,,ib ,union ,calendar ,no4 #deh #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eaca ,report ,no4 #aae-fjb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #bg1 #bjah ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,mississippi1 and ,mr4 ,katko7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security ,march #ai1 #bjah ,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed ,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,for text of introduced bill1 see copy of bill as introduced on ,february #bg1 #bjah ,a ,,bill ,to improve the effectiveness of ,federal efforts to identify and address homeland security risks to surface transportation1 secure against vehicle-based attacks1 and conduct a feasibility assessment of introducing new security technologies and measures1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,surface ,transportation ,security ,improvement ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,public and private sector stakeholders ,the term public and private sector stakeholders has the meaning given such term in section #aad7u77#a77;,c7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#c7 ,surface transportation asset ,the term surface transportation asset includes facilities1 equipment1 or systems used to provide transportation services by-- 7,a7 a public transportation agency 7as such term is defined in section #adjb7e7 of the ,implementing ,recommendations of the #i_/aa ,commission ,act of #bjjg 7,public ,law #aaj-ec2 #f ,u4,s4,c4 #aaca7e7772 7,b7 a railroad carrier 7as such term is defined in section #bjajb7c7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code72 7,c7 an owner or operator of-- 7i7 an entity offering scheduled1 fixed-route transportation services by over-the-road bus 7as such term is defined in section #aeja7d7 of the ,implementing ,recommendations of the #i_/aa ,commission ,act of #bjjg 7,public ,law #aaj-ec2 #f ,u4,s4,c4 #aaea7d7772 or 7ii7 a bus terminal2 or 7,d7 other transportation facilities1 equipment1 or systems1 as determined by the ,secretary4 #c4 ,national strategy for transportation security review ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall evaluate the degree to which the #bjaf ,biennial ,national ,strategy for ,transportation ,security1 as required pursuant to section #aad7s7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 that was issued on ,august #aa1 #bjaf1 by the ,administrator of the ,transportation ,security ,administration1 is reflected in ,federal transportation security programs1 budgets1 research1 staffing levels1 and related efforts and1 in carrying out such evaluation1 shall consider the degree to which-- 7#a7 such strategy is sufficiently forward-looking to guide future ,federal efforts relating to transportation security2 7#b7 ,federal transportation security programs1 budgets1 research1 staffing levels1 and related efforts for fiscal year #bjah and beyond are guided by such strategy2 and 7#c7 the annual progress reports submitted to ,congress pursuant to such section subsequent to the issuance of such strategy provide information on the degree to which such strategy guides ,federal efforts relating to transportation security4 #d4 ,risk scenarios 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall annually develop1 consistent with the transportation modal security plans required under section #aad7s7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 risk-based priorities based on risk assessments conducted or received by the ,secretary across all transportation modes that consider threats1 vulnerabilities1 and consequences4 7b7 ,scenarios ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall ensure that the risk-based priorities identified pursuant to subsection 7a7 are informed by an analysis of terrorist attack scenarios for each transportation mode1 including cyber attack scenarios and intelligence and open source information about current and evolving threats4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #abj days after each development of risk-based priorities under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the following3 7#a7 ,copies of the risk assessments for each transportation mode4 7#b7 ,a summary that ranks the risks within and across modes4 7#c7 ,a description of the risk-based priorities for securing the transportation sector that identifies and prioritizes the greatest security needs of such transportation sector1 both across and within modes1 in the order that such priorities should be addressed4 7#d7 ,information on the underlying methodologies used to assess risks across and within each transportation mode and the basis for any assumptions regarding threats1 vulnerabilities1 and consequences made in assessing and prioritizing risks within each such mode and across modes4 7d7 ,classification ,the information provided under subsection 7c7 may be submitted in a classified format or unclassified format1 as appropriate4 #e4 ,assessments and security plans2 ,frontline employee security training 7a7 ,report ,not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,homeland ,security a report on-- 7#a7 the status of regulations requiring assessments and security plans as specified in sections #adje1 #aeab1 and #aeca of the ,implementing ,recommendations of the #i_/aa ,commission ,act of #bjjg 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #aacd1 #aafb1 and #aaha7 that includes a timeline for the issuance of a final rulemaking subsequent to the ,december #af1 #bjaf1 publication in the ,federal ,register of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking2 and 7#b7 the status of regulations for a security training program to prepare transportation employees for potential security threats and conditions as specified in sections #adjh1 #aeag1 and #aecd of the ,implementing ,recommendations of the #i_/aa ,commission ,act of #bjjg 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #aacg1 #aafg1 and #aahd7 that includes a timeline for the issuance of a final rulemaking subsequent to the ,december #af1 #bjaf1 publication in the ,federal ,register of a notice of proposed rulemaking4 7b7 ,inspector ,general review ,not later than #abj days after submission of the report under subsection 7a71 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,homeland ,security shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a review of such report that includes information on-- 7#a7 departmental efforts to finalize rulemaking2 and 7#b7 recommendations1 as necessary1 to ensure implementation of the regulations referred to in such subsection4 #f4 ,research and development 7a7 ,emerging issues ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 acting through the ,under ,secretary for ,science and ,technology of the ,department of ,homeland ,security and in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,transportation ,security ,administration1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a feasibility assessment of modifying the security of surface transportation assets by-- 7#a7 introducing next generation technologies to be integrated into systems of surface transportation assets to detect explosives1 including through the deployment of mobile explosives detection technologies to conduct risk-based passenger and property screening at such systems2 7#b7 providing surface transportation asset operators with access to the ,transportation ,security ,administration's ,secure ,flight ,program or a similar passenger vetting system maintained by the ,transportation ,security ,administration2 7#c7 deploying a credential authentication technology or other means of identification document inspection to high-risk surface transportation assets to assist operators conducting passenger vetting2 and 7#d7 deploying scalable1 cost-effective technology solutions to detect chemical1 biological1 radiological1 nuclear1 or explosive threats within high-risk surface transportation assets that are capable of passive1 continuous1 and real-time sensing and detection of1 and alerting passengers and operating personnel to1 the presence of such a threat4 7b7 ,considerations ,in carrying out the assessment required under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 acting through the ,under ,secretary for ,science and ,technology of the ,department of ,homeland ,security and in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,transportation ,security ,administration1 shall address the technological1 privacy1 operational1 passenger facilitation1 and public acceptance considerations involved with each security measure contemplated in such assessment4 #g4 ,best practices to secure against vehicle-based attacks ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall disseminate best practices to public and private sector stakeholders regarding how to enhance transportation security against the threat of a vehicle-based terrorist attack4 #h4 ,surface transportation stakeholder survey 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall begin conducting a survey of public and private stakeholders responsible for securing surface transportation assets regarding resource challenges1 including the availability of ,federal funding1 associated with securing such assets that provides an opportunity for respondents to set forth information on specific unmet needs4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #abj days after beginning the survey required under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding the results of such survey and the ,department of ,homeland ,security's efforts to address any identified security vulnerabilities4 #i4 ,innovative technologies and capabilities 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,transportation ,security ,administration may establish a task force to collaborate with public and private sector stakeholders to identify and develop an innovative technology or capability with the potential to enhance transportation security1 including by-- 7#a7 conducting a field demonstration of such a technology or capability in an operational environment2 7#b7 gathering performance data from such a demonstration to inform the acquisition process2 and 7#c7 to the extent practicable1 providing funding and promoting efforts to enable participation in a demonstration by a small business that has an innovative technology or capability but does not have adequate resources to participate in a field demonstration under paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,composition ,the task force authorized under subsection 7a7 shall be chaired by the ,administrator of the ,transportation ,security ,administration's designee and comprised of representatives appointed by the ,administrator1 in consultation with the ,chairperson of the ,aviation ,security ,advisory ,committee 7established pursuant to section #ddidf of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code74 7c7 ,activities ,the chair of the task force shall-- 7#a7 evaluate technologies and capabilities for field demonstrations with potential to enhance surface transportation security1 in addition to technologies and capabilities with potential to enhance aviation security2 7#b7 coordinate with the ,science and ,technology ,directorate of the ,department of ,homeland ,security to leverage such technologies and capabilities2 and 7#c7 submit to the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security an annual report regarding the task force's activities that identifies1 for each such technology or capability1 what mode of transportation could be enhanced by the integration of such technology or capability into security operations and1 as appropriate1 plans for deploying such technology or capability4 7d7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall require the ,administrator of the ,transportation ,security ,administration to acquire an innovative technology or capability4 7e7 ,non-,applicability of ,,faca ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the task force4 #aj4 ,security technologies tied to foreign threat countries ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 acting through the ,under ,secretary for ,intelligence and ,analysis of the ,department of ,homeland ,security1 in consultation with the ,under ,secretary for the ,national ,protection and ,programs ,directorate of the ,department1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an assessment of terrorist and other threats to the transportation sector1 including surface transportation assets1 posed by the use of security technologies1 including software and networked technologies1 developed or manufactured by firms that are owned or closely linked to the governments of countries that are known to pose a cyber or homeland security threat4 #aa4 ,surface transportation security inspectors 7a7 ,strategy ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,transportation ,security ,administration shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states a strategy to guide operations of surface transportation security inspectors that addresses the following3 7#a7 ,any limitations in data systems for such inspectors1 as identified by the ,comptroller ,general4 7#b7 ,alignment of operations with risk assessment findings1 including an approach to identifying and prioritizing entities and locations for inspections4 7#c7 ,measurable objectives for the surface transportation security inspectors program4 7b7 ,comptroller ,general review ,not later than #ahj days after the submission of the strategy required under subsection 7b71 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall review such strategy and1 as appropriate1 issue recommendations4 ,march #ai1 #bjah,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed