Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Streamline TWIC Access, Promoting Economic Mobility for Thousands Returning Home From Incarceration
Contact:
Claire Gross, Sr. Manager of Public Relations
cgross@ceoworks.org | 646) 370-8292
Washington, D.C. – September 15, 2025 – The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) applauds the reintroduction of the bipartisan Transportation Worker Identification Credential Efficacy Act (HR5109), also known as the TWICE Act, championed by Representatives Troy Carter (D-LA) and Clay Higgins (R-LA). Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) are turnkey certifications that open doors to employment opportunities, especially for justice-impacted people who have obtained their commercial driver's license (CDL). This critical legislation aims to simplify the application and appeals process for TWIC for justice-impacted individuals, expanding their access to crucial employment opportunities in high-demand sectors.
“I am passionate about making sure our criminal justice system is fair and that returning citizens have every possible opportunity for success when they come home,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter. “So many jobs in the United States require a TWIC card just to work behind a secure facility’s gate. Louisiana’s industries are begging for these workers, who are often training for these jobs while paying their debt to society. This bill will help make reentry more successful and ensure that workforce training can improve people’s lives.”
"The TWICE Act streamlines access to the TWIC program and will give an important second chance to formerly incarcerated individuals,” said Congressman Clay Higgins. “I thank Congressman Troy Carter for his leadership on this effort and hope that my House and Senate colleagues will support its passage."
"Jobs in transportation have the potential to create opportunity and mobility for workers. Despite a prominent labor shortage in this sector, thousands of justice-impacted individuals find themselves unable to access quality jobs because of unnecessary exclusions from credentials like TWIC cards. These barriers do little to support public safety and deter qualified talent from pursuing these opportunities," says Sam Schaeffer, Chief Executive Officer of CEO. "The TWICE Act would make obtaining a TWIC card more manageable for justice-impacted applicants, ensuring every qualified individual has the opportunity to obtain their TWIC card and pursue a sustaining career."
"As someone who previously worked in probation and parole, I know how critical it is to equip people for success when they return home from prison,” said Scott E. Peyton, Prison Fellowship director of government affairs. Prison Fellowship supports the TWICE Act, a common-sense bill that strengthens public safety, supports economic and workforce development, and reflects the Christian value of second chances.”
TWIC cards are required for people working in or by maritime facilities such as ports, many of whom are truck drivers. CEO assists participants with achieving Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL). CDLs provide access to promising and well-paying careers in the trucking industry, which can lead to six-figure salaries. However, without TWIC, many justice-impacted drivers don’t qualify for many of the truck driving jobs that enter secure ports. As the trucking industry continues to face steep staffing shortages contributing to persistent supply chain issues, the TWICE Act builds pathways to stable employment for justice-impacted workers and protects the economy's health.
The barrier to accessing TWIC for people returning from incarceration occurs during the security and threat assessment, effectively a background check. Many justice-impacted applicants will be issued a “Preliminary Determination of Ineligibility” and offered the opportunity to appeal and redress. While widely successful for those who can navigate it, the redress process is arduous, expensive, and often spans months–too much time and resources required for someone returning from incarceration to wait to rebuild their life.
The TWICE Act mandates the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to improve TWIC access specifically for returning individuals by:
Employment is one of the most challenging barriers to successful reentry. According to a 2021 report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, roughly 60% of people were unemployed a year after being released from incarceration, and 40% were still unemployed four years post-incarceration. And although employers have expressed a willingness to hire people with criminal records, evidence shows that having a record reduces employer callback rates by 50%.
Providing clear pathways to economic mobility for people returning home from incarceration benefits the economy and communities. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, connecting 100 justice-impacted people to jobs would yield $1.9 million in additional wage tax contributions and $800,000 in additional sales tax revenue over the employee’s lifetime.
By addressing these credentialing barriers, the TWICE Act significantly bolsters the national workforce, strengthens the economy, and delivers vital support to justice-impacted individuals striving for successful reintegration and economic stability.
To hear from people directly impacted by exclusion from TWIC, visit ceoworks.org.
About the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)
The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services exclusively to individuals recently released from incarceration. CEO operates in 30 cities across 12 states and is dedicated to ensuring justice-impacted people have clear pathways to socioeconomic mobility. For more information, visit ceoworks.org.