,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #djgg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ab1 #bjbf ,mr4 ,cotton introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services ,a ,,bill ,to ensure secure transport of ,department of ,defense freight1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,trucking ,security and ,,ccp ,disclosure ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,certification requirement for motor carriers transporting ,department of ,defense freight ,chapter #aeg of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #bfca;a the following new section3 #bfca;b4 ,certification regarding affiliations with ,chinese military companies for surface transportation contracts 7a7 ,certification required 7#a7 ,no contract for the transportation of cargo by motor carrier for the ,department of ,defense 7including contracts awarded by the ,united ,states ,transportation ,command or the ,military ,surface ,deployment and ,distribution ,command7 may be awarded to1 or performed by1 any covered carrier unless such covered carrier submits a certification described in subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,the requirement under paragraph 7#a7 shall apply to prime contractors1 subcontractors1 and owner-operators at all tiers4 7b7 ,contents of certification ,a certification under this section shall state that1 to the best of the covered carrier's knowledge after reasonable inquiry-- 7#a7 the covered carrier is not owned or controlled by1 and does not have significant business relationships with1 any entity identified on the most recent list of ,chinese military companies required under section #abfj;,h of the ,william ,m4 7,mac7 ,thornberry ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjba 7,public ,law #aaf-bhc2 #aj ,u4,s4,c4 #aac note72 and 7#b7 the covered carrier will require the same certification from any subcontractor or owner-operator it engages for performance of the contract4 7c7 ,flow-,down and recordkeeping ,prime contractors shall include the substance of this certification requirement in all subcontracts and lease agreements for ,department of ,defense freight transportation4 ,covered carriers shall maintain records of certifications for not less than #e years4 7d7 ,penalties ,any covered carrier that knowingly provides a false certification under this section shall be subject to suspension or debarment from ,department of ,defense contracting and civil penalties under section #ajja of title #ah4 7e7 ,implementation ,the ,secretary of ,defense shall prescribe regulations to implement this section not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this section1 including integration into existing carrier approval processes of the ,military ,surface ,deployment and ,distribution ,command4 7f7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,covered carrier ,the term covered carrier means any motor carrier1 subcontractor1 or owner-operator providing surface transportation services4 7#b7 ,significant business relationships ,the term significant business relationships shall have the meaning given by the ,secretary of ,defense in regulations4 4 #c4 ,establishment of national security registry for motor carriers handling department of defense freight 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,,iv of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after chapter #aci the following3 #adj ,secure ,defense ,freight ,carrier ,registry #adjja4 ,definition of registry4 #adjjb4 ,establishment of registry4 #adjjc4 ,eligibility and approval4 #adjjd4 ,use of registry4 #adjja4 ,definition of registry ,in this chapter1 the term registry means the ,secure ,defense ,freight ,carrier ,registry established under section #adjjb4 #adjjb4 ,establishment of registry ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this chapter1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,federal ,motor ,carrier ,safety ,administration and in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense1 shall establish and maintain a registry1 to be known as the ,secure ,defense ,freight ,carrier ,registry1 of motor carriers approved to transport freight for the ,department of ,defense4 #adjjc4 ,eligibility and approval 7a7 ,eligibility requirements ,to be included in the registry1 a motor carrier shall-- 7#a7 hold valid operating authority from the ,federal ,motor ,carrier ,safety ,administration2 7#b7 meet all applicable ,department of ,defense carrier qualification standards2 7#c7 undergo enhanced national security vetting1 including-- 7,a7 screening for ownership1 control1 or significant business relationships with-- 7i7 an entity identified on the list maintained by the ,department of ,defense under section #abfj;,h of the ,william ,m4 7,mac7 ,thornberry ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjba 7#aj ,u4,s4,c4 #aac note2 ,public ,law #aaf-bhc72 or 7ii7 any other foreign adversary entity designated by the ,secretary of ,defense2 and 7,b7 verification that drivers and personnel with access to ,department of ,defense freight meet security standards comparable to those required under ,transportation ,worker ,identification ,credential programs or other relevant ,federal security programs2 and 7#d7 submit to periodic revetting not less frequently than once every #b years4 7b7 ,application and approval process 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a streamlined application process for inclusion on the registry4 7#b7 ,requirement ,the process established under paragraph 7#a7 shall include coordination with existing ,department of ,defense carrier approval systems4 #adjjd4 ,use of registry 7a7 ,prohibition ,subject to subsection 7b71 beginning #a year after the date of the enactment of this chapter1 a motor carrier may not bid on or perform a ,department of ,defense freight transportation contract unless the motor carrier is included in the registry4 7b7 ,waivers ,the ,secretary of ,defense may grant waivers from the prohibition under subsection 7a7 for exigent circumstances4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the analysis for subtitle ,,iv of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter #aci the following3 #adj4 ,,secure ,,defense ,,freight ,,carrier ,,registry #adjja 4