This story is part two in a Connecting News series about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) security watch list redress program and process. See part one – NBTA Survey: Travel Mangers Unaware of U.S. Security Watch List Redress Program.
In a November 2007 survey to NBTA U.S. travel manager Members, NBTA found that most travel managers were not pleased with the current U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP), which allows travelers to make inquires and seek redress when they believe their names have been wrongly placed on a government security watch list. Few were aware of the program, and those who were criticized the timeliness of the process. (See Connecting News November 2007)
One survey respondent noted, ‘The process is too long and involved… It has taken over six months for travelers to be removed [from the watch list] and some of them are still fighting.”
On November 8, 2007, NBTA filed comments with the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee urging DHS to speed up the redress process. “As shorter adjudication process would go a long way toward establishing confidence among travelers in the program,” NBTA wrote in its comments. “Until individuals who have sought redress feel that their travel experience has been entirely fixed, the program will not be considered a complete success.”
Less than a week after NBTA submitted comments, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke of New York, a majority member of the Committee, introduced the Fair, Accurate, Secure, and Timely (FAST) Redress Act, H.R. 4179, a piece of legislation that would take significant steps toward alleviating the burden of those commercial aviation passengers who are often misidentified and repeatedly subjected to secondary screening or denied boarding.
The FAST Redress Act would set up a dedicated office within DHS to coordinate and streamline the process of appeal, as well as maintain a comprehensive ‘Cleared List’ that would be furnished to, and used by, all agencies within the Department. Additionally, this list would be provided to other Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies, and others that use the terrorist watch list.
NBTA was immediately supportive of this progressive bill and once again took action, encouraging all NBTA U.S. members to request that their representatives support its timely passage.
After the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection approved the legislation by voice vote, NBTA quickly sent a letter to both the Subcommittee and the full Committee applauding their actions and urging them to mark up and send the bill to the full U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.
“The FAST Redress Act is good legislation that will ensure that travelers who voluntarily give information to the government to resolve watch list programs are not wrongly misidentified again,” said NBTA in the letter.
On May 20 the Committee approved and sent the FAST Redress Act to the full House for a future vote. NBTA again commended the passage and encouraged its quick movement through congress. (see press release)
“There is still work to be done,” said Shane Downey, NBTA Government Affairs Manager. “Corporate travel professionals must continue to contact their congressional representatives to let them know how important this legislation is to them, their travelers and the industry as a whole.”
Congresswoman Clarke will provide NBTA members with a detailed overview of the FAST Redress Act at the 6th Annual Legislative Summit June 9-11, after which participants will have the opportunity to address the issues discussed with their Congressional offices on Capitol Hill.
“We’re giving our members the opportunity to get all the information they need about this important legislation directly from the Congresswoman who introduced it six months ago,” said Downey. “Armed with this knowledge and first hand experiences, I know our members will succeed in gathering more support for this industry-necessary measure.”
Return to Connecting News May 2008