{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://clayhiggins.house.gov/2026/09/16/higgins-carter-pass-bipartisan-twice-act-to-fill-transportation-workforce-needs/", "Higgins, Carter Pass Bipartisan TWICE Act to Fill Transportation Workforce Needs", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Clay Higgins", "H001077", "clayhiggins.house.gov", "clayhiggins", "https://clayhiggins.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) issued a statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5109, The TWIC Efficiency (TWICE) Act, under suspension of the rules today. Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) introduced the bipartisan legislation in September 2025 after first putting it forward as H.R. 7223 in the 118th Congress.\n\nThe TWICE Act directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop guidelines improving returning citizens\u2019 access to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, assist individuals in Federal, State, and local correctional facilities in preparing and submitting applications for TWIC cards, and provide guidance to individuals seeking an appeal or waiver after a Preliminary Determination of Ineligibility. The bill does not change the eligibility criteria for a TWIC card or alter any disqualifying offense that bars an applicant from receiving it. Read the bill text here.\n\n\u201cA man\u2019s character shouldn\u2019t 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,\u201d said Congressman Higgins. \u201cI commend Congressman Carter for his leadership on this effort and hope my Senate colleagues will swiftly deliver these reforms to President Trump\u2019s desk.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://clayhiggins.house.gov/2026/09/16/higgins-carter-pass-bipartisan-twice-act-to-fill-transportation-workforce-needs/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.2743581794202328, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}