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If any captains on here are opposed to the TWIC (Transportation Workers Identification Card)that captains now have to get, at a cost of $132 extra, there is a bill in the US Senate now, S3377, that would do away with this requirement for guys with small marine businesses, such as charter boat guys, tour boat guys,'just got it because I wanted it', delivery captains, etc As of now, you have to get the TWIC. They could revoke your license if not. As of April, 2009, you cannot renew your license without it. Seems to me the only people that need this are the ones that have to go into port areas for their jobs, and that is what this bill is addressing. Commercial guys that run boats that go into the ports still will need the TWIC. But a guy who just runsa charter operationwould not if this new bill is passed. Only those captains running boats that are required to file a vessel security plan would need the TWIC. That makes alot more sense to me!If you're a licensed captain anywhere in the US and not on a commercial rig going into the ports, then call your US Representatives and Senators and ask them to support S3377. Couple of phone calls or emails and save yourself $132. Sounds like a good deal to me. Go here, top right side, and enter your zip code to find your representatives:http://www.congress.org/congressorg/homeThen the 'Contact' tab to call or email them.
Has ANYONE bothered to call their US Senator and ask for support of S 3377? Or are captains an easy target for Washington lawmakers? We probably are because we don't have any kind of association representing us. I guess you'd rather worry about how to get a card you don't need, spend an hour or two of your time getting it, and hand them over $132 of your money every time you need to renew, instead of spending five minutes picking up the phone and calling your US Senator. That makes sense.
I am all for having the card and the process IF the person carrying the card could go through an airport without all the BS. This is unfortunately NOT the scenario. I went for mine, filled out the paper work, paid the money, was electronically fingerprinted and was told I will receive my card via mail and then have to return to the TWIC place AGAIN TO ACTIVATE IT. It is not a wonder why things in this country are F'd up!
Don't complain if you don't call your US Senator and ask them to support S 3377!! Part of the reason things are so screwed up is that we let them get that way.
I'm absolutely amazed that captains aren't up in arms about this card. 99% of what I've heard and read about it are captains worrying about how to go about getting the card. Very few seem to be worrying about how to support a bill... S3377, that would do away with it for anyone that really doesn't need it. Why isn't every captain out there calling their US Senator on this thing? It only takes 5 minutes to look up their phone number and call. You just get an aide on the phone, but they will record the fact you called and if enough of us call, they do take notice. States like MN, California, the Great Lakes states, and all the East Coast states and others where there are alot of USCG captains should absolutely be hammering the phones of their US Senators. Go enroll and get it, but much more importantly, call that Senator and ask them to support S3377. It also calls for refunding your money if you've already bought the card. So even if you've got it already, isn't it worth five minutes of your time to get that $132 back?
I am ALL for your cause and agree with you except for one thing you stated. You stated to take five minutes of my time to get that $132 back. You will NEVER get anything back from them once they have it in their possession. Thinking otherwise is just naive at best. You will likely continue to be amazed why captains/people do not bother about supporting a bill. Unfortunately, most people feel it is a useless effort as is normally the scenario. More than one time I have witnessed a public vote against something, like a budget in particular, and it was granted anyway. Perhaps a more constructive effort would be getting people to take back control of the government instead of the government having full control. If people want a real change then get every single person in politics OUT of politics and start over IMO.
Why isn't every captain out there calling their US Senator on this thing?
Because MOST captains already have their TWIC cards.
Up until recently DHS was saying that the deadline for getting your TWIC was late September of 2008, and after that you were S.O.L. Now they've extended the deadlines for the holdouts.
If this bill had been introduced and publicized 6 months ago, maybe more would have supported it. At this point, for most of us, it's a moot issue.
Double Clutch, it isn't a moot issue. S 3377 also includes a full refund to any captain that has already gotten their TWIC. Profinity, it's in the bill, and the bill has already passed the US House vote. But even if it didn't have that in it, it's still not a moot issue, because you have to pay that $132 every 5 years, at the same time you renew your tag. If you're a thirty year old captain, you'd probably renew for another 30 years or so. That's 6 renewals at a total cost to you of nearly $800. And beyond that, it's just plain wrong. So I say again, why isn't every captain out there calling their US Senator?
Profinity, I'd love to run for office on the basis of starting all over! I really think that's the only way to stop the Washington giant machine that is there mainly to stay alive and grow larger! I worked on a state issue this year and had no trouble (relatively speaking) getting answers and reaching people via phone. I tried calling Washington and spent an entire day on the phone. I believe I talked with all of 3 people that day and left a bunch of vmails for the rest. Not one, I repeat... not one, of my messages was returned. They obviously are at a point that they don't feel the need to respond to the average citizen. Washington is completely out of control. The federal agency's main goal is to survive and increase their budgets. And they're good at it. I say we cut every single one of the agency budgets in half and go from there. That should help with the trillion dollar deficit. Of course, you'd have to look at it a bit harder than that. But the basic idea sounds good to me. I'd vote for someone running for President that had that agenda. I think the American people are sick of Washington.
TWIC for captains
