartisan bill across the finish line.”

“This legislation will cut through the red tape and streamline the process so workers can get back to moving goods across America, not wasting time and money,” Senator Wicker said.

“Truckers and other transportation professionals often need a variety of security certifications to do their job,” said Senator Fischer. “However, maintaining so many different credentials takes time, money, and can be complicated. To ease that burden, our bill will streamline the TSA’s certification process without sacrificing security.”

Tester’s bill is supported by the Montana Trucking Association, the Montana Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, the AFL-CIO, the American Trucking Associations, National Propane Gas Association, the Transportation Trades Department, the Border Trade Alliance, the National Tank Truck Carriers, the Association of the American Railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, and the National Energy and Fuels Institute.

“The duplicative processes that truckers and other essential workers must undergo to obtain necessary credentials cost them valuable time and money,” said Duane Williams, CEO of the Montana Trucking Association. “This bipartisan bill makes a commonsense fix to this inefficient system, removing redundant security screening requirements and making it easier for those employed in the supply chain to focus on their vital, primary responsibility of moving critical freight. We are grateful to these leaders in the Senate for introducing these reforms.” 

“Subjecting essential supply chain workers to the same exact background check multiple times in order to receive different credentials from the same agency does nothing to enhance security,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “This system only serves to pad government coffers by forcing truckers and other transportation workers to pay duplicative fees for a background check they’ve already cleared.  Congress should not allow the inefficiencies of government bureaucracy to impede the efficiency of our supply chain.  We applaud Senators Wicker, Tester, Fischer, and King for introducing this commonsense, bipartisan bill to support the hardworking men and women who keep our economy running.”

Full text of Tester’s Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act can be found HERE.