Congress expands job access for people with criminal records

What it does

This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration to develop guidelines within one year to improve access to the TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) program for three groups: people returning from incarceration, incarcerated individuals preparing applications, and those appealing ineligibility determinations. The TSA must then brief Congress on implementation within 180 days.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is to expand employment access for people with criminal records by requiring the TSA to develop clearer guidelines for TWIC eligibility. This is fundamentally a reintegration and economic-opportunity measure, not a transportation-security or administrative-efficiency bill despite the title.

What the text implies

• Expanding TWIC access to incarcerated individuals may create incentives for pre-release preparation and reduce post-release barriers, potentially improving recidivism outcomes—a public-health benefit not explicit in the title.
• Guidelines for appeal and waiver procedures may reduce arbitrary denials and create a more transparent, predictable eligibility process, benefiting not only returning citizens but all TWIC applicants.
• The bill does not mandate approval of any applicant; it only requires guidelines. Actual eligibility determinations remain subject to security vetting, so the practical impact depends on how permissive the guidelines are.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill removes procedural barriers to employment for people with criminal records seeking transportation work, expanding economic opportunity and reintegration pathways. No restrictions on citizens' rights or protections are imposed; the bill only mandates administrative guidance to clarify and improve access.

Named in the bill

Transportation Security Administration (TSA), House Committee on Homeland Security, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, Section 70105, Title 46, United States Code

Where it stands

7 cosponsors: 4 Republicans, 3 Democrats.

• Sep 3, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Sep 3, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Homeland Security and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security”
• Jun 24, 2026 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Jun 24, 2026 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 0”
• Sep 16, 2026 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote”
• Sep 16, 2026 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Van Epps moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

5 lobbying clients named this bill on 7 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $1,190,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 13 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 78% of bills with at least one filing.

Troy Carter, the sponsor, reported $1,021,748 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• American Trucking Associations — $720,000 on 1 filing
• National Ocean Industries Association — $210,000 on 1 filing
• Prison Fellowship Ministries — $170,000 on 2 filings
• Prison Fellowship Ministries — $60,000 on 2 filings
• Refined Technologies — $30,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.