" ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 110TH CONGRESS

1st Session 

REPORT

110–259 

IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF 

THE 9/11 COMMISSION ACT OF 2007 

CONFERENCE REPORT 

TO ACCOMPANY

H.R. 1 

JULY 25, 2007.—Ordered to be printed 


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U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

36–904 

" ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 110TH CONGRESS

1st Session 

REPORT

2007

110–259 

IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF 

THE 9/11 COMMISSION ACT OF 2007 

CONFERENCE REPORT 

TO ACCOMPANY

H.R. 1 

JULY 25, 2007.—Ordered to be printed 


mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARINGE:\Seals\Congress.#13
IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION ACT OF 2007 

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36–904 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–259 

IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 9/11 

COMMISSION ACT OF 2007 

JULY 25, 2007.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, from the Committee on Conference, 

submitted the following 

CONFERENCE REPORT 

[To accompany H.R. 1] 

The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 

two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 1), 

to provide for the implementation of the recommendations of the 

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, 

having met, after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows: 

That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate and agree to the same with an amendment as 

follows: 

In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Senate 

amendment, insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Implementing 

Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act is 

as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS 

Sec. 101. Homeland Security Grant Program. 

Sec. 102. Other amendments to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. 

Sec. 103. Amendments to the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 

2006. 

Sec. 104. Technical and conforming amendments. 

TITLE II—EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS 

Sec. 201. Emergency management performance grant program. 

Sec. 202. Grants for construction of emergency operations centers. 

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TITLE III—ENSURING COMMUNICATIONS INTEROPERABILITY FOR FIRST 

RESPONDERS 

Sec. 301. Interoperable emergency communications grant program. 

Sec. 302. Border interoperability demonstration project. 

TITLE IV—STRENGTHENING USE OF THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM 

Sec. 401. Definitions. 

Sec. 402. National exercise program design. 

Sec. 403. National exercise program model exercises. 

Sec. 404. Preidentifying and evaluating multijurisdictional facilities to strengthen 

incident command; private sector preparedness. 

Sec. 405. Federal response capability inventory. 

Sec. 406. Reporting requirements. 

Sec. 407. Federal preparedness. 

Sec. 408. Credentialing and typing. 

Sec. 409. Model standards and guidelines for critical infrastructure workers. 

Sec. 410. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE V—IMPROVING INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION SHARING WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WITH STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL 

GOVERNMENTS 

Subtitle A—Homeland Security Information Sharing Enhancement 

Sec. 501. Homeland Security Advisory System and information sharing. 

Sec. 502. Intelligence Component Defined. 

Sec. 503. Role of intelligence components, training, and information sharing. 

Sec. 504. Information sharing. 

Subtitle B—Homeland Security Information Sharing Partnerships 

Sec. 511. Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative. 

Sec. 512. Homeland Security Information Sharing Fellows Program. 

Sec. 513. Rural Policing Institute. 

Subtitle C—Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group 

Sec. 521. Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group. 

Subtitle D—Homeland Security Intelligence Offices Reorganization 

Sec. 531. Office of Intelligence and Analysis and Office of Infrastructure Protection. 

Subtitle E—Authorization of Appropriations 

Sec. 541. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE VI—CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF INTELLIGENCE 

Sec. 601. Availability to public of certain intelligence funding information. 

Sec. 602. Public Interest Declassification Board. 

Sec. 603. Sense of the Senate regarding a report on the 9/11 Commission recommendations with respect to intelligence reform and congressional intelligence oversight reform. 

Sec. 604. Availability of funds for the Public Interest Declassification Board. 

Sec. 605. Availability of the Executive Summary of the Report on Central Intelligence Agency Accountability Regarding the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001. 

TITLE VII—STRENGTHENING EFFORTS TO PREVENT TERRORIST TRAVEL 

Subtitle A—Terrorist Travel 

Sec. 701. Report on international collaboration to increase border security, enhance 

global document security, and exchange terrorist information. 

Subtitle B—Visa Waiver 

Sec. 711. Modernization of the visa waiver program. 

Subtitle C—Strengthening Terrorism Prevention Programs 

Sec. 721. Strengthening the capabilities of the Human Smuggling and Trafficking 

Center. 

Sec. 722. Enhancements to the terrorist travel program. 

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Sec. 723. Enhanced driver’s license. 

Sec. 724. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. 

Sec. 725. Model ports-of-entry. 

Subtitle D—Miscellaneous Provisions 

Sec. 731. Report regarding border security. 

TITLE VIII—PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES 

Sec. 801. Modification of authorities relating to Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. 

Sec. 802. Department Privacy Officer. 

Sec. 803. Privacy and civil liberties officers. 

Sec. 804. Federal Agency Data Mining Reporting Act of 2007. 

TITLE IX—PRIVATE SECTOR PREPAREDNESS 

Sec. 901. Private sector preparedness. 

Sec. 902. Responsibilities of the private sector Office of the Department. 

TITLE X—IMPROVING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY 

Sec. 1001. National Asset Database. 

Sec. 1002. Risk assessments and report. 

Sec. 1003. Sense of Congress regarding the inclusion of levees in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan. 

TITLE XI—ENHANCED DEFENSES AGAINST WEAPONS OF MASS 

DESTRUCTION 

Sec. 1101. National Biosurveillance Integration Center. 

Sec. 1102. Biosurveillance efforts. 

Sec. 1103. Interagency coordination to enhance defenses against nuclear and radiological weapons of mass destruction. 

Sec. 1104. Integration of detection equipment and technologies. 

TITLE XII—TRANSPORTATION SECURITY PLANNING AND INFORMATION 

SHARING 

Sec. 1201. Definitions. 

Sec. 1202. Transportation security strategic planning. 

Sec. 1203. Transportation security information sharing. 

Sec. 1204. National domestic preparedness consortium. 

Sec. 1205. National transportation security center of excellence. 

Sec. 1206. Immunity for reports of suspected terrorist activity or suspicious behavior 

and response. 

TITLE XIII—TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS 

Sec. 1301. Definitions. 

Sec. 1302. Enforcement authority. 

Sec. 1303. Authorization of visible intermodal prevention and response teams. 

Sec. 1304. Surface transportation security inspectors. 

Sec. 1305. Surface transportation security technology information sharing. 

Sec. 1306. TSA personnel limitations. 

Sec. 1307. National explosives detection canine team training program. 

Sec. 1308. Maritime and surface transportation security user fee study. 

Sec. 1309. Prohibition of issuance of transportation security cards to convicted felons. 

Sec. 1310. Roles of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of 

Transportation. 

TITLE XIV—PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 

Sec. 1401. Short title. 

Sec. 1402. Definitions. 

Sec. 1403. Findings. 

Sec. 1404. National Strategy for Public Transportation Security. 

Sec. 1405. Security assessments and plans. 

Sec. 1406. Public transportation security assistance. 

Sec. 1407. Security exercises. 

Sec. 1408. Public transportation security training program. 

Sec. 1409. Public transportation research and development. 

Sec. 1410. Information sharing. 

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Sec. 1411. Threat assessments. 

Sec. 1412. Reporting requirements. 

Sec. 1413. Public transportation employee protections. 

Sec. 1414. Security background checks of covered individuals for public transportation. 

Sec. 1415. Limitation on fines and civil penalties. 

TITLE XV—SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 

Subtitle A—General Provisions 

Sec. 1501. Definitions. 

Sec. 1502. Oversight and grant procedures. 

Sec. 1503. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 1504. Public awareness. 

Subtitle B—Railroad Security 

Sec. 1511. Railroad transportation security risk assessment and national strategy. 

Sec. 1512. Railroad carrier assessments and plans. 

Sec. 1513. Railroad security assistance. 

Sec. 1514. Systemwide Amtrak security upgrades. 

Sec. 1515. Fire and life safety improvements. 

Sec. 1516. Railroad carrier exercises. 

Sec. 1517. Railroad security training program. 

Sec. 1518. Railroad security research and development. 

Sec. 1519. Railroad tank car security testing. 

Sec. 1520. Railroad threat assessments. 

Sec. 1521. Railroad employee protections. 

Sec. 1522. Security background checks of covered individuals. 

Sec. 1523. Northern border railroad passenger report. 

Sec. 1524. International Railroad Security Program. 

Sec. 1525. Transmission line report. 

Sec. 1526. Railroad security enhancements. 

Sec. 1527. Applicability of District of Columbia law to certain Amtrak contracts. 

Sec. 1528. Railroad preemption clarification. 

Subtitle C—Over-The-Road Bus and Trucking Security 

Sec. 1531. Over-the-road bus security assessments and plans. 

Sec. 1532. Over-the-road bus security assistance. 

Sec. 1533. Over-the-road bus exercises. 

Sec. 1534. Over-the-road bus security training program. 

Sec. 1535. Over-the-road bus security research and development. 

Sec. 1536. Motor carrier employee protections. 

Sec. 1537. Unified carrier registration system agreement. 

Sec. 1538. School bus transportation security. 

Sec. 1539. Technical amendment. 

Sec. 1540. Truck security assessment. 

Sec. 1541. Memorandum of understanding annex. 

Sec. 1542. DHS Inspector General report on trucking security grant program. 

Subtitle D—Hazardous Material and Pipeline Security 

Sec. 1551. Railroad routing of security-sensitive materials. 

Sec. 1552. Railroad security-sensitive material tracking. 

Sec. 1553. Hazardous materials highway routing. 

Sec. 1554. Motor carrier security-sensitive material tracking. 

Sec. 1555. Hazardous materials security inspections and study. 

Sec. 1556. Technical corrections. 

Sec. 1557. Pipeline security inspections and enforcement. 

Sec. 1558. Pipeline security and incident recovery plan. 

TITLE XVI—AVIATION 

Sec. 1601. Airport checkpoint screening fund. 

Sec. 1602. Screening of cargo carried aboard passenger aircraft. 

Sec. 1603. In-line baggage screening. 

Sec. 1604. In-line baggage system deployment. 

Sec. 1605. Strategic plan to test and implement advanced passenger prescreening 

system. 

Sec. 1606. Appeal and redress process for passengers wrongly delayed or prohibited 

from boarding a flight. 

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Sec. 1607. Strengthening explosives detection at passenger screening checkpoints. 

Sec. 1608. Research and development of aviation transportation security technology. 

Sec. 1609. Blast-resistant cargo containers. 

Sec. 1610. Protection of passenger planes from explosives. 

Sec. 1611. Specialized training. 

Sec. 1612. Certain TSA personnel limitations not to apply. 

Sec. 1613. Pilot project to test different technologies at airport exit lanes. 

Sec. 1614. Security credentials for airline crews. 

Sec. 1615. Law enforcement officer biometric credential. 

Sec. 1616. Repair station security. 

Sec. 1617. General aviation security. 

Sec. 1618. Extension of authorization of aviation security funding. 

TITLE XVII—MARITIME CARGO 

Sec. 1701. Container scanning and seals. 

TITLE XVIII—PREVENTING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION 

PROLIFERATION AND TERRORISM 

Sec. 1801. Findings. 

Sec. 1802. Definitions. 

Subtitle A—Repeal and Modification of Limitations on Assistance for Prevention of 

WMD Proliferation and Terrorism 

Sec. 1811. Repeal and modification of limitations on assistance for prevention of 

weapons of mass destruction proliferation and terrorism. 

Subtitle B—Proliferation Security Initiative 

Sec. 1821. Proliferation Security Initiative improvements and authorities. 

Sec. 1822. Authority to provide assistance to cooperative countries. 

Subtitle C—Assistance to Accelerate Programs to Prevent Weapons of Mass 

Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism 

Sec. 1831. Statement of policy. 

Sec. 1832. Authorization of appropriations for the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. 

Sec. 1833. Authorization of appropriations for the Department of Energy programs 

to prevent weapons of mass destruction proliferation and terrorism. 

Subtitle D—Office of the United States Coordinator for the Prevention of Weapons 

of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism 

Sec. 1841. Office of the United States Coordinator for the Prevention of Weapons of 

Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. 

Sec. 1842. Sense of Congress on United States-Russia cooperation and coordination 

on the prevention of weapons of mass destruction proliferation and terrorism. 

Subtitle E—Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction 

Proliferation and Terrorism 

Sec. 1851. Establishment of Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. 

Sec. 1852. Purposes of Commission. 

Sec. 1853. Composition of Commission. 

Sec. 1854. Responsibilities of Commission. 

Sec. 1855. Powers of Commission. 

Sec. 1856. Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act. 

Sec. 1857. Report. 

Sec. 1858. Termination. 

Sec. 1859. Funding. 

TITLE XIX—INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON ANTITERRORISM 

TECHNOLOGIES 

Sec. 1901. Promoting antiterrorism capabilities through international cooperation. 

Sec. 1902. Transparency of funds. 

TITLE XX—9/11 COMMISSION INTERNATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION 

Sec. 2001. Short title. 

Sec. 2002. Definition. 

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Subtitle A—Quality Educational Opportunities in Predominantly Muslim Countries. 

Sec. 2011. Findings; Policy. 

Sec. 2012. International Muslim Youth Opportunity Fund. 

Sec. 2013. Annual report to Congress. 

Sec. 2014. Extension of program to provide grants to American-sponsored schools in 

predominantly Muslim Countries to provide scholarships. 

Subtitle B—Democracy and Development in the Broader Middle East Region 

Sec. 2021. Middle East Foundation. 

Subtitle C—Reaffirming United States Moral Leadership 

Sec. 2031. Advancing United States interests through public diplomacy. 

Sec. 2032. Oversight of international broadcasting. 

Sec. 2033. Expansion of United States scholarship, exchange, and library programs 

in predominantly Muslim countries. 

Sec. 2034. United States policy toward detainees. 

Subtitle D—Strategy for the United States Relationship With Afghanistan, Pakistan, 

and Saudi Arabia 

Sec. 2041. Afghanistan. 

Sec. 2042. Pakistan. 

Sec. 2043. Saudi Arabia. 

TITLE XXI—ADVANCING DEMOCRATIC VALUES 

Sec. 2101. Short title. 

Sec. 2102. Findings. 

Sec. 2103. Statement of policy. 

Sec. 2104. Definitions. 

Subtitle A—Activities to Enhance the Promotion of Democracy 

Sec. 2111. Democracy Promotion at the Department of State. 

Sec. 2112. Democracy Fellowship Program. 

Sec. 2113. Investigations of violations of international humanitarian law. 

Subtitle B—Strategies and Reports on Human Rights and the Promotion of 

Democracy 

Sec. 2121. Strategies, priorities, and annual report. 

Sec. 2122. Translation of human rights reports. 

Subtitle C—Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion and the Internet Website 

of the Department of State 

Sec. 2131. Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion. 

Sec. 2132. Sense of Congress regarding the Internet website of the Department of 

State. 

Subtitle D—Training in Democracy and Human Rights; Incentives 

Sec. 2141. Training in democracy promotion and the protection of human rights. 

Sec. 2142. Sense of Congress regarding ADVANCE Democracy Award. 

Sec. 2143. Personnel policies at the Department of State. 

Subtitle E—Cooperation With Democratic Countries 

Sec. 2151. Cooperation with democratic countries. 

Subtitle F—Funding for Promotion of Democracy 

Sec. 2161. The United Nations Democracy Fund. 

Sec. 2162. United States democracy assistance programs. 

TITLE XXII—INTEROPERABLE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS 

Sec. 2201. Interoperable emergency communications. 

Sec. 2202. Clarification of congressional intent. 

Sec. 2203. Cross border interoperability reports. 

Sec. 2204. Extension of short quorum. 

Sec. 2205. Requiring reports to be submitted to certain committees. 

TITLE XXIII—EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS MODERNIZATION 

Sec. 2301. Short title. 

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Sec. 2302. Funding for program. 

Sec. 2303. NTIA coordination of E-911 implementation. 

TITLE XXIV—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 

Sec. 2401. Quadrennial homeland security review. 

Sec. 2402. Sense of the Congress regarding the prevention of radicalization leading 

to ideologically-based violence. 

Sec. 2403. Requiring reports to be submitted to certain committees. 

Sec. 2404. Demonstration project. 

Sec. 2405. Under Secretary for Management of Department of Homeland Security. 

TITLE I—HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS 

SEC. 101. HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM. 

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is 

amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘TITLE XX—HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS 

‘‘SEC. 2001. DEFINITIONS. 

‘‘In this title, the following definitions shall apply: ‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘Administrator’ means the 

Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. ‘‘(2) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—The term ‘appropriate committees of Congress’ means— ‘‘(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and ‘‘(B) those committees of the House of Representatives 

that the Speaker of the House of Representatives determines 

appropriate. 

‘‘(3) CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS.—The term ‘critical infrastructure sectors’ means the following sectors, in both 

urban and rural areas: ‘‘(A) Agriculture and food. 

‘‘(B) Banking and finance. 

‘‘(C) Chemical industries. 

‘‘(D) Commercial facilities. 

‘‘(E) Commercial nuclear reactors, materials, and 

waste. 

‘‘(F) Dams. 

‘‘(G) The defense industrial base. 

‘‘(H) Emergency services. 

‘‘(I) Energy. 

‘‘(J) Government facilities. 

‘‘(K) Information technology. 

‘‘(L) National monuments and icons. 

‘‘(M) Postal and shipping. 

‘‘(N) Public health and health care. 

‘‘(O) Telecommunications. 

‘‘(P) Transportation systems. 

‘‘(Q) Water. 

‘‘(4) DIRECTLY ELIGIBLE TRIBE.—The term ‘directly eligible 

tribe’ means—

‘‘(A) any Indian tribe—

‘‘(i) that is located in the continental United States; 

‘‘(ii) that operates a law enforcement or emergency 

response agency with the capacity to respond to calls 

for law enforcement or emergency services; 

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‘‘(iii)(I) that is located on or near an international 

border or a coastline bordering an ocean (including the 

Gulf of Mexico) or international waters; ‘‘(II) that is located within 10 miles of a system or 

asset included on the prioritized critical infrastructure 

list established under section 210E(a)(2) or has such a 

system or asset within its territory; ‘‘(III) that is located within or contiguous to 1 of 

the 50 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in 

the United States; or ‘‘(IV) the jurisdiction of which includes not less 

than 1,000 square miles of Indian country, as that 

term is defined in section 1151 of title 18, United 

States Code; and ‘‘(iv) that certifies to the Secretary that a State has 

not provided funds under section 2003 or 2004 to the 

Indian tribe or consortium of Indian tribes for the purpose for which direct funding is sought; and 

‘‘(B) a consortium of Indian tribes, if each tribe satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (A). 

‘‘(5) ELIGIBLE METROPOLITAN AREA.—The term ‘eligible metropolitan area’ means any of the 100 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States. ‘‘(6) HIGH-RISK URBAN AREA.—The term ‘high-risk urban 

area’ means a high-risk urban area designated under section 

2003(b)(3)(A). ‘‘(7) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian tribe’ has the meaning given that term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)). ‘‘(8) METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA.—The term ‘metropolitan statistical area’ means a metropolitan statistical area, 

as defined by the Office of Management and Budget. 

‘‘(9) NATIONAL SPECIAL SECURITY EVENT.—The term ‘National Special Security Event’ means a designated event that, by 

virtue of its political, economic, social, or religious significance, 

may be the target of terrorism or other criminal activity. ‘‘(10) POPULATION.—The term ‘population’ means population according to the most recent United States census population estimates available at the start of the relevant fiscal year. ‘‘(11) POPULATION DENSITY.—The term ‘population density’

means population divided by land area in square miles. 

‘‘(12) QUALIFIED INTELLIGENCE ANALYST.—The term ‘qualified intelligence analyst’ means an intelligence analyst (as that 

term is defined in section 210A(j)), including law enforcement 

personnel—

‘‘(A) who has successfully completed training to ensure 

baseline proficiency in intelligence analysis and production, 

as determined by the Secretary, which may include training using a curriculum developed under section 209; or ‘‘(B) whose experience ensures baseline proficiency in 

intelligence analysis and production equivalent to the training required under subparagraph (A), as determined by the 

Secretary. 

‘‘(13) TARGET CAPABILITIES.—The term ‘target capabilities’

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al government preparedness for which guidelines are required 

to be established under section 646(a) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 746(a)). 

‘‘(14) TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘tribal government’

means the government of an Indian tribe. 

‘‘Subtitle A—Grants to States and High-Risk Urban Areas 

‘‘SEC. 2002. HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAMS. 

‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary, through the Administrator, may award grants under sections 2003 and 2004 to State, 

local, and tribal governments. 

‘‘(b) PROGRAMS NOT AFFECTED.—This subtitle shall not be construed to affect any of the following Federal programs: 

‘‘(1) Firefighter and other assistance programs authorized 

under the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 

U.S.C. 2201 et seq.). 

‘‘(2) Grants authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et 

seq.). 

‘‘(3) Emergency Management Performance Grants under the 

amendments made by title II of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. 

‘‘(4) Grants to protect critical infrastructure, including port 

security grants authorized under section 70107 of title 46, 

United States Code, and the grants authorized under title XIV, 

XV, and XVI of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/ 

11 Commission Act of 2007 and the amendments made by such 

titles. 

‘‘(5) The Metropolitan Medical Response System authorized 

under section 635 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management 

Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 723). 

‘‘(6) The Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant 

Program authorized under title XVIII. ‘‘(7) Grant programs other than those administered by the 

Department. 

‘‘(c) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The grant programs authorized under 

sections 2003 and 2004 shall supercede all grant programs authorized under section 1014 of the USA PATRIOT Act (42 

U.S.C. 3714). 

‘‘(2) ALLOCATION.—The allocation of grants authorized 

under section 2003 or 2004 shall be governed by the terms of 

this subtitle and not by any other provision of law. 

‘‘SEC. 2003. URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an Urban Area Security Initiative to provide grants to assist high-risk urban areas in 

preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts 

of terrorism. 

‘‘(b) ASSESSMENT AND DESIGNATION OF HIGH-RISK URBAN

AREAS.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall designate highrisk urban areas to receive grants under this section based on 

procedures under this subsection. 

‘‘(2) INITIAL ASSESSMENT.—

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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For each fiscal year, the Administrator shall conduct an initial assessment of the relative 

threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts of terrorism faced by each eligible metropolitan area, including 

consideration of— ‘‘(i) the factors set forth in subparagraphs (A) 

through (H) and (K) of section 2007(a)(1); and ‘‘(ii) information and materials submitted under 

subparagraph (B). 

‘‘(B) SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION BY ELIGIBLE METRO- POLITAN AREAS.—Prior to conducting each initial assessment under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall provide each eligible metropolitan area with, and shall notify 

each eligible metropolitan area of, the opportunity to— ‘‘(i) submit information that the eligible metropolitan area believes to be relevant to the determination of 

the threat, vulnerability, and consequences it faces 

from acts of terrorism; and ‘‘(ii) review the risk assessment conducted by the 

Department of that eligible metropolitan area, including the bases for the assessment by the Department of 

the threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts of 

terrorism faced by that eligible metropolitan area, and 

remedy erroneous or incomplete information. ‘‘(3) DESIGNATION OF HIGH-RISK URBAN AREAS.— ‘‘(A) DESIGNATION.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—For each fiscal year, after conducting the initial assessment under paragraph (2), 

and based on that assessment, the Administrator shall 

designate high-risk urban areas that may submit applications for grants under this section. ‘‘(ii) ADDITIONAL AREAS.—Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the Administrator may— ‘‘(I) in any case where an eligible metropolitan 

area consists of more than 1 metropolitan division 

(as that term is defined by the Office of Management and Budget) designate more than 1 high-risk 

urban area within a single eligible metropolitan 

area; and ‘‘(II) designate an area that is not an eligible 

metropolitan area as a high-risk urban area based 

on the assessment by the Administrator of the relative threat, vulnerability, and consequences from 

acts of terrorism faced by the area. 

‘‘(iii) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 

subsection may be construed to require the Administrator to—

‘‘(I) designate all eligible metropolitan areas 

that submit information to the Administrator 

under paragraph (2)(B)(i) as high-risk urban 

areas; or ‘‘(II) designate all areas within an eligible metropolitan area as part of the high-risk urban area. ‘‘(B) JURISDICTIONS INCLUDED IN HIGH-RISK URBAN

AREAS.—

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‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In designating high-risk urban 

areas under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall 

determine which jurisdictions, at a minimum, shall be 

included in each high-risk urban area. 

‘‘(ii) ADDITIONAL JURISDICTIONS.—A high-risk 

urban area designated by the Administrator may, in 

consultation with the State or States in which such 

high-risk urban area is located, add additional jurisdictions to the high-risk urban area. 

‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An area designated as a high-risk urban 

area under subsection (b) may apply for a grant under this section. 

‘‘(2) MINIMUM CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.—In an application for a grant under this section, a high-risk urban area shall 

submit—

‘‘(A) a plan describing the proposed division of responsibilities and distribution of funding among the local and 

tribal governments in the high-risk urban area; 

‘‘(B) the name of an individual to serve as a high-risk 

urban area liaison with the Department and among the 

various jurisdictions in the high-risk urban area; and 

‘‘(C) such information in support of the application as 

the Administrator may reasonably require. 

‘‘(3) ANNUAL APPLICATIONS.—Applicants for grants under 

this section shall apply or reapply on an annual basis. 

‘‘(4) STATE REVIEW AND TRANSMISSION.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To ensure consistency with State 

homeland security plans, a high-risk urban area applying 

for a grant under this section shall submit its application 

to each State within which any part of that high-risk urban 

area is located for review before submission of such application to the Department. 

‘‘(B) DEADLINE.—Not later than 30 days after receiving 

an application from a high-risk urban area under subparagraph (A), a State shall transmit the application to the Department. 

‘‘(C) OPPORTUNITY FOR STATE COMMENT.—If the Governor of a State determines that an application of a highrisk urban area is inconsistent with the State homeland security plan of that State, or otherwise does not support the 

application, the Governor shall—

‘‘(i) notify the Administrator, in writing, of that 

fact; and 

‘‘(ii) provide an explanation of the reason for not 

supporting the application at the time of transmission 

of the application. 

‘‘(5) OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND.—In considering applications 

for grants under this section, the Administrator shall provide 

applicants with a reasonable opportunity to correct defects in 

the application, if any, before making final awards. 

‘‘(d) DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Administrator approves the application of a high-risk urban area for a grant under this section, 

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the Administrator shall distribute the grant funds to the State 

or States in which that high-risk urban area is located. ‘‘(2) STATE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days after the 

date that a State receives grant funds under paragraph (1), 

that State shall provide the high-risk urban area awarded 

that grant not less than 80 percent of the grant funds. Any 

funds retained by a State shall be expended on items, services, or activities that benefit the high-risk urban area. ‘‘(B) FUNDS RETAINED.—A State shall provide each relevant high-risk urban area with an accounting of the items, 

services, or activities on which any funds retained by the 

State under subparagraph (A) were expended. 

‘‘(3) INTERSTATE URBAN AREAS.—If parts of a high-risk 

urban area awarded a grant under this section are located in 

2 or more States, the Administrator shall distribute to each 

such State—

‘‘(A) a portion of the grant funds in accordance with 

the proposed distribution set forth in the application; or ‘‘(B) if no agreement on distribution has been reached, 

a portion of the grant funds determined by the Administrator to be appropriate. 

‘‘(4) CERTIFICATIONS REGARDING DISTRIBUTION OF GRANT

FUNDS TO HIGH-RISK URBAN AREAS.—A State that receives grant 

funds under paragraph (1) shall certify to the Administrator 

that the State has made available to the applicable high-risk 

urban area the required funds under paragraph (2). 

‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated for grants under this section— ‘‘(1) $850,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

‘‘(2) $950,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

‘‘(3) $1,050,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

‘‘(4) $1,150,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; 

‘‘(5) $1,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and 

‘‘(6) such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2013, and 

each fiscal year thereafter. 

‘‘SEC. 2004. STATE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a State Homeland 

Security Grant Program to assist State, local, and tribal governments in preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of terrorism. 

‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State may apply for a grant under 

this section, and shall submit such information in support of 

the application as the Administrator may reasonably require. 

‘‘(2) MINIMUM CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.—The Administrator shall require that each State include in its application, 

at a minimum—

‘‘(A) the purpose for which the State seeks grant funds 

and the reasons why the State needs the grant to meet the 

target capabilities of that State; 

‘‘(B) a description of how the State plans to allocate the 

grant funds to local governments and Indian tribes; and 

‘‘(C) a budget showing how the State intends to expend 

the grant funds. 

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‘‘(3) ANNUAL APPLICATIONS.—Applicants for grants under 

this section shall apply or reapply on an annual basis. 

‘‘(c) DISTRIBUTION TO LOCAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days after receiving 

grant funds, any State receiving a grant under this section 

shall make available to local and tribal governments, consistent 

with the applicable State homeland security plan— ‘‘(A) not less than 80 percent of the grant funds; 

‘‘(B) with the consent of local and tribal governments, 

items, services, or activities having a value of not less than 

80 percent of the amount of the grant; or ‘‘(C) with the consent of local and tribal governments, 

grant funds combined with other items, services, or activities having a total value of not less than 80 percent of the 

amount of the grant. 

‘‘(2) CERTIFICATIONS REGARDING DISTRIBUTION OF GRANT

FUNDS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.—A State shall certify to the 

Administrator that the State has made the distribution to local 

and tribal governments required under paragraph (1). 

‘‘(3) EXTENSION OF PERIOD.—The Governor of a State may 

request in writing that the Administrator extend the period 

under paragraph (1) for an additional period of time. The Administrator may approve such a request if the Administrator 

determines that the resulting delay in providing grant funding 

to the local and tribal governments is necessary to promote effective investments to prevent, prepare for, protect against, or 

respond to acts of terrorism. 

‘‘(4) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American 

Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

Guam, or the Virgin Islands. ‘‘(5) DIRECT FUNDING.—If a State fails to make the distribution to local or tribal governments required under paragraph 

(1) in a timely fashion, a local or tribal government entitled to 

receive such distribution may petition the Administrator to request that grant funds be provided directly to the local or tribal 

government. 

‘‘(d) MULTISTATE APPLICATIONS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Instead of, or in addition to, any application for a grant under subsection (b), 2 or more States may 

submit an application for a grant under this section in support 

of multistate efforts to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and 

respond to acts of terrorism. ‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT.—If a group of States applies for a grant under this section, such States shall submit to 

the Administrator at the time of application a plan describing—

‘‘(A) the division of responsibilities for administering 

the grant; and 

‘‘(B) the distribution of funding among the States that 

are parties to the application. ‘‘(e) MINIMUM ALLOCATION.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In allocating funds under this section, 

the Administrator shall ensure that— ‘‘(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), each 

State receives, from the funds appropriated for the State 

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Homeland Security Grant Program established under this 

section, not less than an amount equal to— ‘‘(i) 0.375 percent of the total funds appropriated 

for grants under this section and section 2003 in fiscal 

year 2008; ‘‘(ii) 0.365 percent of the total funds appropriated 

for grants under this section and section 2003 in fiscal 

year 2009; ‘‘(iii) 0.36 percent of the total funds appropriated 

for grants under this section and section 2003 in fiscal 

year 2010; ‘‘(iv) 0.355 percent of the total funds appropriated 

for grants under this section and section 2003 in fiscal 

year 2011; and ‘‘(v) 0.35 percent of the total funds appropriated for 

grants under this section and section 2003 in fiscal 

year 2012 and in each fiscal year thereafter; and 

‘‘(B) for each fiscal year, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and 

the Virgin Islands each receive, from the funds appropriated for the State Homeland Security Grant Program established under this section, not less than an amount equal 

to 0.08 percent of the total funds appropriated for grants 

under this section and section 2003. 

‘‘(2) EFFECT OF MULTISTATE AWARD ON STATE MINIMUM.— Any portion of a multistate award provided to a State under 

subsection (d) shall be considered in calculating the minimum 

State allocation under this subsection. 

‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated for grants under this section— ‘‘(1) $950,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 

2012; and ‘‘(2) such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2013, and 

each fiscal year thereafter. 

‘‘SEC. 2005. GRANTS TO DIRECTLY ELIGIBLE TRIBES. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 2004(b), the Administrator may award grants to directly eligible tribes under section 

2004. ‘‘(b) TRIBAL APPLICATIONS.—A directly eligible tribe may apply 

for a grant under section 2004 by submitting an application to the 

Administrator that includes, as appropriate, the information required for an application by a State under section 2004(b). 

‘‘(c) CONSISTENCY WITH STATE PLANS.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To ensure consistency with any applicable State homeland security plan, a directly eligible tribe applying for a grant under section 2004 shall provide a copy of its 

application to each State within which any part of the tribe is 

located for review before the tribe submits such application to 

the Department. 

‘‘(2) OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT.—If the Governor of a 

State determines that the application of a directly eligible tribe 

is inconsistent with the State homeland security plan of that 

State, or otherwise does not support the application, not later 

than 30 days after the date of receipt of that application the 

Governor shall—

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‘‘(A) notify the Administrator, in writing, of that fact; 

and 

‘‘(B) provide an explanation of the reason for not supporting the application. 

‘‘(d) FINAL AUTHORITY.—The Administrator shall have final authority to approve any application of a directly eligible tribe. The 

Administrator shall notify each State within the boundaries of 

which any part of a directly eligible tribe is located of the approval 

of an application by the tribe. 

‘‘(e) PRIORITIZATION.—The Administrator shall allocate funds to 

directly eligible tribes in accordance with the factors applicable to 

allocating funds among States under section 2007. 

‘‘(f) DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS TO DIRECTLY ELIGIBLE TRIBES.—

If the Administrator awards funds to a directly eligible tribe under 

this section, the Administrator shall distribute the grant funds directly to the tribe and not through any State. 

‘‘(g) MINIMUM ALLOCATION.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In allocating funds under this section, 

the Administrator shall ensure that, for each fiscal year, directly eligible tribes collectively receive, from the funds appropriated for the State Homeland Security Grant Program established under section 2004, not less than an amount equal to 0.1 

percent of the total funds appropriated for grants under sections 

2003 and 2004. 

‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—This subsection shall not apply in any 

fiscal year in which the Administrator—

‘‘(A) receives fewer than 5 applications under this section; or 

‘‘(B) does not approve at least 2 applications under this 

section. 

‘‘(h) TRIBAL LIAISON.—A directly eligible tribe applying for a 

grant under section 2004 shall designate an individual to serve as 

a tribal liaison with the Department and other Federal, State, local, 

and regional government officials concerning preventing, preparing 

for, protecting against, and responding to acts of terrorism. 

‘‘(i) ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER FUNDS.—A directly eligible tribe 

that receives a grant under section 2004 may receive funds for other 

purposes under a grant from the State or States within the boundaries of which any part of such tribe is located and from any highrisk urban area of which it is a part, consistent with the homeland 

security plan of the State or high-risk urban area. 

‘‘(j) STATE OBLIGATIONS.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—States shall be responsible for allocating 

grant funds received under section 2004 to tribal governments 

in order to help those tribal communities achieve target capabilities not achieved through grants to directly eligible tribes. 

‘‘(2) DISTRIBUTION OF GRANT FUNDS.—With respect to a 

grant to a State under section 2004, an Indian tribe shall be 

eligible for funding directly from that State, and shall not be 

required to seek funding from any local government. 

‘‘(3) IMPOSITION OF REQUIREMENTS.—A State may not impose unreasonable or unduly burdensome requirements on an 

Indian tribe as a condition of providing the Indian tribe with 

grant funds or resources under section 2004. 

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‘‘(k) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

construed to affect the authority of an Indian tribe that receives 

funds under this subtitle. 

‘‘SEC. 2006. TERRORISM PREVENTION. 

‘‘(a) LAW ENFORCEMENT TERRORISM PREVENTION PROGRAM.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall ensure that not 

less than 25 percent of the total combined funds appropriated 

for grants under sections 2003 and 2004 is used for law enforcement terrorism prevention activities. 

‘‘(2) LAW ENFORCEMENT TERRORISM PREVENTION ACTIVITIES.—Law enforcement terrorism prevention activities include—

‘‘(A) information sharing and analysis; 

‘‘(B) target hardening; 

‘‘(C) threat recognition; 

‘‘(D) terrorist interdiction; 

‘‘(E) overtime expenses consistent with a State homeland security plan, including for the provision of enhanced 

law enforcement operations in support of Federal agencies, 

including for increased border security and border crossing 

enforcement; 

‘‘(F) establishing, enhancing, and staffing with appropriately qualified personnel State, local, and regional fusion centers that comply with the guidelines established 

under section 210A(i); 

‘‘(G) paying salaries and benefits for personnel, including individuals employed by the grant recipient on the date 

of the relevant grant application, to serve as qualified intelligence analysts; 

‘‘(H) any other activity permitted under the Fiscal Year 

2007 Program Guidance of the Department for the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program; and 

‘‘(I) any other terrorism prevention activity authorized 

by the Administrator. 

‘‘(3) PARTICIPATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES

IN FUSION CENTERS.—The Administrator shall ensure that 

grant funds described in paragraph (1) are used to support the 

participation, as appropriate, of law enforcement and other 

emergency response providers from rural and other underrepresented communities at risk from acts of terrorism in fusion 

centers. 

‘‘(b) OFFICE FOR STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.—

‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the Policy 

Directorate of the Department an Office for State and Local 

Law Enforcement, which shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary for State and Local Law Enforcement. 

‘‘(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Assistant Secretary for State 

and Local Law Enforcement shall have an appropriate background with experience in law enforcement, intelligence, and 

other counterterrorism functions. 

‘‘(3) ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL.—The Secretary shall assign to the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement permanent staff and, as appropriate and consistent with sections 

506(c)(2), 821, and 888(d), other appropriate personnel detailed 

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from other components of the Department to carry out the responsibilities under this subsection. ‘‘(4) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Assistant Secretary for State 

and Local Law Enforcement shall— ‘‘(A) lead the coordination of Department-wide policies 

relating to the role of State and local law enforcement in 

preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters within the United States; ‘‘(B) serve as a liaison between State, local, and tribal 

law enforcement agencies and the Department; ‘‘(C) coordinate with the Office of Intelligence and 

Analysis to ensure the intelligence and information sharing 

requirements of State, local, and tribal law enforcement 

agencies are being addressed; ‘‘(D) work with the Administrator to ensure that law 

enforcement and terrorism-focused grants to State, local, 

and tribal government agencies, including grants under 

sections 2003 and 2004, the Commercial Equipment Direct 

Assistance Program, and other grants administered by the 

Department to support fusion centers and law enforcementoriented programs, are appropriately focused on terrorism 

prevention activities; ‘‘(E) coordinate with the Science and Technology Directorate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Justice, the National Institute of Justice, law 

enforcement organizations, and other appropriate entities to 

support the development, promulgation, and updating, as 

necessary, of national voluntary consensus standards for 

training and personal protective equipment to be used in a 

tactical environment by law enforcement officers; and ‘‘(F) conduct, jointly with the Administrator, a study to 

determine the efficacy and feasibility of establishing specialized law enforcement deployment teams to assist State, 

local, and tribal governments in responding to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters and 

report on the results of that study to the appropriate committees of Congress. 

‘‘(5) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this subsection 

shall be construed to diminish, supercede, or replace the responsibilities, authorities, or role of the Administrator. 

‘‘SEC. 2007. PRIORITIZATION. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In allocating funds among States and highrisk urban areas applying for grants under section 2003 or 2004, 

the Administrator shall consider, for each State or high-risk urban 

area—

‘‘(1) its relative threat, vulnerability, and consequences from 

acts of terrorism, including consideration of—

‘‘(A) its population, including appropriate consideration of military, tourist, and commuter populations; 

‘‘(B) its population density; 

‘‘(C) its history of threats, including whether it has 

been the target of a prior act of terrorism; 

‘‘(D) its degree of threat, vulnerability, and consequences related to critical infrastructure (for all critical 

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infrastructure sectors) or key resources identified by the Administrator or the State homeland security plan, including 

threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences related to critical 

infrastructure or key resources in nearby jurisdictions; ‘‘(E) the most current threat assessments available to 

the Department; ‘‘(F) whether the State has, or the high-risk urban area 

is located at or near, an international border; ‘‘(G) whether it has a coastline bordering an ocean (including the Gulf of Mexico) or international waters; ‘‘(H) its likely need to respond to acts of terrorism occurring in nearby jurisdictions; ‘‘(I) the extent to which it has unmet target capabilities; 

‘‘(J) in the case of a high-risk urban area, the extent to 

which that high-risk urban area includes— ‘‘(i) those incorporated municipalities, counties, 

parishes, and Indian tribes within the relevant eligible 

metropolitan area, the inclusion of which will enhance 

regional efforts to prevent, prepare for, protect against, 

and respond to acts of terrorism; and ‘‘(ii) other local and tribal governments in the surrounding area that are likely to be called upon to respond to acts of terrorism within the high-risk urban 

area; and 

‘‘(K) such other factors as are specified in writing by 

the Administrator; and 

‘‘(2) the anticipated effectiveness of the proposed use of the 

grant by the State or high-risk urban area in increasing the 

ability of that State or high-risk urban area to prevent, prepare 

for, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism, to meet its 

target capabilities, and to otherwise reduce the overall risk to 

the high-risk urban area, the State, or the Nation. 

‘‘(b) TYPES OF THREAT.—In assessing threat under this section, 

the Administrator shall consider the following types of threat to critical infrastructure sectors and to populations in all areas of the 

United States, urban and rural: ‘‘(1) Biological. 

‘‘(2) Chemical. 

‘‘(3) Cyber. 

‘‘(4) Explosives. 

‘‘(5) Incendiary. 

‘‘(6) Nuclear. 

‘‘(7) Radiological. 

‘‘(8) Suicide bombers. 

‘‘(9) Such other types of threat determined relevant by the 

Administrator. 

‘‘SEC. 2008. USE OF FUNDS. 

‘‘(a) PERMITTED USES.—Grants awarded under section 2003 or 

2004 may be used to achieve target capabilities related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of 

terrorism, consistent with a State homeland security plan and relevant local, tribal, and regional homeland security plans, through—

‘‘(1) developing and enhancing homeland security, emergency management, or other relevant plans, assessments, or mutual aid agreements; 

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‘‘(2) designing, conducting, and evaluating training and exercises, including training and exercises conducted under section 512 of this Act and section 648 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 748); ‘‘(3) protecting a system or asset included on the prioritized 

critical infrastructure list established under section 210E(a)(2); ‘‘(4) purchasing, upgrading, storing, or maintaining equipment, including computer hardware and software; ‘‘(5) ensuring operability and achieving interoperability of 

emergency communications; ‘‘(6) responding to an increase in the threat level under the 

Homeland Security Advisory System, or to the needs resulting 

from a National Special Security Event; ‘‘(7) establishing, enhancing, and staffing with appropriately qualified personnel State, local, and regional fusion 

centers that comply with the guidelines established under section 210A(i); ‘‘(8) enhancing school preparedness; 

‘‘(9) supporting public safety answering points; 

‘‘(10) paying salaries and benefits for personnel, including 

individuals employed by the grant recipient on the date of the 

relevant grant application, to serve as qualified intelligence analysts; ‘‘(11) paying expenses directly related to administration of 

the grant, except that such expenses may not exceed 3 percent 

of the amount of the grant; ‘‘(12) any activity permitted under the Fiscal Year 2007 

Program Guidance of the Department for the State Homeland 

Security Grant Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative (including activities permitted under the full-time 

counterterrorism staffing pilot), or the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program; and ‘‘(13) any other appropriate activity, as determined by the 

Administrator. 

‘‘(b) LIMITATIONS ON USE OF FUNDS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Funds provided under section 2003 or 

2004 may not be used— ‘‘(A) to supplant State or local funds, except that nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit the use of grant funds 

provided to a State or high-risk urban area for otherwise 

permissible uses under subsection (a) on the basis that a 

State or high-risk urban area has previously used State or 

local funds to support the same or similar uses; or ‘‘(B) for any State or local government cost-sharing contribution. 

‘‘(2) PERSONNEL.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not more than 50 percent of the 

amount awarded to a grant recipient under section 2003 or 

2004 in any fiscal year may be used to pay for personnel, 

including overtime and backfill costs, in support of the permitted uses under subsection (a). ‘‘(B) WAIVER.—At the request of the recipient of a grant 

under section 2003 or 2004, the Administrator may grant 

a waiver of the limitation under subparagraph (A). 

‘‘(3) CONSTRUCTION.—

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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A grant awarded under section 

2003 or 2004 may not be used to acquire land or to construct buildings or other physical facilities. ‘‘(B) EXCEPTIONS.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subparagraph 

(A), nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit the use of 

a grant awarded under section 2003 or 2004 to achieve 

target capabilities related to preventing, preparing for, 

protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism, 

including through the alteration or remodeling of existing buildings for the purpose of making such buildings 

secure against acts of terrorism. ‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENTS FOR EXCEPTION.—No grant 

awarded under section 2003 or 2004 may be used for 

a purpose described in clause (i) unless—

‘‘(I) specifically approved by the Administrator; 

‘‘(II) any construction work occurs under terms 

and conditions consistent with the requirements 

under section 611(j)(9) of the Robert T. Stafford 

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

U.S.C. 5196(j)(9)); and 

‘‘(III) the amount allocated for purposes under 

clause (i) does not exceed the greater of $1,000,000 

or 15 percent of the grant award. 

‘‘(4) RECREATION.—Grants awarded under this subtitle may 

not be used for recreational or social purposes. 

‘‘(c) MULTIPLE-PURPOSE FUNDS.—Nothing in this subtitle shall 

be construed to prohibit State, local, or tribal governments from 

using grant funds under sections 2003 and 2004 in a manner that 

enhances preparedness for disasters unrelated to acts of terrorism, 

if such use assists such governments in achieving target capabilities 

related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism. ‘‘(d) REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS.—

‘‘(1) PAID-ON-CALL OR VOLUNTEER REIMBURSEMENT.—In addition to the activities described in subsection (a), a grant under 

section 2003 or 2004 may be used to provide a reasonable stipend to paid-on-call or volunteer emergency response providers 

who are not otherwise compensated for travel to or participation 

in training or exercises related to the purposes of this subtitle. 

Any such reimbursement shall not be considered compensation 

for purposes of rendering an emergency response provider an 

employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 

U.S.C. 201 et seq.). ‘‘(2) PERFORMANCE OF FEDERAL DUTY.—An applicant for a 

grant under section 2003 or 2004 may petition the Administrator to use the funds from its grants under those sections for 

the reimbursement of the cost of any activity relating to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts 

of terrorism that is a Federal duty and usually performed by 

a Federal agency, and that is being performed by a State or 

local government under agreement with a Federal agency. 

‘‘(e) FLEXIBILITY IN UNSPENT HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT

FUNDS.—Upon request by the recipient of a grant under section 

2003 or 2004, the Administrator may authorize the grant recipient 

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to transfer all or part of the grant funds from uses specified in the 

grant agreement to other uses authorized under this section, if the 

Administrator determines that such transfer is in the interests of 

homeland security. ‘‘(f) EQUIPMENT STANDARDS.—If an applicant for a grant under 

section 2003 or 2004 proposes to upgrade or purchase, with assistance provided under that grant, new equipment or systems that do 

not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus 

standards developed under section 647 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 747), the applicant 

shall include in its application an explanation of why such equipment or systems will serve the needs of the applicant better than 

equipment or systems that meet or exceed such standards. 

‘‘Subtitle B—Grants Administration 

‘‘SEC. 2021. ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION. 

‘‘(a) REGIONAL COORDINATION.—The Administrator shall ensure 

that— ‘‘(1) all recipients of grants administered by the Department 

to prevent, prepare for, protect against, or respond to natural 

disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters (excluding assistance provided under section 203, title IV, or title 

V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133, 5170 et seq., and 5191 et seq.)) coordinate, as appropriate, their prevention, preparedness, and 

protection efforts with neighboring State, local, and tribal governments; and ‘‘(2) all high-risk urban areas and other recipients of grants 

administered by the Department to prevent, prepare for, protect 

against, or respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or 

other man-made disasters (excluding assistance provided under 

section 203, title IV, or title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133, 5170 et 

seq., and 5191 et seq.)) that include or substantially affect parts 

or all of more than 1 State coordinate, as appropriate, across 

State boundaries, including, where appropriate, through the use 

of regional working groups and requirements for regional plans. 

‘‘(b) PLANNING COMMITTEES.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any State or high-risk urban area receiving a grant under section 2003 or 2004 shall establish a 

planning committee to assist in preparation and revision of the 

State, regional, or local homeland security plan and to assist in 

determining effective funding priorities for grants under sections 2003 and 2004. ‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The planning committee shall include representatives of significant stakeholders, including— ‘‘(i) local and tribal government officials; and 

‘‘(ii) emergency response providers, which shall include representatives of the fire service, law enforcement, emergency medical response, and emergency 

managers. 

‘‘(B) GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION.—The members of 

the planning committee shall be a representative group of 

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individuals from the counties, cities, towns, and Indian 

tribes within the State or high-risk urban area, including, 

as appropriate, representatives of rural, high-population, 

and high-threat jurisdictions. 

‘‘(3) EXISTING PLANNING COMMITTEES.—Nothing in this 

subsection may be construed to require that any State or highrisk urban area create a planning committee if that State or 

high-risk urban area has established and uses a multijurisdictional planning committee or commission that meets the requirements of this subsection. 

‘‘(c) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after the date 

of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 

9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the Secretary (acting through the 

Administrator), the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health 

and Human Services, and the heads of other agencies providing 

assistance to State, local, and tribal governments for preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to 

natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, shall jointly—

‘‘(A) compile a comprehensive list of Federal grant programs for State, local, and tribal governments for preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding 

to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made 

disasters; 

‘‘(B) compile the planning, reporting, application, and 

other requirements and guidance for the grant programs 

described in subparagraph (A); 

‘‘(C) develop recommendations, as appropriate, to—

‘‘(i) eliminate redundant and duplicative requirements for State, local, and tribal governments, including onerous application and ongoing reporting requirements; 

‘‘(ii) ensure accountability of the programs to the 

intended purposes of such programs; 

‘‘(iii) coordinate allocation of grant funds to avoid 

duplicative or inconsistent purchases by the recipients; 

‘‘(iv) make the programs more accessible and user 

friendly to applicants; and 

‘‘(v) ensure the programs are coordinated to enhance the overall preparedness of the Nation; 

‘‘(D) submit the information and recommendations 

under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) to the appropriate 

committees of Congress; and 

‘‘(E) provide the appropriate committees of Congress, 

the Comptroller General, and any officer or employee of the 

Government Accountability Office with full access to any 

information collected or reviewed in preparing the submission under subparagraph (D). 

‘‘(2) SCOPE OF TASK.—Nothing in this subsection shall authorize the elimination, or the alteration of the purposes, as delineated by statute, regulation, or guidance, of any grant program that exists on the date of the enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 

2007, nor authorize the review or preparation of proposals on 

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the elimination, or the alteration of such purposes, of any such 

grant program. 

‘‘(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that, in 

order to ensure that the Nation is most effectively able to prevent, 

prepare for, protect against, and respond to all hazards, including 

natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters— ‘‘(1) the Department should administer a coherent and coordinated system of both terrorism-focused and all-hazards 

grants; ‘‘(2) there should be a continuing and appropriate balance 

between funding for terrorism-focused and all-hazards preparedness, as reflected in the authorizations of appropriations 

for grants under the amendments made by titles I and II, as 

applicable, of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 

Commission Act of 2007; and ‘‘(3) with respect to terrorism-focused grants, it is necessary 

to ensure both that the target capabilities of the highest risk 

areas are achieved quickly and that basic levels of preparedness, as measured by the attainment of target capabilities, are 

achieved nationwide. 

‘‘SEC. 2022. ACCOUNTABILITY. 

‘‘(a) AUDITS OF GRANT PROGRAMS.— ‘‘(1) COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS.— ‘‘(A) AUDIT REQUIREMENT.—Each recipient of a grant 

administered by the Department that expends not less than 

$500,000 in Federal funds during its fiscal year shall submit to the Administrator a copy of the organization-wide financial and compliance audit report required under chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code. ‘‘(B) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—The Department and 

each recipient of a grant administered by the Department 

shall provide the Comptroller General and any officer or 

employee of the Government Accountability Office with full 

access to information regarding the activities carried out 

related to any grant administered by the Department. ‘‘(C) IMPROPER PAYMENTS.—Consistent with the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 

note), for each of the grant programs under sections 2003 

and 2004 of this title and section 662 of the Post-Katrina 

Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 762), 

the Administrator shall specify policies and procedures 

for—

‘‘(i) identifying activities funded under any such 

grant program that are susceptible to significant improper payments; and 

‘‘(ii) reporting any improper payments to the Department. 

‘‘(2) AGENCY PROGRAM REVIEW.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not less than once every 2 years, the 

Administrator shall conduct, for each State and high-risk 

urban area receiving a grant administered by the Department, a programmatic and financial review of all grants 

awarded by the Department to prevent, prepare for, protect 

against, or respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, 

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or other man-made disasters, excluding assistance provided 

under section 203, title IV, or title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

U.S.C. 5133, 5170 et seq., and 5191 et seq.). 

‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—Each review under subparagraph (A) 

shall, at a minimum, examine—

‘‘(i) whether the funds awarded were used in accordance with the law, program guidance, and State 

homeland security plans or other applicable plans; and 

‘‘(ii) the extent to which funds awarded enhanced 

the ability of a grantee to prevent, prepare for, protect 

against, and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. 

‘‘(C) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addition 

to any other amounts authorized to be appropriated to the 

Administrator, there are authorized to be appropriated to 

the Administrator for reviews under this paragraph—

‘‘(i) $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008, 2009, 

and 2010; and 

‘‘(ii) such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 

2011, and each fiscal year thereafter. 

‘‘(3) OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL PERFORMANCE AUDITS.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In order to ensure the effective and 

appropriate use of grants administered by the Department, 

the Inspector General of the Department each year shall 

conduct audits of a sample of States and high-risk urban 

areas that receive grants administered by the Department 

to prevent, prepare for, protect against, or respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters, excluding assistance provided under section 203, title 

IV, or title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133, 5170 et seq., 

and 5191 et seq.). 

‘‘(B) DETERMINING SAMPLES.—The sample selected for 

audits under subparagraph (A) shall be—

‘‘(i) of an appropriate size to—

‘‘(I) assess the overall integrity of the grant 

programs described in subparagraph (A); and 

‘‘(II) act as a deterrent to financial mismanagement; and 

‘‘(ii) selected based on—

‘‘(I) the size of the grants awarded to the recipient; 

‘‘(II) the past grant management performance 

of the recipient; 

‘‘(III) concerns identified by the Administrator, 

including referrals from the Administrator; and 

‘‘(IV) such other factors as determined by the 

Inspector General of the Department. 

‘‘(C) COMPREHENSIVE AUDITING.—During the 7-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 

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duct not fewer than 1 audit of each State that receives 

funds under a grant under section 2003 or 2004. ‘‘(D) REPORT BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of the Department shall submit to the appropriate committees of 

Congress an annual consolidated report regarding the 

audits completed during the fiscal year before the date 

of that report. ‘‘(ii) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 

clause (i) shall describe, for the fiscal year before the 

date of that report— ‘‘(I) the audits conducted under subparagraph 

(A); ‘‘(II) the findings of the Inspector General with 

respect to the audits conducted under subparagraph (A); ‘‘(III) whether the funds awarded were used in 

accordance with the law, program guidance, and 

State homeland security plans and other applicable plans; and ‘‘(IV) the extent to which funds awarded enhanced the ability of a grantee to prevent, prepare 

for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man-made disasters. 

‘‘(iii) DEADLINE.—For each year, the report required under clause (i) shall be submitted not later 

than December 31. 

‘‘(E) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY ON WEBSITE.—The Inspector 

General of the Department shall make each audit conducted under subparagraph (A) available on the website of 

the Inspector General, subject to redaction as the Inspector 

General determines necessary to protect classified and other 

sensitive information. ‘‘(F) PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO ADMINISTRATOR.— The Inspector General of the Department shall provide to 

the Administrator any findings and recommendations from 

audits conducted under subparagraph (A). ‘‘(G) EVALUATION OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT AND OVER- SIGHT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the Inspector General of the Department shall review and evaluate the grants management 

and oversight practices of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including assessment of and recommendations relating to—

‘‘(i) the skills, resources, and capabilities of the 

workforce; and 

‘‘(ii) any additional resources and staff necessary 

to carry out such management and oversight. 

‘‘(H) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addition 

to any other amounts authorized to be appropriated to the 

Inspector General of the Department, there are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Inspector General of the Department for audits under subparagraph (A)—

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‘‘(i) $8,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2008, 2009, 

and 2010; and ‘‘(ii) such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 

2011, and each fiscal year thereafter. ‘‘(4) PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT.—In order to ensure that 

States and high-risk urban areas are using grants administered 

by the Department appropriately to meet target capabilities and 

preparedness priorities, the Administrator shall— ‘‘(A) ensure that any such State or high-risk urban area 

conducts or participates in exercises under section 648(b) of 

the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 

2006 (6 U.S.C. 748(b)); ‘‘(B) use performance metrics in accordance with the 

comprehensive assessment system under section 649 of the 

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 

(6 U.S.C. 749) and ensure that any such State or high-risk 

urban area regularly tests its progress against such metrics 

through the exercises required under subparagraph (A); ‘‘(C) use the remedial action management program 

under section 650 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 750); and ‘‘(D) ensure that each State receiving a grant administered by the Department submits a report to the Administrator on its level of preparedness, as required by section 

652(c) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform 

Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 752(c)). 

‘‘(5) CONSIDERATION OF ASSESSMENTS.—In conducting program reviews and performance audits under paragraphs (2) 

and (3), the Administrator and the Inspector General of the Department shall take into account the performance assessment 

elements required under paragraph (4). ‘‘(6) RECOVERY AUDITS.—The Administrator shall conduct a 

recovery audit (as that term is defined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under section 3561 of title 31, 

United States Code) for any grant administered by the Department with a total value of not less than $1,000,000, if the Administrator finds that— ‘‘(A) a financial audit has identified improper payments that can be recouped; and ‘‘(B) it is cost effective to conduct a recovery audit to recapture the targeted funds. 

‘‘(7) REMEDIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If, as a result of a review or audit 

under this subsection or otherwise, the Administrator finds 

that a recipient of a grant under this title has failed to substantially comply with any provision of law or with any 

regulations or guidelines of the Department regarding eligible expenditures, the Administrator shall—

‘‘(i) reduce the amount of payment of grant funds 

to the recipient by an amount equal to the amount of 

grants funds that were not properly expended by the recipient; ‘‘(ii) limit the use of grant funds to programs, 

projects, or activities not affected by the failure to comply; 

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‘‘(iii) refer the matter to the Inspector General of 

the Department for further investigation; 

‘‘(iv) terminate any payment of grant funds to be 

made to the recipient; or 

‘‘(v) take such other action as the Administrator 

determines appropriate. 

‘‘(B) DURATION OF PENALTY.—The Administrator shall 

apply an appropriate penalty under subparagraph (A) until 

such time as the Administrator determines that the grant 

recipient is in full compliance with the law and with applicable guidelines or regulations of the Department. 

‘‘(b) REPORTS BY GRANT RECIPIENTS.—

‘‘(1) QUARTERLY REPORTS ON HOMELAND SECURITY SPENDING.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of receiving a grant 

under section 2003 or 2004, a State, high-risk urban area, 

or directly eligible tribe shall, not later than 30 days after 

the end of each Federal fiscal quarter, submit to the Administrator a report on activities performed using grant 

funds during that fiscal quarter. 

‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall at a minimum include, for the applicable State, high-risk urban area, or directly eligible tribe, 

and each subgrantee thereof—

‘‘(i) the amount obligated to that recipient under 

section 2003 or 2004 in that quarter; 

‘‘(ii) the amount of funds received and expended 

under section 2003 or 2004 by that recipient in that 

quarter; and 

‘‘(iii) a summary description of expenditures made 

by that recipient using such funds, and the purposes 

for which such expenditures were made. 

‘‘(C) END-OF-YEAR REPORT.—The report submitted 

under subparagraph (A) by a State, high-risk urban area, 

or directly eligible tribe relating to the last quarter of any 

fiscal year shall include—

‘‘(i) the amount and date of receipt of all funds received under the grant during that fiscal year; 

‘‘(ii) the identity of, and amount provided to, any 

subgrantee for that grant during that fiscal year; 

‘‘(iii) the amount and the dates of disbursements of 

all such funds expended in compliance with section 

2021(a)(1) or under mutual aid agreements or other 

sharing arrangements that apply within the State, 

high-risk urban area, or directly eligible tribe, as applicable, during that fiscal year; and 

‘‘(iv) how the funds were used by each recipient or 

subgrantee during that fiscal year. 

‘‘(2) ANNUAL REPORT.—Any State applying for a grant 

under section 2004 shall submit to the Administrator annually 

a State preparedness report, as required by section 652(c) of the 

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 

U.S.C. 752(c)). 

‘‘(c) REPORTS BY THE ADMINISTRATOR.—

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‘‘(1) FEDERAL PREPAREDNESS REPORT.—The Administrator 

shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress annually the Federal Preparedness Report required under section 

652(a) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act 

of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 752(a)). 

‘‘(2) RISK ASSESSMENT.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For each fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a detailed and comprehensive explanation of the 

methodologies used to calculate risk and compute the allocation of funds for grants administered by the Department, 

including—

‘‘(i) all variables included in the risk assessment 

and the weights assigned to each such variable; 

‘‘(ii) an explanation of how each such variable, as 

weighted, correlates to risk, and the basis for concluding there is such a correlation; and 

‘‘(iii) any change in the methodologies from the 

previous fiscal year, including changes in variables 

considered, weighting of those variables, and computational methods. 

‘‘(B) CLASSIFIED ANNEX.—The information required 

under subparagraph (A) shall be provided in unclassified 

form to the greatest extent possible, and may include a classified annex if necessary. 

‘‘(C) DEADLINE.—For each fiscal year, the information 

required under subparagraph (A) shall be provided on the 

earlier of—

‘‘(i) October 31; or 

‘‘(ii) 30 days before the issuance of any program 

guidance for grants administered by the Department. 

‘‘(3) TRIBAL FUNDING REPORT.—At the end of each fiscal 

year, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report setting forth the amount of funding 

provided during that fiscal year to Indian tribes under any 

grant program administered by the Department, whether provided directly or through a subgrant from a State or high-risk 

urban area.’’. 

SEC. 102. OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 

2002. 

(a) NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.—Section 508(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 318(b)) is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘The National Advisory’’ the first place that 

term appears and inserting the following: 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The National Advisory’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(2) CONSULTATION ON GRANTS.—To ensure input from and 

coordination with State, local, and tribal governments and 

emergency response providers, the Administrator shall regularly 

consult and work with the National Advisory Council on the 

administration and assessment of grant programs administered 

by the Department, including with respect to the development of 

program guidance and the development and evaluation of riskassessment methodologies, as appropriate.’’. 

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(b) EVACUATION PLANNING.—Section 512(b)(5)(A) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321a(b)(5)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, including the elderly’’ after ‘‘needs’’. 

SEC. 103. AMENDMENTS TO THE POST-KATRINA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REFORM ACT OF 2006. 

(a) FUNDING EFFICACY.—Section 652(a)(2) of the Post-Katrina 

Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 752(a)(2)) is 

amended—

(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end 

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(E) an evaluation of the extent to which grants administered by the Department, including grants under title XX 

of the Homeland Security Act of 2002—

‘‘(i) have contributed to the progress of State, local, 

and tribal governments in achieving target capabilities; 

and 

‘‘(ii) have led to the reduction of risk from natural 

disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters nationally and in State, local, and tribal jurisdictions.’’. 

(b) STATE PREPAREDNESS REPORT.—Section 652(c)(2)(D) of the 

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 

752(c)(2)(D)) is amended by striking ‘‘an assessment of resource 

needs’’ and inserting ‘‘a discussion of the extent to which target capabilities identified in the applicable State homeland security plan 

and other applicable plans remain unmet and an assessment of resources needed’’. 

SEC. 104. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 

101 et seq.) is amended—

(1) by redesignating title XVIII, as added by the SAFE Port 

Act (Public Law 109–347; 120 Stat. 1884), as title XIX; 

(2) by redesignating sections 1801 through 1806, as added 

by the SAFE Port Act (Public Law 109–347; 120 Stat. 1884), as 

sections 1901 through 1906, respectively; 

(3) in section 1904(a), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘section 1802’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1902’’; 

(4) in section 1906, as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘section 

1802(a)’’ each place that term appears and inserting ‘‘section 

1902(a)’’; and 

(5) in the table of contents in section 1(b), by striking the 

items relating to title XVIII and sections 1801 through 1806, as 

added by the SAFE Port Act (Public Law 109–347; 120 Stat. 

1884), and inserting the following: 

‘‘TITLE XIX—DOMESTIC NUCLEAR DETECTION OFFICE 

‘‘Sec. 1901. Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. 

‘‘Sec. 1902. Mission of Office. 

‘‘Sec. 1903. Hiring authority. 

‘‘Sec. 1904. Testing authority. 

‘‘Sec. 1905. Relationship to other Department entities and Federal agencies. 

‘‘Sec. 1906. Contracting and grant making authorities. 

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‘‘TITLE XX—HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS 

‘‘Sec. 2001. Definitions. 

‘‘Subtitle A—Grants to States and High-Risk Urban Areas 

‘‘Sec. 2002. Homeland Security Grant Programs. 

‘‘Sec. 2003. Urban Area Security Initiative. 

‘‘Sec. 2004. State Homeland Security Grant Program. 

‘‘Sec. 2005. Grants to directly eligible tribes. 

‘‘Sec. 2006. Terrorism prevention. 

‘‘Sec. 2007. Prioritization. 

‘‘Sec. 2008. Use of funds. 

‘‘Subtitle B—Grants Administration 

‘‘Sec. 2021. Administration and coordination. 

‘‘Sec. 2022. Accountability.’’. 

TITLE II—EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE 

GRANTS 

SEC. 201. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANT PROGRAM. 

Section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 762) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 662. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS PROGRAM. 

‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— ‘‘(1) the term ‘program’ means the emergency management 

performance grants program described in subsection (b); and ‘‘(2) the term ‘State’ has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). 

‘‘(b) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency shall continue implementation of an emergency 

management performance grants program, to make grants to States 

to assist State, local, and tribal governments in preparing for all 

hazards, as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 

‘‘(c) FEDERAL SHARE.—Except as otherwise specifically provided 

by title VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), the Federal share of the cost 

of an activity carried out using funds made available under the program shall not exceed 50 percent. 

‘‘(d) APPORTIONMENT.—For fiscal year 2008, and each fiscal 

year thereafter, the Administrator shall apportion the amounts appropriated to carry out the program among the States as follows: 

‘‘(1) BASELINE AMOUNT.—The Administrator shall first apportion 0.25 percent of such amounts to each of American 

Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

Guam, and the Virgin Islands and 0.75 percent of such 

amounts to each of the remaining States. 

‘‘(2) REMAINDER.—The Administrator shall apportion the 

remainder of such amounts in the ratio that—

‘‘(A) the population of each State; bears to 

‘‘(B) the population of all States. 

‘‘(e) CONSISTENCY IN ALLOCATION.—Notwithstanding subsection 

(d), in any fiscal year before fiscal year 2013 in which the appropriation for grants under this section is equal to or greater than the 

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cal year 2007, no State shall receive an amount under this section 

for that fiscal year less than the amount that State received in fiscal 

year 2007. 

‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 

to be appropriated to carry out the program—

‘‘(1) for fiscal year 2008, $400,000,000; 

‘‘(2) for fiscal year 2009, $535,000,000; 

‘‘(3) for fiscal year 2010, $680,000,000; 

‘‘(4) for fiscal year 2011, $815,000,000; and 

‘‘(5) for fiscal year 2012, $950,000,000.’’. 

SEC. 202. GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS 

CENTERS. 

Section 614 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196c) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 614. GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS 

CENTERS. 

‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency may make grants to States under this title for 

equipping, upgrading, and constructing State and local emergency 

operations centers. 

‘‘(b) FEDERAL SHARE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of 

this title, the Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out 

using amounts from grants made under this section shall not exceed 

75 percent.’’. 

TITLE III—ENSURING COMMUNICATIONS 

INTEROPERABILITY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS 

SEC. 301. INTEROPERABLE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS GRANT 

PROGRAM. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Title XVIII of the Homeland Security Act 

of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 571 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 

following new section: 

‘‘SEC. 1809. INTEROPERABLE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS GRANT 

PROGRAM. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program to make 

grants to States to carry out initiatives to improve local, tribal, 

statewide, regional, national and, where appropriate, international 

interoperable emergency communications, including communications in collective response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, 

and other man-made disasters. 

‘‘(b) POLICY.—The Director for Emergency Communications 

shall ensure that a grant awarded to a State under this section is 

consistent with the policies established pursuant to the responsibilities and authorities of the Office of Emergency Communications 

under this title, including ensuring that activities funded by the 

grant—

‘‘(1) comply with the statewide plan for that State required 

by section 7303(f) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(f)); and 

‘‘(2) comply with the National Emergency Communications 

Plan under section 1802, when completed. 

‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION.—

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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall administer the Interoperable 

Emergency Communications Grant Program pursuant to the responsibilities and authorities of the Administrator under title V 

of the Act. 

‘‘(2) GUIDANCE.—In administering the grant program, the 

Administrator shall ensure that the use of grants is consistent 

with guidance established by the Director of Emergency Communications pursuant to section 7303(a)(1)(H) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 

194(a)(1)(H)). 

‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—A State that receives a grant under this 

section shall use the grant to implement that State’s Statewide 

Interoperability Plan required under section 7303(f) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 

194(f)) and approved under subsection (e), and to assist with activities determined by the Secretary to be integral to interoperable emergency communications. 

‘‘(e) APPROVAL OF PLANS.—

‘‘(1) APPROVAL AS CONDITION OF GRANT.—Before a State 

may receive a grant under this section, the Director of Emergency Communications shall approve the State’s Statewide 

Interoperable Communications Plan required under section 

7303(f) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act 

of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(f)). 

‘‘(2) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—In approving a plan under this 

subsection, the Director of Emergency Communications shall 

ensure that the plan—

‘‘(A) is designed to improve interoperability at the city, 

county, regional, State and interstate level; 

‘‘(B) considers any applicable local or regional plan; 

and 

‘‘(C) complies, to the maximum extent practicable, with 

the National Emergency Communications Plan under section 1802. 

‘‘(3) APPROVAL OF REVISIONS.—The Director of Emergency 

Communications may approve revisions to a State’s plan if the 

Director determines that doing so is likely to further interoperability. 

‘‘(f) LIMITATIONS ON USES OF FUNDS.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The recipient of a grant under this section may not use the grant—

‘‘(A) to supplant State or local funds; 

‘‘(B) for any State or local government cost-sharing contribution; or 

‘‘(C) for recreational or social purposes. 

‘‘(2) PENALTIES.—In addition to other remedies currently 

available, the Secretary may take such actions as necessary to 

ensure that recipients of grant funds are using the funds for the 

purpose for which they were intended. 

‘‘(g) LIMITATIONS ON AWARD OF GRANTS.—

‘‘(1) NATIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN REQUIRED.—The Secretary may not award a grant under this section before the date on which the Secretary completes and submstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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mits to Congress the National Emergency Communications 

Plan required under section 1802. ‘‘(2) VOLUNTARY CONSENSUS STANDARDS.—The Secretary 

may not award a grant to a State under this section for the 

purchase of equipment that does not meet applicable voluntary 

consensus standards, unless the State demonstrates that there 

are compelling reasons for such purchase. 

‘‘(h) AWARD OF GRANTS.—In approving applications and awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider— ‘‘(1) the risk posed to each State by natural disasters, acts 

of terrorism, or other manmade disasters, including— ‘‘(A) the likely need of a jurisdiction within the State to 

respond to such risk in nearby jurisdictions; ‘‘(B) the degree of threat, vulnerability, and consequences related to critical infrastructure (from all critical 

infrastructure sectors) or key resources identified by the Administrator or the State homeland security and emergency 

management plans, including threats to, vulnerabilities of, 

and consequences from damage to critical infrastructure 

and key resources in nearby jurisdictions; ‘‘(C) the size of the population and density of the population of the State, including appropriate consideration of 

military, tourist, and commuter populations; ‘‘(D) whether the State is on or near an international 

border; ‘‘(E) whether the State encompasses an economically 

significant border crossing; and ‘‘(F) whether the State has a coastline bordering an 

ocean, a major waterway used for interstate commerce, or 

international waters, and 

‘‘(2) the anticipated effectiveness of the State’s proposed use 

of grant funds to improve interoperability. 

‘‘(i) OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND APPLICATIONS.—In considering applications for grants under this section, the Administrator shall provide applicants with a reasonable opportunity to correct defects in 

the application, if any, before making final awards. ‘‘(j) MINIMUM GRANT AMOUNTS.— ‘‘(1) STATES.—In awarding grants under this section, the 

Secretary shall ensure that for each fiscal year, except as provided in paragraph (2), no State receives a grant in an amount 

that is less than the following percentage of the total amount 

appropriated for grants under this section for that fiscal year: ‘‘(A) For fiscal year 2008, 0.50 percent. 

‘‘(B) For fiscal year 2009, 0.50 percent. 

‘‘(C) For fiscal year 2010, 0.45 percent. 

‘‘(D) For fiscal year 2011, 0.40 percent. 

‘‘(E) For fiscal year 2012 and each subsequent fiscal 

year, 0.35 percent. 

‘‘(2) TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS.—In awarding grants 

under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that for each fiscal year, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands each receive 

grants in amounts that are not less than 0.08 percent of the 

total amount appropriated for grants under this section for that 

fiscal year. 

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‘‘(k) CERTIFICATION.—Each State that receives a grant under 

this section shall certify that the grant is used for the purpose for 

which the funds were intended and in compliance with the State’s 

approved Statewide Interoperable Communications Plan. ‘‘(l) STATE RESPONSIBILITIES.— ‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS TO LOCAL AND TRIBAL GOVERN- MENTS.—Not later than 45 days after receiving grant funds, 

any State that receives a grant under this section shall obligate 

or otherwise make available to local and tribal governments— ‘‘(A) not less than 80 percent of the grant funds; 

‘‘(B) with the consent of local and tribal governments, 

eligible expenditures having a value of not less than 80 percent of the amount of the grant; or ‘‘(C) grant funds combined with other eligible expenditures having a total value of not less than 80 percent of the 

amount of the grant. 

‘‘(2) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—A State that receives a grant 

under this section shall allocate grant funds to tribal governments in the State to assist tribal communities in improving 

interoperable communications, in a manner consistent with the 

Statewide Interoperable Communications Plan. A State may not 

impose unreasonable or unduly burdensome requirements on a 

tribal government as a condition of providing grant funds or resources to the tribal government. 

‘‘(3) PENALTIES.—If a State violates the requirements of this 

subsection, in addition to other remedies available to the Secretary, the Secretary may terminate or reduce the amount of the 

grant awarded to that State or transfer grant funds previously 

awarded to the State directly to the appropriate local or tribal 

government. 

‘‘(m) REPORTS.— ‘‘(1) ANNUAL REPORTS BY STATE GRANT RECIPIENTS.—A 

State that receives a grant under this section shall annually 

submit to the Director of Emergency Communications a report 

on the progress of the State in implementing that State’s Statewide Interoperable Communications Plans required under section 7303(f) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(f)) and achieving interoperability 

at the city, county, regional, State, and interstate levels. The Director shall make the reports publicly available, including by 

making them available on the Internet website of the Office of 

Emergency Communications, subject to any redactions that the 

Director determines are necessary to protect classified or other 

sensitive information. ‘‘(2) ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—At least once each 

year, the Director of Emergency Communications shall submit 

to Congress a report on the use of grants awarded under this 

section and any progress in implementing Statewide Interoperable Communications Plans and improving interoperability at 

the city, county, regional, State, and interstate level, as a result 

of the award of such grants. 

‘‘(n) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

construed or interpreted to preclude a State from using a grant 

awarded under this section for interim or long-term Internet Protocol-based interoperable solutions. 

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‘‘(o) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated for grants under this section— ‘‘(1) for fiscal year 2008, such sums as may be necessary; 

‘‘(2) for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012, $400,000,000; and ‘‘(3) for each subsequent fiscal year, such sums as may be 

necessary.’’. (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in section l(b) 

of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 

1808 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 1809. Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program.’’. 

(c) INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS PLANS.—Section 7303 of 

the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004 (6 

U.S.C. 194) is amended—

(1) in subsection (f)—

(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end 

and inserting a semicolon; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(6) include information on the governance structure used 

to develop the plan, including such information about all agencies and organizations that participated in developing the plan 

and the scope and timeframe of the plan; and 

‘‘(7) describe the method by which multi-jurisdictional, 

multidisciplinary input is provided from all regions of the jurisdiction, including any high-threat urban areas located in the 

jurisdiction, and the process for continuing to incorporate such 

input.’’; 

(2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ‘‘or video’’ and inserting 

‘‘and video’’. 

(d) NATIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN.—Section 

1802(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 652(c)) is 

amended—

(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and 

inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(10) set a date, including interim benchmarks, as appropriate, by which State, local, and tribal governments, Federal 

departments and agencies, and emergency response providers 

expect to achieve a baseline level of national interoperable communications, as that term is defined under section 7303(g)(1) of 

the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 

(6 U.S.C. 194(g)(1)).’’. 

SEC. 302. BORDER INTEROPERABILITY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title XVIII of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (6 U.S.C. 571 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

‘‘SEC. 1810. BORDER INTEROPERABILITY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting through the 

Director of the Office of Emergency Communications (referred to 

in this section as the ‘Director’), and in coordination with the 

Federal Communications Commission and the Secretary of 

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Commerce, shall establish an International Border Community 

Interoperable Communications Demonstration Project (referred 

to in this section as the ‘demonstration project’). 

‘‘(2) MINIMUM NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES.—The Director 

shall select no fewer than 6 communities to participate in a 

demonstration project. 

‘‘(3) LOCATION OF COMMUNITIES.—No fewer than 3 of the 

communities selected under paragraph (2) shall be located on 

the northern border of the United States and no fewer than 3 

of the communities selected under paragraph (2) shall be located on the southern border of the United States. 

‘‘(b) CONDITIONS.—The Director, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission and the Secretary of Commerce, 

shall ensure that the project is carried out as soon as adequate spectrum is available as a result of the 800 megahertz rebanding process in border areas, and shall ensure that the border projects do not 

impair or impede the rebanding process, but under no circumstances shall funds be distributed under this section unless the 

Federal Communications Commission and the Secretary of Commerce agree that these conditions have been met. 

‘‘(c) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—Consistent with the responsibilities of the Office of Emergency Communications under section 

1801, the Director shall foster local, tribal, State, and Federal interoperable emergency communications, as well as interoperable emergency communications with appropriate Canadian and Mexican authorities in the communities selected for the demonstration project. 

The Director shall—

‘‘(1) identify solutions to facilitate interoperable communications across national borders expeditiously; 

‘‘(2) help ensure that emergency response providers can 

communicate with each other in the event of natural disasters, 

acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; 

‘‘(3) provide technical assistance to enable emergency response providers to deal with threats and contingencies in a variety of environments; 

‘‘(4) identify appropriate joint-use equipment to ensure communications access; 

‘‘(5) identify solutions to facilitate communications between 

emergency response providers in communities of differing population densities; and 

‘‘(6) take other actions or provide equipment as the Director 

deems appropriate to foster interoperable emergency communications. 

‘‘(d) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall distribute funds 

under this section to each community participating in the demonstration project through the State, or States, in which each 

community is located. 

‘‘(2) OTHER PARTICIPANTS.—A State shall make the funds 

available promptly to the local and tribal governments and 

emergency response providers selected by the Secretary to participate in the demonstration project. 

‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after a State receives 

funds under this subsection the State shall report to the Direcmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

37 

tor on the status of the distribution of such funds to local and 

tribal governments. 

‘‘(e) MAXIMUM PERIOD OF GRANTS.—The Director may not fund 

any participant under the demonstration project for more than 3 

years. 

‘‘(f) TRANSFER OF INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE.—The Director shall establish mechanisms to ensure that the information and 

knowledge gained by participants in the demonstration project are 

transferred among the participants and to other interested parties, 

including other communities that submitted applications to the participant in the project. 

‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 

to be appropriated for grants under this section such sums as may 

be necessary.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in section 

1(b) of that Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to 

section 1809 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 1810. Border interoperability demonstration project.’’. 

TITLE IV—STRENGTHENING USE OF THE INCIDENT 

COMMAND SYSTEM 

SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 501 of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (6 U.S.C. 311) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (10) and (11) as paragraphs (12) and (13), respectively; 

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (9) as paragraphs (5) through (10), respectively; 

(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: 

‘‘(4) the terms ‘credentialed’ and ‘credentialing’ mean having provided, or providing, respectively, documentation that 

identifies personnel and authenticates and verifies the qualifications of such personnel by ensuring that such personnel possess a minimum common level of training, experience, physical 

and medical fitness, and capability appropriate for a particular 

position in accordance with standards created under section 

510;’’; 

(4) by inserting after paragraph (10), as so redesignated, 

the following: 

‘‘(11) the term ‘resources’ means personnel and major items 

of equipment, supplies, and facilities available or potentially 

available for responding to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, 

or other man-made disaster;’’; 

(5) in paragraph (12), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘and’’

at the end; 

(6) in paragraph (13), as so redesignated, by striking the 

period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(7) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(14) the terms ‘typed’ and ‘typing’ mean having evaluated, 

or evaluating, respectively, a resource in accordance with standards created under section 510.’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 641 

of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 

U.S.C. 741) is amended—

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(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (10) as paragraphs (3) through (11), respectively; 

(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 

‘‘(2) CREDENTIALED; CREDENTIALING.—The terms 

‘credentialed’ and ‘credentialing’ have the meanings given those 

terms in section 501 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 

U.S.C. 311).’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(12) RESOURCES.—The term ‘resources’ has the meaning 

given that term in section 501 of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (6 U.S.C. 311). 

‘‘(13) TYPE.—The term ‘type’ means a classification of resources that refers to the capability of a resource. 

‘‘(14) TYPED; TYPING.—The terms ‘typed’ and ‘typing’ have 

the meanings given those terms in section 501 of the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311).’’. 

SEC. 402. NATIONAL EXERCISE PROGRAM DESIGN. 

Section 648(b)(2)(A) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 748(b)(2)(A)) is amended by 

striking clauses (iv) and (v) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(iv) designed to provide for the systematic evaluation of readiness and enhance operational understanding of the incident command system and relevant 

mutual aid agreements; 

‘‘(v) designed to address the unique requirements of 

populations with special needs, including the elderly; 

and 

‘‘(vi) designed to promptly develop after-action reports and plans for quickly incorporating lessons 

learned into future operations; and’’. 

SEC. 403. NATIONAL EXERCISE PROGRAM MODEL EXERCISES. 

Section 648(b)(2)(B) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 748(b)(2)(B)) is amended by 

striking ‘‘shall provide’’ and all that follows through ‘‘of exercises’’

and inserting the following: ‘‘shall include a selection of model exercises that State, local, and tribal governments can readily adapt for 

use and provide assistance to State, local, and tribal governments 

with the design, implementation, and evaluation of exercises (whether a model exercise program or an exercise designed locally)’’. 

SEC. 404. PREIDENTIFYING AND EVALUATING MULTIJURISDICTIONAL 

FACILITIES TO STRENGTHEN INCIDENT COMMAND; PRIVATE SECTOR PREPAREDNESS. 

Section 507(c)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 

U.S.C. 317(c)(2)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (H) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph (K); 

and 

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following: 

‘‘(I) coordinating with the private sector to help ensure 

private sector preparedness for natural disasters, acts of 

terrorism, and other man-made disasters; 

‘‘(J) assisting State, local, and tribal governments, 

where appropriate, to preidentify and evaluate suitable 

sites where a multijurisdictional incident command system 

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may quickly be established and operated from, if the need 

for such a system arises; and’’. 

SEC. 405. FEDERAL RESPONSE CAPABILITY INVENTORY. 

Section 651 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 751) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 

‘‘The inventory’’ and inserting ‘‘For each Federal agency 

with responsibilities under the National Response Plan, the 

inventory’’; 

(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(C) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4); 

and 

(D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 

‘‘(2) a list of personnel credentialed in accordance with section 510 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 320); 

‘‘(3) a list of resources typed in accordance with section 510 

of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 320); and’’; and 

(2) in subsection (d)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘capabilities, readiness’’ and all that follows and inserting the following: ‘‘—

‘‘(A) capabilities; 

‘‘(B) readiness; 

‘‘(C) the compatibility of equipment; 

‘‘(D) credentialed personnel; and 

‘‘(E) typed resources;’’; 

(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘of capabilities, 

credentialed personnel, and typed resources’’ after ‘‘rapid 

deployment’’; and 

(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘inventories’’ and inserting ‘‘the inventory described in subsection (a)’’. 

SEC. 406. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 

Section 652(a)(2) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management 

Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 752(a)(2)), as amended by section 103, 

is further amended—

(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘section 651(a);’’ and 

inserting ‘‘section 651, including the number and type of 

credentialed personnel in each category of personnel trained 

and ready to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or 

other man-made disaster;’’; 

(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(3) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end 

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(4) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(F) a discussion of whether the list of credentialed personnel of the Agency described in section 651(b)(2)—

‘‘(i) complies with the strategic human capital plan 

developed under section 10102 of title 5, United States 

Code; and 

‘‘(ii) is sufficient to respond to a natural disaster, 

act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster, including 

a catastrophic incident.’’. 

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SEC. 407. FEDERAL PREPAREDNESS. 

Section 653 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 753) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘coordinating, primary, or supporting’’; 

(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, including 

credentialing of personnel and typing of resources likely 

needed to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or 

other man-made disaster in accordance with section 510 of 

the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 320)’’ before 

the semicolon at the end; 

(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(D) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end 

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(E) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(5) regularly updates, verifies the accuracy of, and provides to the Administrator the information in the inventory required under section 651.’’; and 

(2) in subsection (d)— (A) by inserting ‘‘to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives’’ after ‘‘The President shall certify’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘coordinating, primary, or supporting’’. 

SEC. 408. CREDENTIALING AND TYPING. 

Section 510 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 

320) is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘The Administrator’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator’’; 

(2) in subsection (a), as so designated, by striking ‘‘credentialing of personnel and typing of’’ and inserting ‘‘for 

credentialing and typing of incident management personnel, 

emergency response providers, and other personnel (including 

temporary personnel) and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(b) DISTRIBUTION.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 

Commission Act of 2007, the Administrator shall provide the 

standards developed under subsection (a), including detailed 

written guidance, to—

‘‘(A) each Federal agency that has responsibilities 

under the National Response Plan to aid that agency with 

credentialing and typing incident management personnel, 

emergency response providers, and other personnel (including temporary personnel) and resources likely needed to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other manmade disaster; and ‘‘(B) State, local, and tribal governments, to aid such 

governments with credentialing and typing of State, local, 

and tribal incident management personnel, emergency response providers, and other personnel (including temporary 

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personnel) and resources likely needed to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster. 

‘‘(2) ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator shall provide expertise and technical assistance to aid Federal, State, local, and 

tribal government agencies with credentialing and typing incident management personnel, emergency response providers, and 

other personnel (including temporary personnel) and resources 

likely needed to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, 

or other man-made disaster. 

‘‘(c) CREDENTIALING AND TYPING OF PERSONNEL.—Not later 

than 6 months after receiving the standards provided under subsection (b), each Federal agency with responsibilities under the National Response Plan shall ensure that incident management personnel, emergency response providers, and other personnel (including temporary personnel) and resources likely needed to respond to 

a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other manmade disaster are 

credentialed and typed in accordance with this section. 

‘‘(d) CONSULTATION ON HEALTH CARE STANDARDS.—In developing standards for credentialing health care professionals under 

this section, the Administrator shall consult with the Secretary of 

Health and Human Services.’’. 

SEC. 409. MODEL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

(6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 522. MODEL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after the date of 

enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, and in coordination with appropriate national 

professional organizations, Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies, and private-sector and nongovernmental entities, the 

Administrator shall establish model standards and guidelines for 

credentialing critical infrastructure workers that may be used by a 

State to credential critical infrastructure workers that may respond 

to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster. 

‘‘(b) DISTRIBUTION AND ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator shall 

provide the standards developed under subsection (a), including detailed written guidance, to State, local, and tribal governments, and 

provide expertise and technical assistance to aid such governments 

with credentialing critical infrastructure workers that may respond 

to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other manmade disaster.’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of 

contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 

U.S.C. 101(b)) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 521 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 522. Model standards and guidelines for critical infrastructure workers.’’. 

SEC. 410. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary 

to carry out this title and the amendments made by this title. 

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TITLE V—IMPROVING INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION SHARING WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 

AND WITH STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS 

Subtitle A—Homeland Security Information Sharing 

Enhancement 

SEC. 501. HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY SYSTEM AND INFORMATION SHARING. 

(a) ADVISORY SYSTEM AND INFORMATION SHARING.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is amended by adding 

at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 203. HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY SYSTEM. 

‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall administer the Homeland Security Advisory System in accordance with this section to 

provide advisories or warnings regarding the threat or risk that acts 

of terrorism will be committed on the homeland to Federal, State, 

local, and tribal government authorities and to the people of the 

United States, as appropriate. The Secretary shall exercise primary 

responsibility for providing such advisories or warnings. 

‘‘(b) REQUIRED ELEMENTS.—In administering the Homeland Security Advisory System, the Secretary shall—

‘‘(1) establish criteria for the issuance and revocation of 

such advisories or warnings; 

‘‘(2) develop a methodology, relying on the criteria established under paragraph (1), for the issuance and revocation of 

such advisories or warnings; 

‘‘(3) provide, in each such advisory or warning, specific information and advice regarding appropriate protective measures and countermeasures that may be taken in response to the 

threat or risk, at the maximum level of detail practicable to enable individuals, government entities, emergency response providers, and the private sector to act appropriately; 

‘‘(4) whenever possible, limit the scope of each such advisory 

or warning to a specific region, locality, or economic sector believed to be under threat or at risk; and 

‘‘(5) not, in issuing any advisory or warning, use color designations as the exclusive means of specifying homeland security threat conditions that are the subject of the advisory or 

warning. 

‘‘SEC. 204. HOMELAND SECURITY INFORMATION SHARING. 

‘‘(a) INFORMATION SHARING.—Consistent with section 1016 of 

the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 

U.S.C. 485), the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for 

Intelligence and Analysis, shall integrate the information and 

standardize the format of the products of the intelligence components of the Department containing homeland security information, 

terrorism information, weapons of mass destruction information, or 

national intelligence (as defined in section 3(5) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(5))) except for any internal security protocols or personnel information of such intelligence components, or other administrative processes that are administered by 

any chief security officer of the Department. 

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‘‘(b) INFORMATION SHARING AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OFFICERS.—For each intelligence component of the Department, the 

Secretary shall designate an information sharing and knowledge 

management officer who shall report to the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis regarding coordinating the different systems 

used in the Department to gather and disseminate homeland security information or national intelligence (as defined in section 3(5) 

of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(5))). 

‘‘(c) STATE, LOCAL, AND PRIVATE-SECTOR SOURCES OF INFORMATION.—

‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF BUSINESS PROCESSES.—The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Intelligence and 

Analysis or the Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, as appropriate, shall—

‘‘(A) establish Department-wide procedures for the review and analysis of information provided by State, local, 

and tribal governments and the private sector; 

‘‘(B) as appropriate, integrate such information into the 

information gathered by the Department and other departments and agencies of the Federal Government; and 

‘‘(C) make available such information, as appropriate, 

within the Department and to other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. 

‘‘(2) FEEDBACK.—The Secretary shall develop mechanisms 

to provide feedback regarding the analysis and utility of information provided by any entity of State, local, or tribal government or the private sector that provides such information to the 

Department. 

‘‘(d) TRAINING AND EVALUATION OF EMPLOYEES.—

‘‘(1) TRAINING.—The Secretary, acting through the Under 

Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis or the Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, as appropriate, shall provide to employees of the Department opportunities for training 

and education to develop an understanding of—

‘‘(A) the definitions of homeland security information 

and national intelligence (as defined in section 3(5) of the 

National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(5))); and 

‘‘(B) how information available to such employees as 

part of their duties—

‘‘(i) might qualify as homeland security information or national intelligence; and 

‘‘(ii) might be relevant to the Office of Intelligence 

and Analysis and the intelligence components of the 

Department. 

‘‘(2) EVALUATIONS.—The Under Secretary for Intelligence 

and Analysis shall—

‘‘(A) on an ongoing basis, evaluate how employees of 

the Office of Intelligence and Analysis and the intelligence 

components of the Department are utilizing homeland security information or national intelligence, sharing information within the Department, as described in this title, and 

participating in the information sharing environment established under section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and 

Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485); and 

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‘‘(B) provide to the appropriate component heads regular reports regarding the evaluations under subparagraph 

(A). 

‘‘SEC. 205. COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NETWORK 

ARCHITECTURE. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting through the Under 

Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, shall establish, consistent 

with the policies and procedures developed under section 1016 of the 

Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 

485), and consistent with the enterprise architecture of the Department, a comprehensive information technology network architecture 

for the Office of Intelligence and Analysis that connects the various 

databases and related information technology assets of the Office of 

Intelligence and Analysis and the intelligence components of the Department in order to promote internal information sharing among 

the intelligence and other personnel of the Department. ‘‘(b) COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NETWORK AR- CHITECTURE DEFINED.—The term ‘comprehensive information technology network architecture’ means an integrated framework for 

evolving or maintaining existing information technology and acquiring new information technology to achieve the strategic management 

and information resources management goals of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis. 

‘‘SEC. 206. COORDINATION WITH INFORMATION SHARING ENVIRONMENT. 

‘‘(a) GUIDANCE.—All activities to comply with sections 203, 204, 

and 205 shall be— ‘‘(1) consistent with any policies, guidelines, procedures, instructions, or standards established under section 1016 of the 

Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 

U.S.C. 485); ‘‘(2) implemented in coordination with, as appropriate, the 

program manager for the information sharing environment established under that section; ‘‘(3) consistent with any applicable guidance issued by the 

Director of National Intelligence; and ‘‘(4) consistent with any applicable guidance issued by the 

Secretary relating to the protection of law enforcement information or proprietary information. 

‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the duties and responsibilities under this subtitle, the Under Secretary for Intelligence 

and Analysis shall take into account the views of the heads of the 

intelligence components of the Department.’’. 

(2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 201(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121(d)) is amended—

(i) by striking paragraph (7); and 

(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (19) 

as paragraphs (7) through (18), respectively. 

(B) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 

101 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating 

to section 202 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 203. Homeland Security Advisory System. 

‘‘Sec. 204. Homeland security information sharing. 

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‘‘Sec. 205. Comprehensive information technology network architecture. 

‘‘Sec. 206. Coordination with information sharing environment.’’. 

(b) OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS AND OFFICE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION.—Section 201(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121(d)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, in support of the mission responsibilities of the Department and the functions of the 

National Counterterrorism Center established under section 119 

of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 404o),’’ after 

‘‘and to integrate such information’’; and 

(2) by striking paragraph (7), as redesignated by subsection 

(a)(2)(A)(ii) of this section, and inserting the following: 

‘‘(7) To review, analyze, and make recommendations for improvements to the policies and procedures governing the sharing 

of information within the scope of the information sharing environment established under section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485), including homeland security information, terrorism information, 

and weapons of mass destruction information, and any policies, 

guidelines, procedures, instructions, or standards established 

under that section.’’. 

(c) REPORT ON COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

NETWORK ARCHITECTURE.—Not later than 120 days after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 

submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of 

the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the Secretary in developing the comprehensive information technology network architecture required under section 205 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a). The report shall include: 

(1) a description of the priorities for the development of the 

comprehensive information technology network architecture and 

a rationale for such priorities; 

(2) an explanation of how the various components of the 

comprehensive information technology network architecture will 

work together and interconnect; 

(3) a description of the technological challenges that the 

Secretary expects the Office of Intelligence and Analysis will 

face in implementing the comprehensive information technology 

network architecture; 

(4) a description of the technological options that are available or are in development that may be incorporated into the 

comprehensive information technology network architecture, the 

feasibility of incorporating such options, and the advantages 

and disadvantages of doing so; 

(5) an explanation of any security protections to be developed as part of the comprehensive information technology network architecture; 

(6) a description of safeguards for civil liberties and privacy to be built into the comprehensive information technology 

network architecture; and 

(7) an operational best practices plan. 

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SEC. 502. INTELLIGENCE COMPONENT DEFINED. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (6 U.S.C. 101) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (16) as paragraphs (10) through (17), respectively; and 

(2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following: 

‘‘(9) The term ‘intelligence component of the Department’

means any element or entity of the Department that collects, 

gathers, processes, analyzes, produces, or disseminates intelligence information within the scope of the information sharing 

environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, or national intelligence, as defined under section 3(5) of 

the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(5)), except—

‘‘(A) the United States Secret Service; and 

‘‘(B) the Coast Guard, when operating under the direct 

authority of the Secretary of Defense or Secretary of the 

Navy pursuant to section 3 of title 14, United States Code, 

except that nothing in this paragraph shall affect or diminish the authority and responsibilities of the Commandant 

of the Coast Guard to command or control the Coast Guard 

as an armed force or the authority of the Director of National Intelligence with respect to the Coast Guard as an 

element of the intelligence community (as defined under 

section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 

401a(4)).’’. 

(b) RECEIPT OF INFORMATION FROM UNITED STATES SECRET

SERVICE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary for Intelligence and 

Analysis shall receive from the United States Secret Service 

homeland security information, terrorism information, weapons 

of mass destruction information (as these terms are defined in 

Section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485)), or national intelligence, as defined in Section 3(5) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 

U.S.C. 401a(5)), as well as suspect information obtained in 

criminal investigations. The United States Secret Service shall 

cooperate with the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis with respect to activities under sections 204 and 205 of the 

Homeland Security Act of 2002. 

(2) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this Act shall interfere 

with the operation of Section 3056(g) of Title 18, United States 

Code, or with the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Director of the United States Secret Service regarding the budget of the United States Secret Service. 

(c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

(1) HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002.—Paragraph (13) of 

section 501 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 

311), as redesignated by section 401, is amended by striking 

‘‘section 2(10)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 2(11)(B)’’. 

(2) OTHER LAW.—Section 712(a) of title 14, United States 

Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 2(15) of the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(15))’’ and inserting ‘‘section 

2(16) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(16))’’. 

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SEC. 503. ROLE OF INTELLIGENCE COMPONENTS, TRAINING, AND INFORMATION SHARING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security 

Act of 2002 is further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 207. INTELLIGENCE COMPONENTS. 

‘‘Subject to the direction and control of the Secretary, and consistent with any applicable guidance issued by the Director of National Intelligence, the responsibilities of the head of each intelligence component of the Department are as follows: 

‘‘(1) To ensure that the collection, processing, analysis, and 

dissemination of information within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, weapons of mass destruction information, and national intelligence (as defined in section 3(5) 

of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(5))), are 

carried out effectively and efficiently in support of the intelligence mission of the Department, as led by the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis. 

‘‘(2) To otherwise support and implement the intelligence 

mission of the Department, as led by the Under Secretary for 

Intelligence and Analysis. 

‘‘(3) To incorporate the input of the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis with respect to performance appraisals, 

bonus or award recommendations, pay adjustments, and other 

forms of commendation. 

‘‘(4) To coordinate with the Under Secretary for Intelligence 

and Analysis in developing policies and requirements for the recruitment and selection of intelligence officials of the intelligence component. 

‘‘(5) To advise and coordinate with the Under Secretary for 

Intelligence and Analysis on any plan to reorganize or restructure the intelligence component that would, if implemented, result in realignments of intelligence functions. 

‘‘(6) To ensure that employees of the intelligence component 

have knowledge of, and comply with, the programs and policies 

established by the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis 

and other appropriate officials of the Department and that such 

employees comply with all applicable laws and regulations. 

‘‘(7) To perform such other activities relating to such responsibilities as the Secretary may provide. 

‘‘SEC. 208. TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES OF INTELLIGENCE COMPONENTS. 

‘‘The Secretary shall provide training and guidance for employees, officials, and senior executives of the intelligence components of 

the Department to develop knowledge of laws, regulations, operations, policies, procedures, and programs that are related to the 

functions of the Department relating to the collection, processing, 

analysis, and dissemination of information within the scope of the 

information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction 

information, or national intelligence (as defined in section 3(5) of 

the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(5))). 

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‘‘SEC. 209. INTELLIGENCE TRAINING DEVELOPMENT FOR STATE AND 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. 

‘‘(a) CURRICULUM.—The Secretary, acting through the Under 

Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, shall— ‘‘(1) develop a curriculum for training State, local, and tribal government officials, including law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, and other emergency response providers, in 

the intelligence cycle and Federal laws, practices, and regulations regarding the development, handling, and review of intelligence and other information; and ‘‘(2) ensure that the curriculum includes executive level 

training for senior level State, local, and tribal law enforcement 

officers, intelligence analysts, and other emergency response 

providers. 

‘‘(b) TRAINING.—To the extent possible, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and other existing Federal entities with 

the capacity and expertise to train State, local, and tribal government officials based on the curriculum developed under subsection 

(a) shall be used to carry out the training programs created under 

this section. If such entities do not have the capacity, resources, or 

capabilities to conduct such training, the Secretary may approve another entity to conduct such training. 

‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the duties described in 

subsection (a), the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis 

shall consult with the Director of the Federal Law Enforcement 

Training Center, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 

Agency, and other appropriate parties, such as private industry, institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and other intelligence agencies of the Federal Government. 

‘‘SEC. 210. INFORMATION SHARING INCENTIVES. 

‘‘(a) AWARDS.—In making cash awards under chapter 45 of title 

5, United States Code, the President or the head of an agency, in 

consultation with the program manager designated under section 

1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 

2004 (6 U.S.C. 485), may consider the success of an employee in appropriately sharing information within the scope of the information 

sharing environment established under that section, including 

homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons 

of mass destruction information, or national intelligence (as defined 

in section 3(5) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 

401a(5)), in a manner consistent with any policies, guidelines, procedures, instructions, or standards established by the President or, 

as appropriate, the program manager of that environment for the 

implementation and management of that environment. 

‘‘(b) OTHER INCENTIVES.—The head of each department or agency described in section 1016(i) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485(i)), in consultation with 

the program manager designated under section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 

485), shall adopt best practices regarding effective ways to educate 

and motivate officers and employees of the Federal Government to 

participate fully in the information sharing environment, including—

‘‘(1) promotions and other nonmonetary awards; and 

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49 

‘‘(2) publicizing information sharing accomplishments by 

individual employees and, where appropriate, the tangible end 

benefits that resulted.’’. (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in section 

1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is 

amended further by inserting after the item relating to section 206 

the following: 

‘‘Sec. 207. Intelligence components. 

‘‘Sec. 208. Training for employees of intelligence components. 

‘‘Sec. 209. Intelligence training development for State and local government officials. 

‘‘Sec. 210. Information sharing incentives.’’. 

SEC. 504. INFORMATION SHARING. 

Section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as 

paragraphs (2) through (5), respectively; 

(B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following: 

‘‘(1) HOMELAND SECURITY INFORMATION.—The term ‘homeland security information’ has the meaning given that term in 

section 892(f) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 

482(f)).’’; 

(C) by striking paragraph (3), as so redesignated, and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘(3) INFORMATION SHARING ENVIRONMENT.—The terms ‘information sharing environment’ and ‘ISE’ mean an approach 

that facilitates the sharing of terrorism and homeland security 

information, which may include any method determined necessary and appropriate for carrying out this section.’’. (D) by striking paragraph (5), as so redesignated, and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘(5) TERRORISM INFORMATION.—The term ‘terrorism information’—

‘‘(A) means all information, whether collected, produced, or distributed by intelligence, law enforcement, military, homeland security, or other activities relating to—

‘‘(i) the existence, organization, capabilities, plans, 

intentions, vulnerabilities, means of finance or material support, or activities of foreign or international terrorist groups or individuals, or of domestic groups or 

individuals involved in transnational terrorism; 

‘‘(ii) threats posed by such groups or individuals to 

the United States, United States persons, or United 

States interests, or to those of other nations; 

‘‘(iii) communications of or by such groups or individuals; or 

‘‘(iv) groups or individuals reasonably believed to 

be assisting or associated with such groups or individuals; and 

‘‘(B) includes weapons of mass destruction information.’’; and 

(E) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(6) WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION INFORMATION.—The 

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50 

tion that could reasonably be expected to assist in the development, proliferation, or use of a weapon of mass destruction (including a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapon) 

that could be used by a terrorist or a terrorist organization 

against the United States, including information about the location of any stockpile of nuclear materials that could be exploited for use in such a weapon that could be used by a terrorist or a terrorist organization against the United States.’’; 

(2) in subsection (b)(2)— (A) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(B) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the 

end and inserting a semicolon; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(J) integrates the information within the scope of the 

information sharing environment, including any such information in legacy technologies; ‘‘(K) integrates technologies, including all legacy technologies, through Internet-based services, consistent with 

appropriate security protocols and safeguards, to enable 

connectivity among required users at the Federal, State, 

and local levels; ‘‘(L) allows the full range of analytic and operational 

activities without the need to centralize information within 

the scope of the information sharing environment; ‘‘(M) permits analysts to collaborate both independently 

and in a group (commonly known as ‘collective and noncollective collaboration’), and across multiple levels of national security information and controlled unclassified information; ‘‘(N) provides a resolution process that enables changes 

by authorized officials regarding rules and policies for the 

access, use, and retention of information within the scope 

of the information sharing environment; and ‘‘(O) incorporates continuous, real-time, and immutable 

audit capabilities, to the maximum extent practicable.’’; 

(3) in subsection (f)—

(A) in paragraph (1)—

(i) by striking ‘‘during the two-year period beginning on the date of designation under this paragraph 

unless sooner removed from service and replaced’’ and 

inserting ‘‘until removed from service or replaced’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘The program manager shall have 

and exercise governmentwide authority.’’ and inserting 

‘‘The program manager, in consultation with the head 

of any affected department or agency, shall have and 

exercise governmentwide authority over the sharing of 

information within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, by all Federal departments, 

agencies, and components, irrespective of the Federal 

department, agency, or component in which the program manager may be administratively located, except 

as otherwise expressly provided by law.’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2)(A)—

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(i) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (v); and 

(ii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following: ‘‘(ii) assist in the development of policies, as appropriate, to foster the development and proper operation 

of the ISE; ‘‘(iii) consistent with the direction and policies 

issued by the President, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Office of Management 

and Budget, issue governmentwide procedures, guidelines, instructions, and functional standards, as appropriate, for the management, development, and proper 

operation of the ISE; ‘‘(iv) identify and resolve information sharing disputes between Federal departments, agencies, and components; and’’; 

(4) in subsection (g)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘during the two-year 

period beginning on the date of the initial designation of 

the program manager by the President under subsection 

(f)(1), unless sooner removed from service and replaced’’ and inserting ‘‘until removed from service or replaced’’; 

(B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

end; 

(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (I); and 

(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following: 

‘‘(G) assist the program manager in identifying and resolving information sharing disputes between Federal departments, agencies, and components; ‘‘(H) identify appropriate personnel for assignment to 

the program manager to support staffing needs identified 

by the program manager; and’’; 

(C) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘(including any subsidiary group of the Information Sharing Council)’’ before 

‘‘shall not be subject’’; and 

(D) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(5) DETAILEES.—Upon a request by the Director of National Intelligence, the departments and agencies represented on 

the Information Sharing Council shall detail to the program 

manager, on a reimbursable basis, appropriate personnel identified under paragraph (2)(H).’’; 

(5) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ‘‘and annually thereafter’’ and inserting ‘‘and not later than June 30 of each year 

thereafter’’; and 

(6) by striking subsection (j) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(j) REPORT ON THE INFORMATION SHARING ENVIRONMENT.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/ 

11 Commission Act of 2007, the President shall report to the 

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 

the Senate, the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, 

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52 

atives, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of 

the House of Representatives on the feasibility of—

‘‘(A) eliminating the use of any marking or process (including ‘Originator Control’) intended to, or having the effect of, restricting the sharing of information within the 

scope of the information sharing environment, including 

homeland security information, terrorism information, and 

weapons of mass destruction information, between and 

among participants in the information sharing environment, unless the President has—

‘‘(i) specifically exempted categories of information 

from such elimination; and 

‘‘(ii) reported that exemption to the committees of 

Congress described in the matter preceding this subparagraph; and 

‘‘(B) continuing to use Federal agency standards in effect on such date of enactment for the collection, sharing, 

and access to information within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, relating to citizens and lawful permanent residents; 

‘‘(C) replacing the standards described in subparagraph (B) with a standard that would allow mission-based 

or threat-based permission to access or share information 

within the scope of the information sharing environment, 

including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, for 

a particular purpose that the Federal Government, through 

an appropriate process established in consultation with the 

Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board established 

under section 1061, has determined to be lawfully permissible for a particular agency, component, or employee (commonly known as an ‘authorized use’ standard); and 

‘‘(D) the use of anonymized data by Federal departments, agencies, or components collecting, possessing, disseminating, or handling information within the scope of the 

information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of 

mass destruction information, in any cases in which—

‘‘(i) the use of such information is reasonably expected to produce results materially equivalent to the 

use of information that is transferred or stored in a 

non-anonymized form; and 

‘‘(ii) such use is consistent with any mission of that 

department, agency, or component (including any mission under a Federal statute or directive of the President) that involves the storage, retention, sharing, or 

exchange of personally identifiable information. 

‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term ‘anonymized 

data’ means data in which the individual to whom the data 

pertains is not identifiable with reasonable efforts, including information that has been encrypted or hidden through the use of 

other technology. 

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‘‘(k) ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.—The program manager is authorized to hire not more than 40 full-time employees to assist the program manager in—

‘‘(1) activities associated with the implementation of the information sharing environment, including—

‘‘(A) implementing the requirements under subsection 

(b)(2); and 

‘‘(B) any additional implementation initiatives to enhance and expedite the creation of the information sharing 

environment; and 

‘‘(2) identifying and resolving information sharing disputes 

between Federal departments, agencies, and components under 

subsection (f)(2)(A)(iv). 

‘‘(l) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 

to be appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of 

fiscal years 2008 and 2009.’’. 

Subtitle B—Homeland Security Information Sharing 

Partnerships 

SEC. 511. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY STATE, LOCAL, AND 

REGIONAL FUSION CENTER INITIATIVE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security 

Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is further amended by adding at 

the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 210A. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY STATE, LOCAL, 

AND REGIONAL FUSION CENTER INITIATIVE. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in consultation with the 

program manager of the information sharing environment established under section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 

Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485), the Attorney General, the Privacy Officer of the Department, the Officer for Civil Rights and 

Civil Liberties of the Department, and the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board established under section 1061 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (5 U.S.C. 601 

note), shall establish a Department of Homeland Security State, 

Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative to establish partnerships with State, local, and regional fusion centers. 

‘‘(b) DEPARTMENT SUPPORT AND COORDINATION.—Through the 

Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative, and in coordination with the principal officials of participating State, local, or regional fusion centers and the 

officers designated as the Homeland Security Advisors of the States, 

the Secretary shall—

‘‘(1) provide operational and intelligence advice and assistance to State, local, and regional fusion centers; 

‘‘(2) support efforts to include State, local, and regional fusion centers into efforts to establish an information sharing environment; 

‘‘(3) conduct tabletop and live training exercises to regularly 

assess the capability of individual and regional networks of 

State, local, and regional fusion centers to integrate the efforts 

of such networks with the efforts of the Department; 

‘‘(4) coordinate with other relevant Federal entities engaged 

in homeland security-related activities; 

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‘‘(5) provide analytic and reporting advice and assistance to 

State, local, and regional fusion centers; ‘‘(6) review information within the scope of the information 

sharing environment, including homeland security information, 

terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, that is gathered by State, local, and regional fusion 

centers, and to incorporate such information, as appropriate, 

into the Department’s own such information; ‘‘(7) provide management assistance to State, local, and regional fusion centers; ‘‘(8) serve as a point of contact to ensure the dissemination 

of information within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism 

information, and weapons of mass destruction information; ‘‘(9) facilitate close communication and coordination between State, local, and regional fusion centers and the Department; ‘‘(10) provide State, local, and regional fusion centers with 

expertise on Department resources and operations; ‘‘(11) provide training to State, local, and regional fusion 

centers and encourage such fusion centers to participate in terrorism threat-related exercises conducted by the Department; 

and ‘‘(12) carry out such other duties as the Secretary determines are appropriate. 

‘‘(c) PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary for Intelligence and 

Analysis shall, to the maximum extent practicable, assign officers and intelligence analysts from components of the Department to participating State, local, and regional fusion centers. ‘‘(2) PERSONNEL SOURCES.—Officers and intelligence analysts assigned to participating fusion centers under this subsection may be assigned from the following Department components, in coordination with the respective component head and 

in consultation with the principal officials of participating fusion centers: 

‘‘(A) Office of Intelligence and Analysis. 

‘‘(B) Office of Infrastructure Protection. 

‘‘(C) Transportation Security Administration. 

‘‘(D) United States Customs and Border Protection. 

‘‘(E) United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

‘‘(F) United States Coast Guard. 

‘‘(G) Other components of the Department, as determined by the Secretary. 

‘‘(3) QUALIFYING CRITERIA.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop qualifying criteria for a fusion center to participate in the assigning of Department officers or intelligence analysts 

under this section. ‘‘(B) CRITERIA.—Any criteria developed under subparagraph (A) may include— ‘‘(i) whether the fusion center, through its mission 

and governance structure, focuses on a broad 

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proach is pervasive through all levels of the organization; 

‘‘(ii) whether the fusion center has sufficient numbers of adequately trained personnel to support a broad 

counterterrorism mission; 

‘‘(iii) whether the fusion center has—

‘‘(I) access to relevant law enforcement, emergency response, private sector, open source, and national security data; and 

‘‘(II) the ability to share and analytically utilize that data for lawful purposes; 

‘‘(iv) whether the fusion center is adequately funded by the State, local, or regional government to support its counterterrorism mission; and 

‘‘(v) the relevancy of the mission of the fusion center to the particular source component of Department 

officers or intelligence analysts. 

‘‘(4) PREREQUISITE.—

‘‘(A) INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS, PRIVACY, AND CIVIL LIBERTIES TRAINING.—Before being assigned to a fusion center 

under this section, an officer or intelligence analyst shall 

undergo—

‘‘(i) appropriate intelligence analysis or information sharing training using an intelligence-led policing 

curriculum that is consistent with—

‘‘(I) standard training and education programs offered to Department law enforcement and 

intelligence personnel; and 

‘‘(II) the Criminal Intelligence Systems Operating Policies under part 23 of title 28, Code of 

Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar 

rule or regulation); 

‘‘(ii) appropriate privacy and civil liberties training 

that is developed, supported, or sponsored by the Privacy Officer appointed under section 222 and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department, in consultation with the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board established under section 1061 

of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention 

Act of 2004 (5 U.S.C. 601 note); and 

‘‘(iii) such other training prescribed by the Under 

Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis. 

‘‘(B) PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE IN AREA.—In determining the eligibility of an officer or intelligence analyst to 

be assigned to a fusion center under this section, the Under 

Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis shall consider the 

familiarity of the officer or intelligence analyst with the 

State, locality, or region, as determined by such factors as 

whether the officer or intelligence analyst—

‘‘(i) has been previously assigned in the geographic 

area; or 

‘‘(ii) has previously worked with intelligence officials or law enforcement or other emergency response 

providers from that State, locality, or region. 

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‘‘(5) EXPEDITED SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCESSING.—The 

Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis—

‘‘(A) shall ensure that each officer or intelligence analyst assigned to a fusion center under this section has the 

appropriate security clearance to contribute effectively to 

the mission of the fusion center; and 

‘‘(B) may request that security clearance processing be 

expedited for each such officer or intelligence analyst and 

may use available funds for such purpose. 

‘‘(6) FURTHER QUALIFICATIONS.—Each officer or intelligence 

analyst assigned to a fusion center under this section shall satisfy any other qualifications the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis may prescribe. 

‘‘(d) RESPONSIBILITIES.—An officer or intelligence analyst assigned to a fusion center under this section shall—

‘‘(1) assist law enforcement agencies and other emergency 

response providers of State, local, and tribal governments and 

fusion center personnel in using information within the scope of 

the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass 

destruction information, to develop a comprehensive and accurate threat picture; 

‘‘(2) review homeland security-relevant information from 

law enforcement agencies and other emergency response providers of State, local, and tribal government; 

‘‘(3) create intelligence and other information products derived from such information and other homeland security-relevant information provided by the Department; and 

‘‘(4) assist in the dissemination of such products, as coordinated by the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, to 

law enforcement agencies and other emergency response providers of State, local, and tribal government, other fusion centers, and appropriate Federal agencies. 

‘‘(e) BORDER INTELLIGENCE PRIORITY.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make it a priority to 

assign officers and intelligence analysts under this section from 

United States Customs and Border Protection, United States 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard 

to participating State, local, and regional fusion centers located 

in jurisdictions along land or maritime borders of the United 

States in order to enhance the integrity of and security at such 

borders by helping Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement authorities to identify, investigate, and otherwise interdict 

persons, weapons, and related contraband that pose a threat to 

homeland security. 

‘‘(2) BORDER INTELLIGENCE PRODUCTS.—When performing 

the responsibilities described in subsection (d), officers and intelligence analysts assigned to participating State, local, and regional fusion centers under this section shall have, as a primary responsibility, the creation of border intelligence products 

that—

‘‘(A) assist State, local, and tribal law enforcement 

agencies in deploying their resources most efficiently to help 

detect and interdict terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, 

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and related contraband at land or maritime borders of the 

United States; ‘‘(B) promote more consistent and timely sharing of 

border security-relevant information among jurisdictions 

along land or maritime borders of the United States; and ‘‘(C) enhance the Department’s situational awareness of 

the threat of acts of terrorism at or involving the land or 

maritime borders of the United States. ‘‘(f) DATABASE ACCESS.—In order to fulfill the objectives described under subsection (d), each officer or intelligence analyst assigned to a fusion center under this section shall have appropriate 

access to all relevant Federal databases and information systems, 

consistent with any policies, guidelines, procedures, instructions, or 

standards established by the President or, as appropriate, the program manager of the information sharing environment for the implementation and management of that environment. ‘‘(g) CONSUMER FEEDBACK.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall create a voluntary 

mechanism for any State, local, or tribal law enforcement officer or other emergency response provider who is a consumer of 

the intelligence or other information products referred to in subsection (d) to provide feedback to the Department on the quality 

and utility of such intelligence products. ‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of the 

enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 

Commission Act of 2007, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 

shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report that includes a description of the consumer feedback obtained under 

paragraph (1) and, if applicable, how the Department has adjusted its production of intelligence products in response to that 

consumer feedback. 

‘‘(h) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The authorities granted under this section shall supplement the authorities granted under section 

201(d) and nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate the authorities granted under section 201(d). ‘‘(2) PARTICIPATION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a State, local, or regional government or entity 

to accept the assignment of officers or intelligence analysts of 

the Department into the fusion center of that State, locality, or 

region. 

‘‘(i) GUIDELINES.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall establish guidelines for fusion centers created 

and operated by State and local governments, to include standards 

that any such fusion center shall—

‘‘(1) collaboratively develop a mission statement, identify expectations and goals, measure performance, and determine effectiveness for that fusion center; ‘‘(2) create a representative governance structure that includes law enforcement officers and other emergency response 

providers and, as appropriate, the private sector; ‘‘(3) create a collaborative environment for the sharing of 

intelligence and information among Federal, State, local, and 

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tribal government agencies (including law enforcement officers 

and other emergency response providers), the private sector, and 

the public, consistent with any policies, guidelines, procedures, 

instructions, or standards established by the President or, as 

appropriate, the program manager of the information sharing 

environment; ‘‘(4) leverage the databases, systems, and networks available from public and private sector entities, in accordance with 

all applicable laws, to maximize information sharing; ‘‘(5) develop, publish, and adhere to a privacy and civil liberties policy consistent with Federal, State, and local law; ‘‘(6) provide, in coordination with the Privacy Officer of the 

Department and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 

of the Department, appropriate privacy and civil liberties training for all State, local, tribal, and private sector representatives 

at the fusion center; ‘‘(7) ensure appropriate security measures are in place for 

the facility, data, and personnel; ‘‘(8) select and train personnel based on the needs, mission, 

goals, and functions of that fusion center; ‘‘(9) offer a variety of intelligence and information services 

and products to recipients of fusion center intelligence and information; and ‘‘(10) incorporate law enforcement officers, other emergency 

response providers, and, as appropriate, the private sector, into 

all relevant phases of the intelligence and fusion process, consistent with the mission statement developed under paragraph 

(1), either through full time representatives or liaison relationships with the fusion center to enable the receipt and sharing 

of information and intelligence. 

‘‘(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— ‘‘(1) the term ‘fusion center’ means a collaborative effort of 

2 or more Federal, State, local, or tribal government agencies 

that combines resources, expertise, or information with the goal 

of maximizing the ability of such agencies to detect, prevent, investigate, apprehend, and respond to criminal or terrorist activity; 

‘‘(2) the term ‘information sharing environment’ means the 

information sharing environment established under section 

1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act 

of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485); 

‘‘(3) the term ‘intelligence analyst’ means an individual who 

regularly advises, administers, supervises, or performs work in 

the collection, gathering, analysis, evaluation, reporting, production, or dissemination of information on political, economic, 

social, cultural, physical, geographical, scientific, or military 

conditions, trends, or forces in foreign or domestic areas that 

directly or indirectly affect national security; 

‘‘(4) the term ‘intelligence-led policing’ means the collection 

and analysis of information to produce an intelligence end 

product designed to inform law enforcement decision making at 

the tactical and strategic levels; and 

‘‘(5) the term ‘terrorism information’ has the meaning given 

that term in section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485). 

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‘‘(k) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 

to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 

2012, to carry out this section, except for subsection (i), including for 

hiring officers and intelligence analysts to replace officers and intelligence analysts who are assigned to fusion centers under this section.’’. 

(b) TRAINING FOR PREDEPLOYED OFFICERS AND ANALYSTS.—An 

officer or analyst assigned to a fusion center by the Secretary of 

Homeland Security before the date of the enactment of this Act shall 

undergo the training described in section 210A(c)(4)(A) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), by not later 

than six months after such date. 

(c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of 

contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 

U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is further amended by inserting after the item 

relating to section 210 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 210A.Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Information Fusion Center Initiative.’’. 

(d) REPORTS.— (1) CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after 

the date of enactment of this Act and before the Department of 

Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center 

Initiative under 

section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by 

subsection (a), (in this section referred to as the ‘‘program’’) has been 

implemented, the Secretary, in consultation with the Privacy Officer 

of the Department, the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 

of the Department, and the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight 

Board established under section 1061 of the Intelligence Reform and 

Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (5 U.S.C. 601 note), shall submit 

to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the 

House of Representatives a report that contains a concept of operations for the program, which shall—

(A) include a clear articulation of the purposes, goals, 

and specific objectives for which the program is being developed; 

(B) identify stakeholders in the program and provide 

an assessment of their needs; 

(C) contain a developed set of quantitative metrics to 

measure, to the extent possible, program output; 

(D) contain a developed set of qualitative instruments 

(including surveys and expert interviews) to assess the extent to which stakeholders believe their needs are being 

met; and 

(E) include a privacy and civil liberties impact assessment. 

(2) PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES.—Not later than 1 year 

after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Privacy Officer 

of the Department of Homeland Security and the Officer for 

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights of the Department of Homeland 

Security, consistent with any policies of the Privacy and Civil 

Liberties Oversight Board established under section 1061 of the 

Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (5 

U.S.C. 601 note), shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 

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Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, 

the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Under Secretary of 

Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis, and the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board a report on the privacy and civil liberties impact of the program. 

SEC. 512. HOMELAND SECURITY INFORMATION SHARING FELLOWS 

PROGRAM. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—Subtitle A of title II of the 

Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is further 

amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 210B. HOMELAND SECURITY INFORMATION SHARING FELLOWS 

PROGRAM. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Under 

Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, and in consultation 

with the Chief Human Capital Officer, shall establish a fellowship program in accordance with this section for the purpose 

of— ‘‘(A) detailing State, local, and tribal law enforcement 

officers and intelligence analysts to the Department in accordance with subchapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, United 

States Code, to participate in the work of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis in order to become familiar with— ‘‘(i) the relevant missions and capabilities of the 

Department and other Federal agencies; and ‘‘(ii) the role, programs, products, and personnel of 

the Office of Intelligence and Analysis; and 

‘‘(B) promoting information sharing between the Department and State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers and intelligence analysts by assigning such officers 

and analysts to— ‘‘(i) serve as a point of contact in the Department 

to assist in the representation of State, local, and tribal 

information requirements; ‘‘(ii) identify information within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland 

security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, that is of interest 

to State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, and other emergency response providers; ‘‘(iii) assist Department analysts in preparing and 

disseminating products derived from information within the scope of the information sharing environment, 

including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, that are tailored to State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers and intelligence analysts and designed to prepare for and thwart acts of terrorism; and ‘‘(iv) assist Department analysts in preparing products derived from information within the scope of the 

information sharing environment, including homeland 

security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, that are tailored 

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to State, local, and tribal emergency response providers 

and assist in the dissemination of such products 

through appropriate Department channels. 

‘‘(2) PROGRAM NAME.—The program under this section shall 

be known as the ‘Homeland Security Information Sharing Fellows Program’. 

‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to be eligible for selection as an 

Information Sharing Fellow under the program under this section, an individual shall—

‘‘(A) have homeland security-related responsibilities; 

‘‘(B) be eligible for an appropriate security clearance; 

‘‘(C) possess a valid need for access to classified information, as determined by the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis; 

‘‘(D) be an employee of an eligible entity; and 

‘‘(E) have undergone appropriate privacy and civil liberties training that is developed, supported, or sponsored by 

the Privacy Officer and the Officer for Civil Rights and 

Civil Liberties, in consultation with the Privacy and Civil 

Liberties Oversight Board established under section 1061 of 

the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 

2004 (5 U.S.C. 601 note). 

‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—In this subsection, the term ‘eligible entity’ means—

‘‘(A) a State, local, or regional fusion center; 

‘‘(B) a State or local law enforcement or other government entity that serves a major metropolitan area, suburban area, or rural area, as determined by the Secretary; 

‘‘(C) a State or local law enforcement or other government entity with port, border, or agricultural responsibilities, as determined by the Secretary; 

‘‘(D) a tribal law enforcement or other authority; or 

‘‘(E) such other entity as the Secretary determines is 

appropriate. 

‘‘(c) OPTIONAL PARTICIPATION.—No State, local, or tribal law 

enforcement or other government entity shall be required to participate in the Homeland Security Information Sharing Fellows Program. 

‘‘(d) PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATION AND SELECTION.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary for Intelligence and 

Analysis shall establish procedures to provide for the nomination and selection of individuals to participate in the Homeland 

Security Information Sharing Fellows Program. 

‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.—The Under Secretary for Intelligence 

and Analysis shall—

‘‘(A) select law enforcement officers and intelligence analysts representing a broad cross-section of State, local, and 

tribal agencies; and 

‘‘(B) ensure that the number of Information Sharing 

Fellows selected does not impede the activities of the Office 

of Intelligence and Analysis.’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of 

contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 

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U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is further amended by inserting after the item 

relating to section 210A the following: 

‘‘Sec. 210B. Homeland Security Information Sharing Fellows Program.’’. 

(c) REPORTS.— (1) CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after 

the date of enactment of this Act, and before the implementation 

of the Homeland Security Information Sharing Fellows Program under section 210B of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 

as added by subsection (a), (in this section referred to as the 

‘‘Program’’) the Secretary, in consultation with the Privacy Officer of the Department, the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil 

Liberties of the Department, and the Privacy and Civil Liberties 

Oversight Board established under section 1061 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (5 U.S.C. 

601 note), shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 

Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report 

that contains a concept of operations for the Program, which 

shall include a privacy and civil liberties impact assessment. 

(2) REVIEW OF PRIVACY IMPACT.—Not later than 1 year after 

the date on which the program is implemented, the Privacy Officer of the Department and the Officer for Civil Rights and 

Civil Liberties of the Department, consistent with any policies 

of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board established 

under section 1061 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 

Prevention Act of 2004 (5 U.S.C. 601 note), shall submit to the 

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 

the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the 

House of Representatives, the Secretary of Homeland Security, 

the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and 

Analysis, and the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, 

a report on the privacy and civil liberties impact of the program. 

SEC. 513. RURAL POLICING INSTITUTE. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 210C. RURAL POLICING INSTITUTE. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a Rural Policing Institute, which shall be administered by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, to target training to law enforcement 

agencies and other emergency response providers located in rural 

areas. The Secretary, through the Rural Policing Institute, shall—

‘‘(1) evaluate the needs of law enforcement agencies and 

other emergency response providers in rural areas; 

‘‘(2) develop expert training programs designed to address 

the needs of law enforcement agencies and other emergency response providers in rural areas as identified in the evaluation 

conducted under paragraph (1), including training programs 

about intelligence-led policing and protections for privacy, civil 

rights, and civil liberties; ‘‘(3) provide the training programs developed under paragraph (2) to law enforcement agencies and other emergency response providers in rural areas; and 

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‘‘(4) conduct outreach efforts to ensure that local and tribal 

governments in rural areas are aware of the training programs 

developed under paragraph (2) so they can avail themselves of 

such programs. 

‘‘(b) CURRICULA.—The training at the Rural Policing Institute 

established under subsection (a) shall—

‘‘(1) be configured in a manner so as not to duplicate or displace any law enforcement or emergency response program of 

the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center or a local or 

tribal government entity in existence on the date of enactment 

of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission 

Act of 2007; and 

‘‘(2) to the maximum extent practicable, be delivered in a 

cost-effective manner at facilities of the Department, on closed 

military installations with adequate training facilities, or at facilities operated by the participants. 

‘‘(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘rural’ means an 

area that is not located in a metropolitan statistical area, as defined 

by the Office of Management and Budget. 

‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section (including for contracts, staff, and equipment)—

‘‘(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and 

‘‘(2) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in section 

1(b) of such Act is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 210B the following: 

‘‘Sec. 210C. Rural Policing Institute.’’. 

Subtitle C—Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination 

Group 

SEC. 521. INTERAGENCY THREAT ASSESSMENT AND COORDINATION 

GROUP. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 210D. INTERAGENCY THREAT ASSESSMENT AND COORDINATION 

GROUP. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—To improve the sharing of information within the scope of the information sharing environment established 

under section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485) with State, local, tribal, and private sector officials, the Director of National Intelligence, through 

the program manager for the information sharing environment, in 

coordination with the Secretary, shall coordinate and oversee the 

creation of an Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination 

Group (referred to in this section as the ‘ITACG’). 

‘‘(b) COMPOSITION OF ITACG.—The ITACG shall consist of— ‘‘(1) an ITACG Advisory Council to set policy and develop 

processes for the integration, analysis, and dissemination of federally-coordinated information within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information; and 

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‘‘(2) an ITACG Detail comprised of State, local, and tribal 

homeland security and law enforcement officers and intelligence 

analysts detailed to work in the National Counterterrorism 

Center with Federal intelligence analysts for the purpose of integrating, analyzing, and assisting in the dissemination of federally-coordinated information within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, through appropriate channels identified by 

the ITACG Advisory Council. 

‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROGRAM MANAGER.—The program 

manager, in consultation with the Information Sharing Council, 

shall— ‘‘(1) monitor and assess the efficacy of the ITACG; and 

‘‘(2) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 

of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission 

Act of 2007, and at least annually thereafter, submit to the Secretary, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland 

Security of the House of Representatives a report on the 

progress of the ITACG. 

‘‘(d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary, or the 

Secretary’s designee, in coordination with the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and the ITACG Advisory Council, 

shall— ‘‘(1) create policies and standards for the creation of information products derived from information within the scope of 

the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass 

destruction information, that are suitable for dissemination to 

State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector; ‘‘(2) evaluate and develop processes for the timely dissemination of federally-coordinated information within the scope of 

the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass 

destruction information, to State, local, and tribal governments 

and the private sector; 

‘‘(3) establish criteria and a methodology for indicating to 

State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector the 

reliability of information within the scope of the information 

sharing environment, including homeland security information, 

terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, disseminated to them; 

‘‘(4) educate the intelligence community about the requirements of the State, local, and tribal homeland security, law enforcement, and other emergency response providers regarding 

information within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism 

information, and weapons of mass destruction information; 

‘‘(5) establish and maintain the ITACG Detail, which shall 

assign an appropriate number of State, local, and tribal homeland security and law enforcement officers and intelligence analysts to work in the National Counterterrorism Center who 

shall—

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‘‘(A) educate and advise National Counterterrorism 

Center intelligence analysts about the requirements of the 

State, local, and tribal homeland security and law enforcement officers, and other emergency response providers regarding information within the scope of the information 

sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information; ‘‘(B) assist National Counterterrorism Center intelligence analysts in integrating, analyzing, and otherwise 

preparing versions of products derived from information 

within the scope of the information sharing environment, 

including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information that 

are unclassified or classified at the lowest possible level 

and suitable for dissemination to State, local, and tribal 

homeland security and law enforcement agencies in order 

to help deter and prevent terrorist attacks; ‘‘(C) implement, in coordination with National 

Counterterrorism Center intelligence analysts, the policies, 

processes, procedures, standards, and guidelines developed 

by the ITACG Advisory Council; ‘‘(D) assist in the dissemination of products derived 

from information within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, 

terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, to State, local, and tribal jurisdictions only 

through appropriate channels identified by the ITACG Advisory Council; and ‘‘(E) report directly to the senior intelligence official 

from the Department under paragraph (6); 

‘‘(6) detail a senior intelligence official from the Department 

of Homeland Security to the National Counterterrorism Center, 

who shall—

‘‘(A) manage the day-to-day operations of the ITACG 

Detail; 

‘‘(B) report directly to the Director of the National 

Counterterrorism Center or the Director’s designee; and 

‘‘(C) in coordination with the Director of the Federal 

Bureau of Investigation, and subject to the approval of the 

Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, select a 

deputy from the pool of available detailees from the Federal 

Bureau of Investigation in the National Counterterrorism 

Center; and 

‘‘(7) establish, within the ITACG Advisory Council, a mechanism to select law enforcement officers and intelligence analysts for placement in the National Counterterrorism Center 

consistent with paragraph (5), using criteria developed by the 

ITACG Advisory Council that shall encourage participation 

from a broadly representative group of State, local, and tribal 

homeland security and law enforcement agencies. 

‘‘(e) MEMBERSHIP.—The Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, 

shall serve as the chair of the ITACG Advisory Council, which shall 

include—

‘‘(1) representatives of—

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‘‘(A) the Department; 

‘‘(B) the Federal Bureau of Investigation; 

‘‘(C) the National Counterterrorism Center; 

‘‘(D) the Department of Defense; 

‘‘(E) the Department of Energy; 

‘‘(F) the Department of State; and 

‘‘(G) other Federal entities as appropriate; ‘‘(2) the program manager of the information sharing environment, designated under section 1016(f) of the Intelligence 

Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485(f)), 

or the program manager’s designee; and ‘‘(3) executive level law enforcement and intelligence officials from State, local, and tribal governments. 

‘‘(f) CRITERIA.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Director 

of National Intelligence, the Attorney General, and the program 

manager of the information sharing environment established under 

section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention 

Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485), shall—

‘‘(1) establish procedures for selecting members of the 

ITACG Advisory Council and for the proper handling and safeguarding of products derived from information within the scope 

of the information sharing environment, including homeland 

security information, terrorism information, and weapons of 

mass destruction information, by those members; and 

‘‘(2) ensure that at least 50 percent of the members of the 

ITACG Advisory Council are from State, local, and tribal governments. 

‘‘(g) OPERATIONS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 90 days after 

the date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of 

the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the ITACG Advisory Council 

shall meet regularly, but not less than quarterly, at the facilities of the National Counterterrorism Center of the Office of the 

Director of National Intelligence. ‘‘(2) MANAGEMENT.—Pursuant to section 119(f)(E) of the 

National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 404o(f)(E)), the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, acting through the 

senior intelligence official from the Department of Homeland 

Security detailed pursuant to subsection (d)(6), shall ensure 

that— ‘‘(A) the products derived from information within the 

scope of the information sharing environment, including 

homeland security information, terrorism information, and 

weapons of mass destruction information, prepared by the 

National Counterterrorism Center and the ITACG Detail 

for distribution to State, local, and tribal homeland security and law enforcement agencies reflect the requirements 

of such agencies and are produced consistently with the 

policies, processes, procedures, standards, and guidelines 

established by the ITACG Advisory Council; 

‘‘(B) in consultation with the ITACG Advisory Council 

and consistent with sections 102A(f)(1)(B)(iii) and 119(f)(E) 

of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 402 et seq.), 

all products described in subparagraph (A) are disseminated through existing channels of the Department and the 

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Department of Justice and other appropriate channels to 

State, local, and tribal government officials and other entities; 

‘‘(C) all detailees under subsection (d)(5) have appropriate access to all relevant information within the scope of 

the information sharing environment, including homeland 

security information, terrorism information, and weapons 

of mass destruction information, available at the National 

Counterterrorism Center in order to accomplish the objectives under that paragraph; 

‘‘(D) all detailees under subsection (d)(5) have the appropriate security clearances and are trained in the procedures for handling, processing, storing, and disseminating 

classified products derived from information within the 

scope of the information sharing environment, including 

homeland security information, terrorism information, and 

weapons of mass destruction information; and 

‘‘(E) all detailees under subsection (d)(5) complete appropriate privacy and civil liberties training. 

‘‘(h) INAPPLICABILITY OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall 

not apply to the ITACG or any subsidiary groups thereof. 

‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 

years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this section, including to obtain security clearances for the State, local, and tribal participants 

in the ITACG.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in section 

1(b) of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to 

section 210C the following: 

‘‘Sec. 210D. Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group.’’. 

(c) PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT.—Not 

later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

Privacy Officer and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 

of the Department of Homeland Security and the Chief Privacy and 

Civil Liberties Officer for the Department of Justice, in consultation 

with the Civil Liberties Protection Officer of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 

the Attorney General, the Director of the National Counterterrorism 

Center, the Director of National Intelligence, the Privacy and Civil 

Liberties Oversight Board, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on 

Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, a privacy and 

civil liberties impact assessment of the Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group under section 210D of the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), including the use 

of State, local, and tribal detailees at the National Counterterrorism 

Center, as described in subsection (d)(5) of that section. 

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Subtitle D—Homeland Security Intelligence Offices 

Reorganization 

SEC. 531. OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS AND OFFICE OF 

INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 201 of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (6 U.S.C. 201) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘DIRECTORATE 

FOR INFORMATION’’ and inserting ‘‘INFORMATION 

AND’’; 

(2) by striking subsections (a) through (c) and inserting the 

following: 

‘‘(a) INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS AND INFRASTRUCTURE PRO- TECTION.—There shall be in the Department an Office of Intelligence and Analysis and an Office of Infrastructure Protection. ‘‘(b) UNDER SECRETARY FOR INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS AND

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION.— ‘‘(1) OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS.—The Office of 

Intelligence and Analysis shall be headed by an Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, who shall be appointed by 

the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. ‘‘(2) CHIEF INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.—The Under Secretary 

for Intelligence and Analysis shall serve as the Chief Intelligence Officer of the Department. ‘‘(3) OFFICE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION.—The Office 

of Infrastructure Protection shall be headed by an Assistant 

Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, who shall be appointed 

by the President. 

‘‘(c) DISCHARGE OF RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Secretary shall ensure that the responsibilities of the Department relating to information analysis and infrastructure protection, including those described in subsection (d), are carried out through the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis or the Assistant Secretary for 

Infrastructure Protection, as appropriate.’’; 

(3) in subsection (d)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘UNDER SEC- RETARY’’ and inserting ‘‘SECRETARY RELATING TO INTEL- LIGENCE AND ANALYSIS AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROTEC- TION’’; 

(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Subject to the direction’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Infrastructure Protection’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘The 

responsibilities of the Secretary relating to intelligence and 

analysis and infrastructure protection’’; 

(C) in paragraph (9), as redesignated under section 

510(a)(2)(A)(ii), by striking ‘‘Director of Central Intelligence’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of National Intelligence’’; 

(D) in paragraph (11)(B), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘Director of Central Intelligence’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of National Intelligence’’; 

(E) by redesignating paragraph (18), as so redesignated, as paragraph (24); and 

(F) by inserting after paragraph (17), as so redesignated, the following: 

‘‘(18) To coordinate and enhance integration among the intelligence components of the Department, including through 

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strategic oversight of the intelligence activities of such components. ‘‘(19) To establish the intelligence collection, processing, 

analysis, and dissemination priorities, policies, processes, 

standards, guidelines, and procedures for the intelligence components of the Department, consistent with any directions from 

the President and, as applicable, the Director of National Intelligence. ‘‘(20) To establish a structure and process to support the 

missions and goals of the intelligence components of the Department. ‘‘(21) To ensure that, whenever possible, the Department— ‘‘(A) produces and disseminates unclassified reports 

and analytic products based on open-source information; 

and ‘‘(B) produces and disseminates such reports and analytic products contemporaneously with reports or analytic 

products concerning the same or similar information that 

the Department produced and disseminated in a classified 

format. 

‘‘(22) To establish within the Office of Intelligence and 

Analysis an internal continuity of operations plan. ‘‘(23) Based on intelligence priorities set by the President, 

and guidance from the Secretary and, as appropriate, the Director of National Intelligence— ‘‘(A) to provide to the heads of each intelligence component of the Department guidance for developing the budget 

pertaining to the activities of such component; and ‘‘(B) to present to the Secretary a recommendation for 

a consolidated budget for the intelligence components of the 

Department, together with any comments from the heads of 

such components.’’; 

(4) in subsection (e)(1)— (A) by striking ‘‘Directorate’’ the first place that term 

appears and inserting ‘‘Office of Intelligence and Analysis 

and the Office of Infrastructure Protection’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘the Directorate in discharging’’ and inserting ‘‘such offices in discharging’’; 

(5) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘Directorate’’ and inserting ‘‘Office of Intelligence and Analysis and the Office of Infrastructure Protection’’; and 

(6) In subsection (g), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 

by striking ‘‘Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection’’ and inserting ‘‘Office of Intelligence and 

Analysis and the Office of Infrastructure Protection’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Such Act is further amended—

(A) in section 223, by striking ‘‘Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection’’ and inserting ‘‘Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, in 

cooperation with the Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure 

Protection’’; 

(B) in section 224, by striking ‘‘Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection’’ and inserting ‘‘Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection’’; 

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(C) in section 302(3), by striking ‘‘Under Secretary for 

Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis 

and the Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection’’; 

and 

(D) in section 521(d)—

(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Directorate for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Office of Intelligence and Analysis’’; and 

(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Under Secretary 

for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection’’

and inserting ‘‘Under Secretary for Intelligence and 

Analysis’’. 

(2) ADDITIONAL UNDER SECRETARY.—Section 103(a) of the 

Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 113(a)) is amended—

(A) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively; and 

(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following: 

‘‘(8) An Under Secretary responsible for overseeing critical 

infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and other related programs of the Department.’’. 

(3) HEADING.—Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is amended in the subtitle 

heading by striking ‘‘Directorate for Information’’ and inserting ‘‘Information and’’. 

(4) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended in the table of contents 

in section 1(b)—

(A) by striking the items relating to subtitle A of title 

II and section 201 and inserting the following: 

‘‘Subtitle A—Information and Analysis and Infrastructure Protection; Access to 

Information 

‘‘Sec. 201. Information and Analysis and Infrastructure Protection.’’; and 

(5) NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 1947.—Section 106(b)(2)(I) 

of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 403–6) is 

amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(I) The Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis.’’. 

(c) TREATMENT OF INCUMBENT.—The individual administratively performing the duties of the Under Secretary for Intelligence 

and Analysis as of the date of the enactment of this Act may continue to perform such duties after the date on which the President 

nominates an individual to serve as the Under Secretary pursuant 

to section 201 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended 

by this section, and until the individual so appointed assumes the 

duties of the position 

Subtitle E—Authorization of Appropriations 

SEC. 541. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There is authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 

2008 through 2012 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 

title and the amendments made by this title. 

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TITLE VI—CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF 

INTELLIGENCE 

SEC. 601. AVAILABILITY TO PUBLIC OF CERTAIN INTELLIGENCE FUNDING INFORMATION. 

(a) AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED EACH FISCAL YEAR.—Not later 

than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year beginning with fiscal 

year 2007, the Director of National Intelligence shall disclose to the 

public the aggregate amount of funds appropriated by Congress for 

the National Intelligence Program for such fiscal year. 

(b) WAIVER.—Beginning with fiscal year 2009, the President 

may waive or postpone the disclosure required by subsection (a) for 

any fiscal year by, not later than 30 days after the end of such fiscal 

year, submitting to the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 

Representatives—

(1) a statement, in unclassified form, that the disclosure required in subsection (a) for that fiscal year would damage national security; and 

(2) a statement detailing the reasons for the waiver or postponement, which may be submitted in classified form. 

(c) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term ‘‘National Intelligence Program’’ has the meaning given the term in section 3(6) 

of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(6)). 

SEC. 602. PUBLIC INTEREST DECLASSIFICATION BOARD. 

The Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000 (50 U.S.C. 435 

note) is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘Director of Central Intelligence’’ each place 

that term appears and inserting ‘‘Director of National Intelligence’’; 

(2) in section 704(e)—

(A) by striking ‘‘If requested’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If requested’’; and 

(B) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(2) AUTHORITY OF BOARD.—Upon receiving a congressional 

request described in section 703(b)(5), the Board may conduct 

the review and make the recommendations described in that 

section, regardless of whether such a review is requested by the 

President. 

‘‘(3) REPORTING.—Any recommendations submitted to the 

President by the Board under section 703(b)(5), shall be submitted to the chairman and ranking minority member of the 

committee of Congress that made the request relating to such 

recommendations.’’; 

(3) in section 705(c), in the subsection heading, by striking 

‘‘DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE’’ and inserting ‘‘DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE’’; and 

(4) in section 710(b), by striking ‘‘8 years after the date’’

and all that follows and inserting ‘‘on December 31, 2012.’’. 

SEC. 603. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING A REPORT ON THE 9/11 

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT TO INTELLIGENCE REFORM AND CONGRESSIONAL INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT REFORM. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 

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(1) The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon 

the United States (referred to in this section as the ‘‘9/11 Commission’’) conducted a lengthy review of the facts and circumstances relating to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 

2001, including those relating to the intelligence community, 

law enforcement agencies, and the role of congressional oversight and resource allocation. 

(2) In its final report, the 9/11 Commission found that—

(A) congressional oversight of the intelligence activities 

of the United States is dysfunctional; 

(B) under the rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives in effect at the time the report was completed, 

the committees of Congress charged with oversight of the 

intelligence activities lacked the power, influence, and sustained capability to meet the daunting challenges faced by 

the intelligence community of the United States; 

(C) as long as such oversight is governed by such rules 

of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the people 

of the United States will not get the security they want and 

need; 

(D) a strong, stable, and capable congressional committee structure is needed to give the intelligence community of the United States appropriate oversight, support, 

and leadership; and 

(E) the reforms recommended by the 9/11 Commission 

in its final report will not succeed if congressional oversight 

of the intelligence community in the United States is not 

changed. 

(3) The 9/11 Commission recommended structural changes 

to Congress to improve the oversight of intelligence activities. 

(4) Congress has enacted some of the recommendations 

made by the 9/11 Commission and is considering implementing 

additional recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. 

(5) The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 445 in the 108th 

Congress to address some of the intelligence oversight recommendations of the 9/11 Commission by abolishing term limits for the members of the Select Committee on Intelligence, 

clarifying jurisdiction for intelligence-related nominations, and 

streamlining procedures for the referral of intelligence-related 

legislation, but other aspects of the 9/11 Commission recommendations regarding intelligence oversight have not been 

implemented. 

(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense of the Senate that 

the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate each, or 

jointly, should—

(1) undertake a review of the recommendations made in the 

final report of the 9/11 Commission with respect to intelligence 

reform and congressional intelligence oversight reform; 

(2) review and consider any other suggestions, options, or 

recommendations for improving intelligence oversight; and 

(3) not later than December 21, 2007, submit to the Senate 

a report that includes the recommendations of the committees, 

if any, for carrying out such reforms. 

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SEC. 604. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST DECLASSIFICATION BOARD. 

Section 21067 of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 

2007 (division B of Public Law 109–289; 120 Stat. 1311), as amended by Public Law 109–369 (120 Stat. 2642), Public Law 109–383 

(120 Stat. 2678), and Public Law 110–5, is amended by adding at 

the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(c) From the amount provided by this section, the National Archives and Records Administration may obligate monies necessary 

to carry out the activities of the Public Interest Declassification 

Board.’’. 

SEC. 605. AVAILABILITY OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE REPORT ON CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY REGARDING THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. 

(a) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Not later than 30 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Central Intelligence 

Agency shall prepare and make available to the public a version of 

the Executive Summary of the report entitled the ‘‘Office of Inspector 

General Report on Central Intelligence Agency Accountability Regarding Findings and Conclusions of the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks 

of September 11, 2001’’ issued in June 2005 that is declassified to 

the maximum extent possible, consistent with national security. 

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency shall submit to Congress a classified annex to the redacted Executive Summary made available under subsection (a) 

that explains the reason that any redacted material in the Executive 

Summary was withheld from the public. 

TITLE VII—STRENGTHENING EFFORTS TO PREVENT 

TERRORIST TRAVEL 

Subtitle A—Terrorist Travel 

SEC. 701. REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION TO INCREASE 

BORDER SECURITY, ENHANCE GLOBAL DOCUMENT SECURITY, AND EXCHANGE TERRORIST INFORMATION. 

(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 270 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the Secretary 

of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Director of National 

Intelligence and the heads of other appropriate Federal departments 

and agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on efforts of the Government of the United States to 

collaborate with international partners and allies of the United 

States to increase border security, enhance global document security, 

and exchange terrorism information. 

(b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) shall outline—

(1) all presidential directives, programs, and strategies for 

carrying out and increasing United States Government efforts 

described in subsection (a); 

(2) the goals and objectives of each of these efforts; 

(3) the progress made in each of these efforts; and 

(4) the projected timelines for each of these efforts to become 

fully functional and effective. 

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(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 

Homeland Security, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the 

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 

Representatives; and 

(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee 

on the Judiciary, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of 

the Senate. 

Subtitle B—Visa Waiver 

SEC. 711. MODERNIZATION OF THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘‘Secure 

Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act of 2007’’. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the United States should modernize and strengthen the 

security of the visa waiver program under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187) by simultaneously—

(A) enhancing program security requirements; and 

(B) extending visa-free travel privileges to nationals of 

foreign countries that are partners in the war on terrorism—

(i) that are actively cooperating with the United 

States to prevent terrorist travel, including sharing 

counterterrorism and law enforcement information; 

and 

(ii) whose nationals have demonstrated their compliance with the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act regarding the purpose and duration of 

their admission to the United States; and 

(2) the modernization described in paragraph (1) will— (A) enhance bilateral cooperation on critical 

counterterrorism and information sharing initiatives; 

(B) support and expand tourism and business opportunities to enhance long-term economic competitiveness; and 

(C) strengthen bilateral relationships. 

(c) DISCRETIONARY VISA WAIVER PROGRAM EXPANSION.—Section 217(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

1187(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: ‘‘(8) NONIMMIGRANT VISA REFUSAL RATE FLEXIBILITY.— ‘‘(A) CERTIFICATION.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—On the date on which an air exit 

system is in place that can verify the departure of not 

less than 97 percent of foreign nationals who exit 

through airports of the United States and the electronic 

travel authorization system required under subsection 

(h)(3) is fully operational, the Secretary of Homeland 

Security shall certify to Congress that such air exit system and electronic travel authorization system are in 

place. 

‘‘(ii) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary 

shall notify Congress in writing of the date on which 

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the air exit system under clause (i) fully satisfies the biometric requirements specified in subsection (i). ‘‘(iii) TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF WAIVER AUTHOR- ITY.—Notwithstanding any certification made under 

clause (i), if the Secretary has not notified Congress in 

accordance with clause (ii) by June 30, 2009, the Secretary’s waiver authority under subparagraph (B) shall 

be suspended beginning on July 1, 2009, until such 

time as the Secretary makes such notification. ‘‘(iv) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 

paragraph shall be construed as in any way abrogating the reporting requirements under subsection 

(i)(3). 

‘‘(B) WAIVER.—After certification by the Secretary 

under subparagraph (A), the Secretary, in consultation 

with the Secretary of State, may waive the application of 

paragraph (2)(A) for a country if—

‘‘(i) the country meets all security requirements of 

this section; 

‘‘(ii) the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that the totality of the country’s security risk 

mitigation measures provide assurance that the country’s participation in the program would not compromise the law enforcement, security interests, or enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States; 

‘‘(iii) there has been a sustained reduction in the 

rate of refusals for nonimmigrant visas for nationals of 

the country and conditions exist to continue such reduction; 

‘‘(iv) the country cooperated with the Government 

of the United States on counterterrorism initiatives, information sharing, and preventing terrorist travel before the date of its designation as a program country, 

and the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State determine that such cooperation will 

continue; and ‘‘(v)(I) the rate of refusals for nonimmigrant visitor 

visas for nationals of the country during the previous 

full fiscal year was not more than ten percent; or ‘‘(II) the visa overstay rate for the country for the 

previous full fiscal year does not exceed the maximum 

visa overstay rate, once such rate is established under 

subparagraph (C). 

‘‘(C) MAXIMUM VISA OVERSTAY RATE.—

‘‘(i) REQUIREMENT TO ESTABLISH.—After certification by the Secretary under subparagraph (A), the 

Secretary and the Secretary of State jointly shall use 

information from the air exit system referred to in such 

subparagraph to establish a maximum visa overstay 

rate for countries participating in the program pursuant to a waiver under subparagraph (B). The Secretary 

of Homeland Security shall certify to Congress that 

such rate would not compromise the law enforcement, 

security interests, or enforcement of the immigration 

laws of the United States. 

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‘‘(ii) VISA OVERSTAY RATE DEFINED.—In this paragraph the term ‘visa overstay rate’ means, with respect 

to a country, the ratio of— ‘‘(I) the total number of nationals of that country who were admitted to the United States on the 

basis of a nonimmigrant visa whose periods of authorized stays ended during a fiscal year but who 

remained unlawfully in the United States beyond 

such periods; to ‘‘(II) the total number of nationals of that 

country who were admitted to the United States on 

the basis of a nonimmigrant visa during that fiscal year. 

‘‘(iii) REPORT AND PUBLICATION.—The Secretary of 

Homeland Security shall on the same date submit to 

Congress and publish in the Federal Register information relating to the maximum visa overstay rate established under clause (i). Not later than 60 days after 

such date, the Secretary shall issue a final maximum 

visa overstay rate above which a country may not participate in the program. 

‘‘(9) DISCRETIONARY SECURITY-RELATED CONSIDERATIONS.— In determining whether to waive the application of paragraph 

(2)(A) for a country, pursuant to paragraph (8), the Secretary 

of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of 

State, shall take into consideration other factors affecting the 

security of the United States, including— ‘‘(A) airport security standards in the country; 

‘‘(B) whether the country assists in the operation of an 

effective air marshal program; ‘‘(C) the standards of passports and travel documents 

issued by the country; and ‘‘(D) other security-related factors, including the country’s cooperation with the United States’ initiatives toward 

combating terrorism and the country’s cooperation with the 

United States intelligence community in sharing information regarding terrorist threats.’’. 

(d) SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS TO THE VISA WAIVER PRO- GRAM.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187) is amended—

(A) in subsection (a), in the flush text following paragraph (9)—

(i) by striking ‘‘Operators of aircraft’’ and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘(10) ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION.—Operators of aircraft’’; and 

(ii) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ‘‘(11) ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION UNDER THE ELECTRONIC

TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM.—Beginning on the date on 

which the electronic travel authorization system developed 

under subsection (h)(3) is fully operational, each alien traveling 

under the program shall, before applying for admission to the 

United States, electronically provide to the system biographical 

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information and such other information as the Secretary of 

Homeland Security shall determine necessary to determine the 

eligibility of, and whether there exists a law enforcement or security risk in permitting, the alien to travel to the United 

States. Upon review of such biographical information, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall determine whether the alien 

is eligible to travel to the United States under the program.’’; 

(B) in subsection (c)— (i) in paragraph (2)— (I) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as 

follows: ‘‘(D) REPORTING LOST AND STOLEN PASSPORTS.—The 

government of the country enters into an agreement with 

the United States to report, or make available through 

Interpol or other means as designated by the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, to the United States Government information about the theft or loss of passports within a strict 

time limit and in a manner specified in the agreement.’’; 

and 

(II) by adding at the end the following new 

subparagraphs: 

‘‘(E) REPATRIATION OF ALIENS.—The government of the 

country accepts for repatriation any citizen, former citizen, 

or national of the country against whom a final executable 

order of removal is issued not later than three weeks after 

the issuance of the final order of removal. Nothing in this 

subparagraph creates any duty for the United States or any 

right for any alien with respect to removal or release. Nothing in this subparagraph gives rise to any cause of action 

or claim under this paragraph or any other law against 

any official of the United States or of any State to compel 

the release, removal, or consideration for release or removal 

of any alien. ‘‘(F) PASSENGER INFORMATION EXCHANGE.—The government of the country enters into an agreement with the 

United States to share information regarding whether citizens and nationals of that country traveling to the United 

States represent a threat to the security or welfare of the 

United States or its citizens.’’; 

(ii) in paragraph (5)—

(I) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ each place it 

appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’; and 

(II) in subparagraph (A)(i)—

(aa) in subclause (II), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

the end; 

(bb) in subclause (III)—

(AA) by striking ‘‘and the Committee on 

International Relations’’ and inserting ‘‘, the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Homeland Security,’’ and by striking 

‘‘and the Committee on Foreign Relations’’ and 

inserting ‘‘, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’’; and 

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(BB) by striking the period at the end and 

inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(cc) by adding at the end the following 

new subclause: 

‘‘(IV) shall submit to Congress a report regarding the implementation of the electronic travel authorization system under subsection (h)(3) and the 

participation of new countries in the program 

through a waiver under paragraph (8).’’; and 

(III) in subparagraph (B), by adding at the 

end the following new clause: 

‘‘(iv) PROGRAM SUSPENSION AUTHORITY.—The Director of National Intelligence shall immediately inform the Secretary of Homeland Security of any current and credible threat which poses an imminent danger to the United States or its citizens and originates 

from a country participating in the visa waiver program. Upon receiving such notification, the Secretary, 

in consultation with the Secretary of State—

‘‘(I) may suspend a country from the visa 

waiver program without prior notice; 

‘‘(II) shall notify any country suspended under 

subclause (I) and, to the extent practicable without 

disclosing sensitive intelligence sources and methods, provide justification for the suspension; and 

‘‘(III) shall restore the suspended country’s 

participation in the visa waiver program upon a 

determination that the threat no longer poses an 

imminent danger to the United States or its citizens.’’; and 

(iii) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 

‘‘(10) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Homeland 

Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall provide technical assistance to program countries to assist those 

countries in meeting the requirements under this section. The 

Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that the program 

office within the Department of Homeland Security is adequately staffed and has resources to be able to provide such 

technical assistance, in addition to its duties to effectively monitor compliance of the countries participating in the program 

with all the requirements of the program. ‘‘(11) INDEPENDENT REVIEW.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Prior to the admission of a new 

country into the program under this section, and in conjunction with the periodic evaluations required under subsection (c)(5)(A), the Director of National Intelligence shall 

conduct an independent intelligence assessment of a nominated country and member of the program. ‘‘(B) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—The Director shall 

provide to the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General the independent 

intelligence assessment required under subparagraph (A). ‘‘(C) CONTENTS.—The independent intelligence assessment conducted by the Director shall include—

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‘‘(i) a review of all current, credible terrorist 

threats of the subject country; ‘‘(ii) an evaluation of the subject country’s 

counterterrorism efforts; ‘‘(iii) an evaluation as to the extent of the country’s 

sharing of information beneficial to suppressing terrorist movements, financing, or actions; ‘‘(iv) an assessment of the risks associated with including the subject country in the program; and ‘‘(v) recommendations to mitigate the risks identified in clause (iv).’’; 

(C) in subsection (d)— (i) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’; and 

(ii) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘The Secretary of Homeland Security may not 

waive any eligibility requirement under this section unless the Secretary notifies, with respect to the House of 

Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security, 

the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations, 

and with respect to the Senate, the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the 

Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Foreign 

Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations not 

later than 30 days before the effective date of such 

waiver.’’; 

(D) in subsection (f)(5)— (i) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’; 

and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘of blank’’ and inserting ‘‘or loss of’’; 

(E) in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

‘‘(3) ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM.— ‘‘(A) SYSTEM.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 

consultation with the Secretary of State, shall develop and 

implement a fully automated electronic travel authorization 

system (referred to in this paragraph as the ‘System’) to collect such biographical and other information as the Secretary of Homeland Security determines necessary to determine, in advance of travel, the eligibility of, and whether 

there exists a law enforcement or security risk in permitting, the alien to travel to the United States. ‘‘(B) FEES.—The Secretary of Homeland Security may 

charge a fee for the use of the System, which shall be—

‘‘(i) set at a level that will ensure recovery of the 

full costs of providing and administering the System; 

and ‘‘(ii) available to pay the costs incurred to administer the System. 

‘‘(C) VALIDITY.— ‘‘(i) PERIOD.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, 

in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall prescribe regulations that provide for a period, not to exmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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ceed three years, during which a determination of eligibility to travel under the program will be valid. Notwithstanding any other provision under this section, 

the Secretary of Homeland Security may revoke any 

such determination at any time and for any reason. ‘‘(ii) LIMITATION.—A determination by the Secretary of Homeland Security that an alien is eligible to 

travel to the United States under the program is not a 

determination that the alien is admissible to the 

United States. ‘‘(iii) NOT A DETERMINATION OF VISA ELIGIBILITY.— A determination by the Secretary of Homeland Security 

that an alien who applied for authorization to travel to 

the United States through the System is not eligible to 

travel under the program is not a determination of eligibility for a visa to travel to the United States and 

shall not preclude the alien from applying for a visa. ‘‘(iv) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—Notwithstanding any 

other provision of law, no court shall have jurisdiction 

to review an eligibility determination under the System. 

‘‘(D) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days before publishing notice regarding the implementation of the System 

in the Federal Register, the Secretary of Homeland Security 

shall submit a report regarding the implementation of the 

system to—

‘‘(i) the Committee on Homeland Security of the 

House of Representatives; ‘‘(ii) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House 

of Representatives; ‘‘(iii) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

House of Representatives; ‘‘(iv) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; 

‘‘(v) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

of Representatives; 

‘‘(vi) the Committee on Homeland Security and 

Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 

‘‘(vii) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; 

‘‘(viii) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

Senate; 

‘‘(ix) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 

Senate; and 

‘‘(x) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.’’; and 

(F) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(i) EXIT SYSTEM.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date of 

the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish an exit system that records the departure 

on a flight leaving the United States of every alien participating 

in the visa waiver program established under this section. ‘‘(2) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.—The system established 

under paragraph (1) shall—

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‘‘(A) match biometric information of the alien against 

relevant watch lists and immigration information; and ‘‘(B) compare such biometric information against manifest information collected by air carriers on passengers departing the United States to confirm such aliens have departed the United States. 

‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 

enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes— ‘‘(A) the progress made in developing and deploying the 

exit system established under this subsection; and ‘‘(B) the procedures by which the Secretary shall improve the method of calculating the rates of nonimmigrants 

who overstay their authorized period of stay in the United 

States.’’. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 217(a)(11) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by paragraph (1)(A)(ii), 

shall take effect on the date that is 60 days after the date on 

which the Secretary of Homeland Security publishes notice in 

the Federal Register of the requirement under such paragraph. 

(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security such sums 

as may be necessary to carry out this section and the amendments 

made by this section. 

Subtitle C—Strengthening Terrorism Prevention Programs 

SEC. 721. STRENGTHENING THE CAPABILITIES OF THE HUMAN SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING CENTER. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7202 of the Intelligence Reform and 

Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1777) is amended— (1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘address’’ and inserting ‘‘integrate and disseminate intelligence and information related 

to’’; 

(2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 

(g) and (h), respectively; and 

(3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsections: 

‘‘(d) DIRECTOR.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 

nominate an official of the Government of the United States to serve 

as the Director of the Center, in accordance with the requirements 

of the memorandum of understanding entitled the ‘Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center (HSTC) Charter’. ‘‘(e) STAFFING OF THE CENTER.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 

cooperation with heads of other relevant agencies and departments, shall ensure that the Center is staffed with not fewer 

than 40 full-time equivalent positions, including, as appropriate, detailees from the following: 

‘‘(A) Agencies and offices within the Department of 

Homeland Security, including the following: ‘‘(i) The Office of Intelligence and Analysis. 

‘‘(ii) The Transportation Security Administration. 

‘‘(iii) United States Citizenship and Immigration 

Services. ‘‘(iv) United States Customs and Border Protection. 

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‘‘(v) The United States Coast Guard. 

‘‘(vi) United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

‘‘(B) Other departments, agencies, or entities, including 

the following: 

‘‘(i) The Central Intelligence Agency. 

‘‘(ii) The Department of Defense. 

‘‘(iii) The Department of the Treasury. 

‘‘(iv) The National Counterterrorism Center. 

‘‘(v) The National Security Agency. 

‘‘(vi) The Department of Justice. 

‘‘(vii) The Department of State. 

‘‘(viii) Any other relevant agency or department. 

‘‘(2) EXPERTISE OF DETAILEES.—The Secretary of Homeland 

Security, in cooperation with the head of each agency, department, or other entity referred to in paragraph (1), shall ensure 

that the detailees provided to the Center under such paragraph 

include an adequate number of personnel who are—

‘‘(A) intelligence analysts or special agents with demonstrated experience related to human smuggling, trafficking in persons, or terrorist travel; and 

‘‘(B) personnel with experience in the areas of—

‘‘(i) consular affairs; 

‘‘(ii) counterterrorism; 

‘‘(iii) criminal law enforcement; 

‘‘(iv) intelligence analysis; 

‘‘(v) prevention and detection of document fraud; 

‘‘(vi) border inspection; 

‘‘(vii) immigration enforcement; or 

‘‘(viii) human trafficking and combating severe 

forms of trafficking in persons. 

‘‘(3) ENHANCED PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.—

‘‘(A) INCENTIVES FOR SERVICE IN CERTAIN POSITIONS.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, and the heads of other relevant agencies, shall 

prescribe regulations or promulgate personnel policies 

to provide incentives for service on the staff of the Center, particularly for serving terms of at least two years 

duration. 

‘‘(ii) FORMS OF INCENTIVES.—Incentives under 

clause (i) may include financial incentives, bonuses, 

and such other awards and incentives as the Secretary 

and the heads of other relevant agencies, consider appropriate. 

‘‘(B) ENHANCED PROMOTION FOR SERVICE AT THE CENTER.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the heads of other relevant agencies, shall ensure that personnel who are assigned or detailed to service at the Center shall be considered for promotion at rates equivalent to or better than 

similarly situated personnel of such agencies who are not 

so assigned or detailed, except that this subparagraph shall 

not apply in the case of personnel who are subject to the 

provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1980. 

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‘‘(f) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING.—The Secretary of 

Homeland Security shall provide to the Center the administrative 

support and funding required for its maintenance, including funding for personnel, leasing of office space, supplies, equipment, technology, training, and travel expenses necessary for the Center to 

carry out its functions.’’. (b) REPORT.—Subsection (g) of section 7202 of the Intelligence 

Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, as redesignated by 

subsection (a)(2), is amended to read as follows: ‘‘(g) REPORT.— ‘‘(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after December 17, 2004, the President shall transmit to Congress a report 

regarding the implementation of this section, including a description of the staffing and resource needs of the Center. ‘‘(2) FOLLOW-UP REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 

date of the enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of 

the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the President shall transmit 

to Congress a report regarding the operation of the Center and 

the activities carried out by the Center, including a description 

of—

‘‘(A) the roles and responsibilities of each agency or department that is participating in the Center; 

‘‘(B) the mechanisms used to share information among 

each such agency or department; 

‘‘(C) the personnel provided to the Center by each such 

agency or department; 

‘‘(D) the type of information and reports being disseminated by the Center; 

‘‘(E) any efforts by the Center to create a centralized 

Federal Government database to store information related 

to unlawful travel of foreign nationals, including a description of any such database and of the manner in which information utilized in such a database would be collected, 

stored, and shared; ‘‘(F) how each agency and department shall utilize its 

resources to ensure that the Center uses intelligence to focus 

and drive its efforts; ‘‘(G) efforts to consolidate networked systems for the 

Center; ‘‘(H) the mechanisms for the sharing of homeland security information from the Center to the Office of Intelligence 

and Analysis, including how such sharing shall be consistent with section 1016(b); ‘‘(I) the ability of participating personnel in the Center 

to freely access necessary databases and share information 

regarding issues related to human smuggling, trafficking 

in persons, and terrorist travel; ‘‘(J) how the assignment of personnel to the Center is 

incorporated into the civil service career path of such personnel; and 

‘‘(K) cooperation and coordination efforts, including 

any memorandums of understanding, among participating 

agencies and departments regarding issues related to 

human smuggling, trafficking in persons, and terrorist 

travel.’’. 

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(c) COORDINATION WITH THE OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND

ANALYSIS.—Section 7202 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 

Prevention Act of 2004 is amended by adding after subsection (h), 

as redesignated by subsection (a)(2), the following new subsection: 

‘‘(i) COORDINATION WITH THE OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND

ANALYSIS.—The Office of Intelligence and Analysis, in coordination 

with the Center, shall submit to relevant State, local, and tribal law 

enforcement agencies periodic reports regarding terrorist threats related to human smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorist travel.’’. 

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security 

$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 to carry out section 7202 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, as amended by this section. 

SEC. 722. ENHANCEMENTS TO THE TERRORIST TRAVEL PROGRAM. 

Section 7215 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 123) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 7215. TERRORIST TRAVEL PROGRAM. 

‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO ESTABLISH.—Not later than 90 days 

after the date of the enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of the National 

Counterterrorism Center and consistent with the strategy developed 

under section 7201, shall establish a program to oversee the implementation of the Secretary’s responsibilities with respect to terrorist 

travel. 

‘‘(b) HEAD OF THE PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall designate an official of the Department of Homeland Security to be responsible for carrying out the program. Such official 

shall be—

‘‘(1) the Assistant Secretary for Policy of the Department of 

Homeland Security; or 

‘‘(2) an official appointed by the Secretary who reports directly to the Secretary. 

‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The official designated under subsection (b) shall 

assist the Secretary of Homeland Security in improving the Department’s ability to prevent terrorists from entering the United States 

or remaining in the United States undetected by—

‘‘(1) developing relevant strategies and policies; 

‘‘(2) reviewing the effectiveness of existing programs and 

recommending improvements, if necessary; 

‘‘(3) making recommendations on budget requests and on 

the allocation of funding and personnel; 

‘‘(4) ensuring effective coordination, with respect to policies, 

programs, planning, operations, and dissemination of intelligence and information related to terrorist travel—

‘‘(A) among appropriate subdivisions of the Department 

of Homeland Security, as determined by the Secretary and 

including—

‘‘(i) United States Customs and Border Protection; 

‘‘(ii) United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; 

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‘‘(iii) United States Citizenship and Immigration 

Services; 

‘‘(iv) the Transportation Security Administration; 

and 

‘‘(v) the United States Coast Guard; and 

‘‘(B) between the Department of Homeland Security 

and other appropriate Federal agencies; and 

‘‘(5) serving as the Secretary’s primary point of contact with 

the National Counterterrorism Center for implementing initiatives related to terrorist travel and ensuring that the recommendations of the Center related to terrorist travel are carried out by the Department. 

‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the 

House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section.’’. 

SEC. 723. ENHANCED DRIVER’S LICENSE. 

Section 7209(b)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 

Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1185 note) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (B)—

(A) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(B) in clause (vii), by striking the period at the end and 

inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following new clause: 

‘‘(viii) the signing of a memorandum of agreement 

to initiate a pilot program with not less than one State 

to determine if an enhanced driver’s license, which is 

machine-readable and tamper proof, not valid for certification of citizenship for any purpose other than admission into the United States from Canada or Mexico, 

and issued by such State to an individual, may permit 

the individual to use the driver’s license to meet the 

documentation requirements under subparagraph (A) 

for entry into the United States from Canada or Mexico 

at land and sea ports of entry.’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 

‘‘(C) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the initiation of the pilot program described in subparagraph 

(B)(viii), the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report which includes—

‘‘(i) an analysis of the impact of the pilot program 

on national security; 

‘‘(ii) recommendations on how to expand the pilot 

program to other States; 

‘‘(iii) any appropriate statutory changes to facilitate the expansion of the pilot program to additional 

States and to citizens of Canada; 

‘‘(iv) a plan to screen individuals participating in 

the pilot program against United States terrorist watch 

lists; and 

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‘‘(v) a recommendation for the type of machinereadable technology that should be used in enhanced 

driver’s licenses, based on individual privacy considerations and the costs and feasibility of incorporating 

any new technology into existing driver’s licenses.’’. 

SEC. 724. WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE. 

Before the Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a final 

rule in the Federal Register implementing section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 

108–458; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note)—

(1) the Secretary of Homeland Security shall complete a 

cost-benefit analysis of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, authorized under such section 7209; and 

(2) the Secretary of State shall develop proposals for reducing the execution fee charged for the passport card, proposed at 

71 Fed. Reg. 60928–32 (October 17, 2006), including the use of 

mobile application teams, during implementation of the land 

and sea phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, in 

order to encourage United States citizens to apply for the passport card. 

SEC. 725. MODEL PORTS-OF-ENTRY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall—

(1) establish a model ports-of-entry program for the purpose 

of providing a more efficient and welcoming international arrival process in order to facilitate and promote business and 

tourist travel to the United States, while also improving security; and 

(2) implement the program initially at the 20 United States 

international airports that have the highest number of foreign 

visitors arriving annually as of the date of the enactment of this 

Act. 

(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The program shall include—

(1) enhanced queue management in the Federal Inspection 

Services area leading up to primary inspection; 

(2) assistance for foreign travelers once they have been admitted to the United States, in consultation, as appropriate, 

with relevant governmental and nongovernmental entities; and 

(3) instructional videos, in English and such other languages as the Secretary determines appropriate, in the Federal 

Inspection Services area that explain the United States inspection process and feature national, regional, or local welcome 

videos. 

(c) ADDITIONAL CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICERS

FOR HIGH-VOLUME PORTS.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, not later than the end of fiscal year 2008 the Secretary of 

Homeland Security shall employ not fewer than an additional 200 

Customs and Border Protection officers over the number of such positions for which funds were appropriated for the proceeding fiscal 

year to address staff shortages at the 20 United States international 

airports that have the highest number of foreign visitors arriving 

annually as of the date of the enactment of this Act. 

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Subtitle D—Miscellaneous Provisions 

SEC. 731. REPORT REGARDING BORDER SECURITY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to Congress a report regarding ongoing initiatives of the Department of Homeland Security to improve security along the northern 

border of the United States. 

(b) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under subsection (a) 

shall—

(1) address the vulnerabilities along the northern border of 

the United States; and 

(2) provide recommendations to address such 

vulnerabilities, including required resources needed to protect 

the northern border of the United States. 

(c) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.—Not later than 270 

days after the date of the submission of the report under subsection 

(a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 

Congress a report that—

(1) reviews and comments on the report under subsection 

(a); and 

(2) provides recommendations regarding any additional actions necessary to protect the northern border of the United 

States. 

TITLE VIII—PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES 

SEC. 801. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES RELATING TO PRIVACY 

AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OVERSIGHT BOARD. 

(a) MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES.—Section 1061 of the National Security Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 (5 U.S.C. 601 note) 

is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 1061. PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OVERSIGHT BOARD. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established as an independent agency within the executive branch a Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (referred to in this section as the ‘Board’). 

‘‘(b) FINDINGS.—Consistent with the report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, Congress 

makes the following findings: 

‘‘(1) In conducting the war on terrorism, the Government 

may need additional powers and may need to enhance the use 

of its existing powers. 

‘‘(2) This shift of power and authority to the Government 

calls for an enhanced system of checks and balances to protect 

the precious liberties that are vital to our way of life and to ensure that the Government uses its powers for the purposes for 

which the powers were given. 

‘‘(3) The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon 

the United States correctly concluded that ‘The choice between 

security and liberty is a false choice, as nothing is more likely 

to endanger America’s liberties than the success of a terrorist 

attack at home. Our history has shown us that insecurity 

threatens liberty. Yet, if our liberties are curtailed, we lose the 

values that we are struggling to defend.’. 

‘‘(c) PURPOSE.—The Board shall—

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‘‘(1) analyze and review actions the executive branch takes 

to protect the Nation from terrorism, ensuring that the need for 

such actions is balanced with the need to protect privacy and 

civil liberties; and ‘‘(2) ensure that liberty concerns are appropriately considered in the development and implementation of laws, regulations, and policies related to efforts to protect the Nation 

against terrorism. 

‘‘(d) FUNCTIONS.— ‘‘(1) ADVICE AND COUNSEL ON POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND

IMPLEMENTATION.—The Board shall— ‘‘(A) review proposed legislation, regulations, and policies related to efforts to protect the Nation from terrorism, 

including the development and adoption of information 

sharing guidelines under subsections (d) and (f) of section 

1016; ‘‘(B) review the implementation of new and existing legislation, regulations, and policies related to efforts to protect the Nation from terrorism, including the implementation of information sharing guidelines under subsections 

(d) and (f) of section 1016; ‘‘(C) advise the President and the departments, agencies, and elements of the executive branch to ensure that 

privacy and civil liberties are appropriately considered in 

the development and implementation of such legislation, 

regulations, policies, and guidelines; and ‘‘(D) in providing advice on proposals to retain or enhance a particular governmental power, consider whether 

the department, agency, or element of the executive branch 

has established— ‘‘(i) that the need for the power is balanced with 

the need to protect privacy and civil liberties; ‘‘(ii) that there is adequate supervision of the use 

by the executive branch of the power to ensure protection of privacy and civil liberties; and 

‘‘(iii) that there are adequate guidelines and oversight to properly confine its use. 

‘‘(2) OVERSIGHT.—The Board shall continually review— ‘‘(A) the regulations, policies, and procedures, and the 

implementation of the regulations, policies, and procedures, 

of the departments, agencies, and elements of the executive 

branch relating to efforts to protect the Nation from terrorism to ensure that privacy and civil liberties are protected; ‘‘(B) the information sharing practices of the departments, agencies, and elements of the executive branch relating to efforts to protect the Nation from terrorism to determine whether they appropriately protect privacy and civil 

liberties and adhere to the information sharing guidelines 

issued or developed under subsections (d) and (f) of section 

1016 and to other governing laws, regulations, and policies 

regarding privacy and civil liberties; and 

‘‘(C) other actions by the executive branch relating to efforts to protect the Nation from terrorism to determine 

whether such actions—

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‘‘(i) appropriately protect privacy and civil liberties; and 

‘‘(ii) are consistent with governing laws, regulations, and policies regarding privacy and civil liberties. 

‘‘(3) RELATIONSHIP WITH PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OFFICERS.—The Board shall—

‘‘(A) receive and review reports and other information 

from privacy officers and civil liberties officers under section 1062; 

‘‘(B) when appropriate, make recommendations to such 

privacy officers and civil liberties officers regarding their 

activities; and 

‘‘(C) when appropriate, coordinate the activities of such 

privacy officers and civil liberties officers on relevant interagency matters. 

‘‘(4) TESTIMONY.—The members of the Board shall appear 

and testify before Congress upon request. 

‘‘(e) REPORTS.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall—

‘‘(A) receive and review reports from privacy officers 

and civil liberties officers under section 1062; and 

‘‘(B) periodically submit, not less than semiannually, 

reports—

‘‘(i)(I) to the appropriate committees of Congress, 

including the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 

Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee 

on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, 

the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of 

the House of Representatives, the Select Committee on 

Intelligence of the Senate, and the Permanent Select 

Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and 

‘‘(II) to the President; and 

‘‘(ii) which shall be in unclassified form to the 

greatest extent possible, with a classified annex where 

necessary. 

‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Not less than 2 reports submitted each 

year under paragraph (1)(B) shall include—

‘‘(A) a description of the major activities of the Board 

during the preceding period; 

‘‘(B) information on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Board resulting from its advice and 

oversight functions under subsection (d); 

‘‘(C) the minority views on any findings, conclusions, 

and recommendations of the Board resulting from its advice and oversight functions under subsection (d); 

‘‘(D) each proposal reviewed by the Board under subsection (d)(1) that—

‘‘(i) the Board advised against implementation; 

and 

‘‘(ii) notwithstanding such advice, actions were 

taken to implement; and 

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‘‘(E) for the preceding period, any requests submitted 

under subsection (g)(1)(D) for the issuance of subpoenas 

that were modified or denied by the Attorney General. 

‘‘(f) INFORMING THE PUBLIC.—The Board shall—

‘‘(1) make its reports, including its reports to Congress, 

available to the public to the greatest extent that is consistent 

with the protection of classified information and applicable law; 

and 

‘‘(2) hold public hearings and otherwise inform the public 

of its activities, as appropriate and in a manner consistent with 

the protection of classified information and applicable law. 

‘‘(g) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—

‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION.—If determined by the Board to be 

necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this section, the 

Board is authorized to—

‘‘(A) have access from any department, agency, or element of the executive branch, or any Federal officer or employee of any such department, agency, or element, to all 

relevant records, reports, audits, reviews, documents, papers, recommendations, or other relevant material, including classified information consistent with applicable law; 

‘‘(B) interview, take statements from, or take public testimony from personnel of any department, agency, or element of the executive branch, or any Federal officer or employee of any such department, agency, or element; 

‘‘(C) request information or assistance from any State, 

tribal, or local government; and 

‘‘(D) at the direction of a majority of the members of the 

Board, submit a written request to the Attorney General of 

the United States that the Attorney General require, by subpoena, persons (other than departments, agencies, and elements of the executive branch) to produce any relevant information, documents, reports, answers, records, accounts, 

papers, and other documentary or testimonial evidence. 

‘‘(2) REVIEW OF SUBPOENA REQUEST.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 

date of receipt of a request by the Board under paragraph 

(1)(D), the Attorney General shall—

‘‘(i) issue the subpoena as requested; or 

‘‘(ii) provide the Board, in writing, with an explanation of the grounds on which the subpoena request 

has been modified or denied. 

‘‘(B) NOTIFICATION.—If a subpoena request is modified 

or denied under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Attorney General 

shall, not later than 30 days after the date of that modification or denial, notify the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 

Representatives. 

‘‘(3) ENFORCEMENT OF SUBPOENA.—In the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued pursuant to paragraph (1)(D), the United States district court for the judicial 

district in which the subpoenaed person resides, is served, or 

may be found may issue an order requiring such person to 

produce the evidence required by such subpoena. 

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‘‘(4) AGENCY COOPERATION.—Whenever information or assistance requested under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph 

(1) is, in the judgment of the Board, unreasonably refused or 

not provided, the Board shall report the circumstances to the 

head of the department, agency, or element concerned without 

delay. The head of the department, agency, or element concerned shall ensure that the Board is given access to the information, assistance, material, or personnel the Board determines 

to be necessary to carry out its functions. 

‘‘(h) MEMBERSHIP.— ‘‘(1) MEMBERS.—The Board shall be composed of a full-time 

chairman and 4 additional members, who shall be appointed 

by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. ‘‘(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Board shall be selected solely on the basis of their professional qualifications, 

achievements, public stature, expertise in civil liberties and privacy, and relevant experience, and without regard to political 

affiliation, but in no event shall more than 3 members of the 

Board be members of the same political party. The President 

shall, before appointing an individual who is not a member of 

the same political party as the President, consult with the leadership of that party, if any, in the Senate and House of Representatives. 

‘‘(3) INCOMPATIBLE OFFICE.—An individual appointed to the 

Board may not, while serving on the Board, be an elected official, officer, or employee of the Federal Government, other than 

in the capacity as a member of the Board. ‘‘(4) TERM.—Each member of the Board shall serve a term 

of 6 years, except that—

‘‘(A) a member appointed to a term of office after the 

commencement of such term may serve under such appointment only for the remainder of such term; and ‘‘(B) upon the expiration of the term of office of a member, the member shall continue to serve until the member’s 

successor has been appointed and qualified, except that no 

member may serve under this subparagraph— ‘‘(i) for more than 60 days when Congress is in session unless a nomination to fill the vacancy shall have 

been submitted to the Senate; or ‘‘(ii) after the adjournment sine die of the session 

of the Senate in which such nomination is submitted. ‘‘(5) QUORUM AND MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet upon 

the call of the chairman or a majority of its members. Three 

members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. 

‘‘(i) COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.—

‘‘(1) COMPENSATION.—

‘‘(A) CHAIRMAN.—The chairman of the Board shall be 

compensated at the rate of pay payable for a position at 

level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of 

title 5, United States Code. 

‘‘(B) MEMBERS.—Each member of the Board shall be 

compensated at a rate of pay payable for a position at level 

IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 

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ber is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of 

the Board. 

‘‘(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Board shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 

at rates authorized for persons employed intermittently by the 

Government under section 5703(b) of title 5, United States 

Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Board. 

‘‘(j) STAFF.— ‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION.—The chairman of 

the Board, in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Board, 

shall appoint and fix the compensation of a full-time executive 

director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable 

the Board to carry out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in 

the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of 

chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that 

no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of the Executive 

Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. ‘‘(2) DETAILEES.—Any Federal employee may be detailed to 

the Board without reimbursement from the Board, and such 

detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of the 

detailee’s regular employment without interruption. ‘‘(3) CONSULTANT SERVICES.—The Board may procure the 

temporary or intermittent services of experts and consultants in 

accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at 

rates that do not exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying 

a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 

5315 of such title. 

‘‘(k) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The appropriate departments, agencies, 

and elements of the executive branch shall cooperate with the 

Board to expeditiously provide the Board members and staff 

with appropriate security clearances to the extent possible under 

existing procedures and requirements. ‘‘(2) RULES AND PROCEDURES.—After consultation with the 

Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and the Director of 

National Intelligence, the Board shall adopt rules and procedures of the Board for physical, communications, computer, 

document, personnel, and other security relating to carrying out 

the functions of the Board. 

‘‘(l) TREATMENT AS AGENCY, NOT AS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—

The Board—

‘‘(1) is an agency (as defined in section 551(1) of title 5, 

United States Code); and 

‘‘(2) is not an advisory committee (as defined in section 3(2) 

of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)). 

‘‘(m) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section amounts as follows: ‘‘(1) For fiscal year 2008, $5,000,000. 

‘‘(2) For fiscal year 2009, $6,650,000. 

‘‘(3) For fiscal year 2010, $8,300,000. 

‘‘(4) For fiscal year 2011, $10,000,000. 

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‘‘(5) For fiscal year 2012 and each subsequent fiscal year, 

such sums as may be necessary.’’. (b) SECURITY RULES AND PROCEDURES.—The Privacy and Civil 

Liberties Oversight Board shall promptly adopt the security rules 

and procedures required under section 1061(k)(2) of the National 

Security Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 (as added by subsection (a) 

of this section). 

(c) TRANSITION PROVISIONS.— (1) TREATMENT OF INCUMBENT MEMBERS OF THE PRIVACY

AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OVERSIGHT BOARD.— (A) CONTINUATION OF SERVICE.—Any individual who is 

a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight 

Board on the date of enactment of this Act may continue to 

serve on the Board until 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 

(B) TERMINATION OF TERMS.—The term of any individual who is a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties 

Oversight Board on the date of enactment of this Act shall 

terminate 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 

(2) APPOINTMENTS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The President and the Senate shall 

take such actions as necessary for the President, by and 

with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint members to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board as 

constituted under the amendments made by subsection (a) 

in a timely manner to provide for the continuing operation 

of the Board and orderly implementation of this section. 

(B) DESIGNATIONS.—In making the appointments described under subparagraph (A) of the first members of the 

Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board as constituted 

under the amendments made by subsection (a), the President shall provide for the members to serve terms of 2, 3, 

4, 5, and 6 years beginning on the effective date described 

under subsection (d)(1), with the term of each such member 

to be designated by the President. 

(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by subsection (a) 

and subsection (b) shall take effect 180 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act. 

(2) TRANSITION PROVISIONS.—Subsection (c) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 802. DEPARTMENT PRIVACY OFFICER. 

Section 222 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 

142) is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) APPOINTMENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(b) AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The senior official appointed under subsection (a) may—

‘‘(A) have access to all records, reports, audits, reviews, 

documents, papers, recommendations, and other materials 

available to the Department that relate to programs and 

operations with respect to the responsibilities of the senior 

official under this section; 

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‘‘(B) make such investigations and reports relating to 

the administration of the programs and operations of the 

Department as are, in the senior official’s judgment, necessary or desirable; ‘‘(C) subject to the approval of the Secretary, require by 

subpoena the production, by any person other than a Federal agency, of all information, documents, reports, answers, records, accounts, papers, and other data and documentary evidence necessary to performance of the responsibilities of the senior official under this section; and ‘‘(D) administer to or take from any person an oath, affirmation, or affidavit, whenever necessary to performance 

of the responsibilities of the senior official under this section. 

‘‘(2) ENFORCEMENT OF SUBPOENAS.—Any subpoena issued 

under paragraph (1)(C) shall, in the case of contumacy or refusal to obey, be enforceable by order of any appropriate United 

States district court. 

‘‘(3) EFFECT OF OATHS.—Any oath, affirmation, or affidavit 

administered or taken under paragraph (1)(D) by or before an 

employee of the Privacy Office designated for that purpose by 

the senior official appointed under subsection (a) shall have the 

same force and effect as if administered or taken by or before 

an officer having a seal of office. 

‘‘(c) SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The senior official appointed under subsection (a) shall— ‘‘(A) report to, and be under the general supervision of, 

the Secretary; and ‘‘(B) coordinate activities with the Inspector General of 

the Department in order to avoid duplication of effort. 

‘‘(2) COORDINATION WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 

(B), the senior official appointed under subsection (a) may 

investigate any matter relating to possible violations or 

abuse concerning the administration of any program or operation of the Department relevant to the purposes under 

this section. ‘‘(B) COORDINATION.— ‘‘(i) REFERRAL.—Before initiating any investigation 

described under subparagraph (A), the senior official 

shall refer the matter and all related complaints, allegations, and information to the Inspector General of 

the Department. 

‘‘(ii) DETERMINATIONS AND NOTIFICATIONS BY THE

INSPECTOR GENERAL.—

‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 

the receipt of a matter referred under clause (i), the 

Inspector General shall— ‘‘(aa) make a determination regarding 

whether the Inspector General intends to initiate an audit or investigation of the matter referred under clause (i); and ‘‘(bb) notify the senior official of that determination. 

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‘‘(II) INVESTIGATION NOT INITIATED.—If the Inspector General notifies the senior official under 

subclause (I)(bb) that the Inspector General intended to initiate an audit or investigation, but 

does not initiate that audit or investigation within 

90 days after providing that notification, the Inspector General shall further notify the senior official that an audit or investigation was not initiated. The further notification under this subclause 

shall be made not later than 3 days after the end 

of that 90-day period. 

‘‘(iii) INVESTIGATION BY SENIOR OFFICIAL.—The 

senior official may investigate a matter referred under 

clause (i) if—

‘‘(I) the Inspector General notifies the senior official under clause (ii)(I)(bb) that the Inspector 

General does not intend to initiate an audit or investigation relating to that matter; or 

‘‘(II) the Inspector General provides a further 

notification under clause (ii)(II) relating to that 

matter. 

‘‘(iv) PRIVACY TRAINING.—Any employee of the Office of Inspector General who audits or investigates any 

matter referred under clause (i) shall be required to receive adequate training on privacy laws, rules, and regulations, to be provided by an entity approved by the 

Inspector General in consultation with the senior official appointed under subsection (a). 

‘‘(d) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS ON REMOVAL.—If the Secretary removes the senior official appointed under subsection (a) or 

transfers that senior official to another position or location within 

the Department, the Secretary shall—

‘‘(1) promptly submit a written notification of the removal 

or transfer to Houses of Congress; and 

‘‘(2) include in any such notification the reasons for the removal or transfer. 

‘‘(e) REPORTS BY SENIOR OFFICIAL TO CONGRESS.—The senior 

official appointed under subsection (a) shall—

‘‘(1) submit reports directly to the Congress regarding performance of the responsibilities of the senior official under this 

section, without any prior comment or amendment by the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, or any other officer or employee of the 

Department or the Office of Management and Budget; and 

‘‘(2) inform the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives not later than—

‘‘(A) 30 days after the Secretary disapproves the senior 

official’s request for a subpoena under subsection (b)(1)(C) 

or the Secretary substantively modifies the requested subpoena; or 

‘‘(B) 45 days after the senior official’s request for a subpoena under subsection (b)(1)(C), if that subpoena has not 

either been approved or disapproved by the Secretary.’’. 

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SEC. 803. PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OFFICERS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1062 of the National Security Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 (title I of Public Law 108–458; 118 Stat. 

3688) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 1062. PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OFFICERS. 

‘‘(a) DESIGNATION AND FUNCTIONS.—The Attorney General, the 

Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the 

Treasury, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, 

the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and the head of any 

other department, agency, or element of the executive branch designated by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board under 

section 1061 to be appropriate for coverage under this section shall 

designate not less than 1 senior officer to serve as the principal advisor to—

‘‘(1) assist the head of such department, agency, or element 

and other officials of such department, agency, or element in 

appropriately considering privacy and civil liberties concerns 

when such officials are proposing, developing, or implementing 

laws, regulations, policies, procedures, or guidelines related to 

efforts to protect the Nation against terrorism; 

‘‘(2) periodically investigate and review department, agency, 

or element actions, policies, procedures, guidelines, and related 

laws and their implementation to ensure that such department, 

agency, or element is adequately considering privacy and civil 

liberties in its actions; 

‘‘(3) ensure that such department, agency, or element has 

adequate procedures to receive, investigate, respond to, and redress complaints from individuals who allege such department, 

agency, or element has violated their privacy or civil liberties; 

and 

‘‘(4) in providing advice on proposals to retain or enhance 

a particular governmental power the officer shall consider 

whether such department, agency, or element has established—

‘‘(A) that the need for the power is balanced with the 

need to protect privacy and civil liberties; 

‘‘(B) that there is adequate supervision of the use by 

such department, agency, or element of the power to ensure 

protection of privacy and civil liberties; and 

‘‘(C) that there are adequate guidelines and oversight to 

properly confine its use. 

‘‘(b) EXCEPTION TO DESIGNATION AUTHORITY.—

‘‘(1) PRIVACY OFFICERS.—In any department, agency, or element referred to in subsection (a) or designated by the Privacy 

and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which has a statutorily 

created privacy officer, such officer shall perform the functions 

specified in subsection (a) with respect to privacy. 

‘‘(2) CIVIL LIBERTIES OFFICERS.—In any department, agency, or element referred to in subsection (a) or designated by the 

Board, which has a statutorily created civil liberties officer, 

such officer shall perform the functions specified in subsection 

(a) with respect to civil liberties. 

‘‘(c) SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION.—Each privacy officer or 

civil liberties officer described in subsection (a) or (b) shall—

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‘‘(1) report directly to the head of the department, agency, 

or element concerned; and 

‘‘(2) coordinate their activities with the Inspector General of 

such department, agency, or element to avoid duplication of effort. 

‘‘(d) AGENCY COOPERATION.—The head of each department, 

agency, or element shall ensure that each privacy officer and civil 

liberties officer—

‘‘(1) has the information, material, and resources necessary 

to fulfill the functions of such officer; 

‘‘(2) is advised of proposed policy changes; 

‘‘(3) is consulted by decision makers; and 

‘‘(4) is given access to material and personnel the officer determines to be necessary to carry out the functions of such officer. 

‘‘(e) REPRISAL FOR MAKING COMPLAINT.—No action constituting 

a reprisal, or threat of reprisal, for making a complaint or for disclosing information to a privacy officer or civil liberties officer described in subsection (a) or (b), or to the Privacy and Civil Liberties 

Oversight Board, that indicates a possible violation of privacy protections or civil liberties in the administration of the programs and 

operations of the Federal Government relating to efforts to protect 

the Nation from terrorism shall be taken by any Federal employee 

in a position to take such action, unless the complaint was made or 

the information was disclosed with the knowledge that it was false 

or with willful disregard for its truth or falsity. 

‘‘(f) PERIODIC REPORTS.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The privacy officers and civil liberties officers of each department, agency, or element referred to or described in subsection (a) or (b) shall periodically, but not less 

than quarterly, submit a report on the activities of such officers—

‘‘(A)(i) to the appropriate committees of Congress, including the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the 

Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight 

and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, 

the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, and the 

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 

Representatives; 

‘‘(ii) to the head of such department, agency, or element; and 

‘‘(iii) to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight 

Board; and 

‘‘(B) which shall be in unclassified form to the greatest 

extent possible, with a classified annex where necessary. 

‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under paragraph 

(1) shall include information on the discharge of each of the 

functions of the officer concerned, including—

‘‘(A) information on the number and types of reviews 

undertaken; 

‘‘(B) the type of advice provided and the response given 

to such advice; 

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‘‘(C) the number and nature of the complaints received 

by the department, agency, or element concerned for alleged 

violations; and 

‘‘(D) a summary of the disposition of such complaints, 

the reviews and inquiries conducted, and the impact of the 

activities of such officer. 

‘‘(g) INFORMING THE PUBLIC.—Each privacy officer and civil liberties officer shall—

‘‘(1) make the reports of such officer, including reports to 

Congress, available to the public to the greatest extent that is 

consistent with the protection of classified information and applicable law; and 

‘‘(2) otherwise inform the public of the activities of such officer, as appropriate and in a manner consistent with the protection of classified information and applicable law. 

‘‘(h) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise supplant any other authorities or responsibilities provided by law to privacy officers or civil liberties officers.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents for the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 

108–458) is amended by striking the item relating to section 1062 

and inserting the following new item: 

‘‘Sec. 1062. Privacy and civil liberties officers.’’. 

SEC. 804. FEDERAL AGENCY DATA MINING REPORTING ACT OF 2007. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘‘Federal 

Agency Data Mining Reporting Act of 2007’’. 

(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) DATA MINING.—The term ‘‘data mining’’ means a program involving pattern-based queries, searches, or other analyses of 1 or more electronic databases, where—

(A) a department or agency of the Federal Government, 

or a non-Federal entity acting on behalf of the Federal Government, is conducting the queries, searches, or other analyses to discover or locate a predictive pattern or anomaly 

indicative of terrorist or criminal activity on the part of any 

individual or individuals; 

(B) the queries, searches, or other analyses are not subject-based and do not use personal identifiers of a specific 

individual, or inputs associated with a specific individual 

or group of individuals, to retrieve information from the 

database or databases; and 

(C) the purpose of the queries, searches, or other analyses is not solely—

(i) the detection of fraud, waste, or abuse in a Government agency or program; or 

(ii) the security of a Government computer system. 

(2) DATABASE.—The term ‘‘database’’ does not include telephone directories, news reporting, information publicly available to any member of the public without payment of a fee, or 

databases of judicial and administrative opinions or other legal 

research sources. 

(c) REPORTS ON DATA MINING ACTIVITIES BY FEDERAL AGEN- CIES.—

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(1) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT.—The head of each department or agency of the Federal Government that is engaged in 

any activity to use or develop data mining shall submit a report 

to Congress on all such activities of the department or agency 

under the jurisdiction of that official. The report shall be produced in coordination with the privacy officer of that department or agency, if applicable, and shall be made available to 

the public, except for an annex described in subparagraph (C). 

(2) CONTENT OF REPORT.—Each report submitted under 

subparagraph (A) shall include, for each activity to use or develop data mining, the following information: 

(A) A thorough description of the data mining activity, 

its goals, and, where appropriate, the target dates for the 

deployment of the data mining activity. 

(B) A thorough description of the data mining technology that is being used or will be used, including the 

basis for determining whether a particular pattern or 

anomaly is indicative of terrorist or criminal activity. 

(C) A thorough description of the data sources that are 

being or will be used. 

(D) An assessment of the efficacy or likely efficacy of 

the data mining activity in providing accurate information 

consistent with and valuable to the stated goals and plans 

for the use or development of the data mining activity. 

(E) An assessment of the impact or likely impact of the 

implementation of the data mining activity on the privacy 

and civil liberties of individuals, including a thorough description of the actions that are being taken or will be taken 

with regard to the property, privacy, or other rights or 

privileges of any individual or individuals as a result of 

the implementation of the data mining activity. 

(F) A list and analysis of the laws and regulations that 

govern the information being or to be collected, reviewed, 

gathered, analyzed, or used in conjunction with the data 

mining activity, to the extent applicable in the context of the 

data mining activity. 

(G) A thorough discussion of the policies, procedures, 

and guidelines that are in place or that are to be developed 

and applied in the use of such data mining activity in 

order to—

(i) protect the privacy and due process rights of individuals, such as redress procedures; and 

(ii) ensure that only accurate and complete information is collected, reviewed, gathered, analyzed, or 

used, and guard against any harmful consequences of 

potential inaccuracies. 

(3) ANNEX.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—A report under subparagraph (A) 

shall include in an annex any necessary—

(i) classified information; 

(ii) law enforcement sensitive information; 

(iii) proprietary business information; or 

(iv) trade secrets (as that term is defined in section 

1839 of title 18, United States Code). 

(B) AVAILABILITY.—Any annex described in clause (i)—

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(i) shall be available, as appropriate, and consistent with the National Security Act of 1947 (50 

U.S.C. 401 et seq.), to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on the 

Judiciary, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the 

Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on 

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate 

and the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Financial Services of the 

House of Representatives; and 

(ii) shall not be made available to the public. 

(4) TIME FOR REPORT.—Each report required under subparagraph (A) shall be—

(A) submitted not later than 180 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act; and 

(B) updated not less frequently than annually thereafter, to include any activity to use or develop data mining 

engaged in after the date of the prior report submitted 

under subparagraph (A). 

TITLE IX—PRIVATE SECTOR PREPAREDNESS 

SEC. 901. PRIVATE SECTOR PREPAREDNESS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

(6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.), as amended by section 409, is further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 523. GUIDANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with their responsibilities and 

authorities under law, as of the day before the date of the enactment 

of this section, the Administrator and the Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, in consultation with the private sector, may 

develop guidance or recommendations and identify best practices to 

assist or foster action by the private sector in—

‘‘(1) identifying potential hazards and assessing risks and 

impacts; 

‘‘(2) mitigating the impact of a wide variety of hazards, including weapons of mass destruction; 

‘‘(3) managing necessary emergency preparedness and response resources; 

‘‘(4) developing mutual aid agreements; 

‘‘(5) developing and maintaining emergency preparedness 

and response plans, and associated operational procedures; 

‘‘(6) developing and conducting training and exercises to 

support and evaluate emergency preparedness and response 

plans and operational procedures; 

‘‘(7) developing and conducting training programs for security guards to implement emergency preparedness and response 

plans and operations procedures; and 

‘‘(8) developing procedures to respond to requests for information from the media or the public. 

‘‘(b) ISSUANCE AND PROMOTION.—Any guidance or recommendations developed or best practices identified under subsection (a) 

shall be—

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‘‘(1) issued through the Administrator; and 

‘‘(2) promoted by the Secretary to the private sector. 

‘‘(c) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.—In developing guidance or 

recommendations or identifying best practices under subsection (a), 

the Administrator and the Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure 

Protection shall take into consideration small business concerns 

(under the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)), including any need for separate guidance 

or recommendations or best practices, as necessary and appropriate. 

‘‘(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section may be 

construed to supersede any requirement established under any other 

provision of law. 

‘‘SEC. 524. VOLUNTARY PRIVATE SECTOR PREPAREDNESS ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the officer 

designated under paragraph (2), shall establish and implement 

the voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and certification program in accordance with this section. 

‘‘(2) DESIGNATION OF OFFICER.—The Secretary shall designate an officer responsible for the accreditation and certification program under this section. Such officer (hereinafter referred to in this section as the ‘designated officer’) shall be one 

of the following: 

‘‘(A) The Administrator, based on consideration of—

‘‘(i) the expertise of the Administrator in emergency 

management and preparedness in the United States; 

and 

‘‘(ii) the responsibilities of the Administrator as the 

principal advisor to the President for all matters relating to emergency management in the United States. 

‘‘(B) The Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, based on consideration of the expertise of the Assistant 

Secretary in, and responsibilities for—

‘‘(i) protection of critical infrastructure; 

‘‘(ii) risk assessment methodologies; and 

‘‘(iii) interacting with the private sector on the 

issues described in clauses (i) and (ii). 

‘‘(C) The Under Secretary for Science and Technology, 

based on consideration of the expertise of the Under Secretary in, and responsibilities associated with, standards. 

‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the accreditation and 

certification program under this section, the designated officer 

shall coordinate with—

‘‘(A) the other officers of the Department referred to in 

paragraph (2), using the expertise and responsibilities of 

such officers; and 

‘‘(B) the Special Assistant to the Secretary for the Private Sector, based on consideration of the expertise of the 

Special Assistant in, and responsibilities for, interacting 

with the private sector. 

‘‘(b) VOLUNTARY PRIVATE SECTOR PREPAREDNESS STANDARDS; 

VOLUNTARY ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR THE

PRIVATE SECTOR.—

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‘‘(1) ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.—Not 

later than 210 days after the date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 

2007, the designated officer shall— ‘‘(A) begin supporting the development and updating, 

as necessary, of voluntary preparedness standards through 

appropriate organizations that coordinate or facilitate the 

development and use of voluntary consensus standards and 

voluntary consensus standards development organizations; 

and ‘‘(B) in consultation with representatives of appropriate 

organizations that coordinate or facilitate the development 

and use of voluntary consensus standards, appropriate voluntary consensus standards development organizations, 

each private sector advisory council created under section 

102(f)(4), appropriate representatives of State and local 

governments, including emergency management officials, 

and appropriate private sector advisory groups, such as sector coordinating councils and information sharing and 

analysis centers— ‘‘(i) develop and promote a program to certify the 

preparedness of private sector entities that voluntarily 

choose to seek certification under the program; and ‘‘(ii) implement the program under this subsection 

through any entity with which the designated officer 

enters into an agreement under paragraph (3)(A), 

which shall accredit third parties to carry out the certification process under this section. ‘‘(2) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—

‘‘(i) PROGRAM.—The program developed and implemented under this subsection shall assess whether a 

private sector entity complies with voluntary preparedness standards. 

‘‘(ii) GUIDELINES.—In developing the program 

under this subsection, the designated officer shall develop guidelines for the accreditation and certification 

processes established under this subsection. 

‘‘(B) STANDARDS.—The designated officer, in consultation with representatives of appropriate organizations that 

coordinate or facilitate the development and use of voluntary consensus standards, representatives of appropriate 

voluntary consensus standards development organizations, 

each private sector advisory council created under section 

102(f)(4), appropriate representatives of State and local 

governments, including emergency management officials, 

and appropriate private sector advisory groups such as sector coordinating councils and information sharing and 

analysis centers— ‘‘(i) shall adopt one or more appropriate voluntary 

preparedness standards that promote preparedness, 

which may be tailored to address the unique nature of 

various sectors within the private sector, as necessary 

and appropriate, that shall be used in the accreditation 

and certification program under this subsection; and 

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‘‘(ii) after the adoption of one or more standards 

under clause (i), may adopt additional voluntary preparedness standards or modify or discontinue the use 

of voluntary preparedness standards for the accreditation and certification program, as necessary and appropriate to promote preparedness. 

‘‘(C) SUBMISSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS.—In adopting 

one or more standards under subparagraph (B), the designated officer may receive recommendations from any entity described in that subparagraph relating to appropriate 

voluntary preparedness standards, including appropriate 

sector specific standards, for adoption in the program. ‘‘(D) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.—The designated officer and any entity with which the designated officer enters 

into an agreement under paragraph (3)(A) shall establish 

separate classifications and methods of certification for 

small business concerns (under the meaning given that 

term in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)) 

for the program under this subsection. 

‘‘(E) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing and implementing the program under this subsection, the designated 

officer shall—

‘‘(i) consider the unique nature of various sectors 

within the private sector, including preparedness 

standards, business continuity standards, or best practices, established—

‘‘(I) under any other provision of Federal law; 

or 

‘‘(II) by any sector-specific agency, as defined 

under Homeland Security Presidential Directive-7; 

and 

‘‘(ii) coordinate the program, as appropriate, 

with— ‘‘(I) other Department private sector related 

programs; and ‘‘(II) preparedness and business continuity programs in other Federal agencies. ‘‘(3) ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION PROCESSES.— ‘‘(A) AGREEMENT.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 210 days after 

the date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, 

the designated officer shall enter into one or more 

agreements with a highly qualified nongovernmental 

entity with experience or expertise in coordinating and 

facilitating the development and use of voluntary consensus standards and in managing or implementing 

accreditation and certification programs for voluntary 

consensus standards, or a similarly qualified private 

sector entity, to carry out accreditations and oversee the 

certification process under this subsection. An entity 

entering into an agreement with the designated officer 

under this clause (hereinafter referred to in this section 

as a ‘selected entity’) shall not perform certifications 

under this subsection. 

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‘‘(ii) CONTENTS.—A selected entity shall manage 

the accreditation process and oversee the certification 

process in accordance with the program established 

under this subsection and accredit qualified third parties to carry out the certification program established 

under this subsection. 

‘‘(B) PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Any selected entity shall collaborate to develop procedures and requirements for the accreditation and certification processes under this subsection, in accordance with the program established 

under this subsection and guidelines developed under 

paragraph (2)(A)(ii). 

‘‘(ii) CONTENTS AND USE.—The procedures and requirements developed under clause (i) shall—

‘‘(I) ensure reasonable uniformity in any accreditation and certification processes if there is 

more than one selected entity; and 

‘‘(II) be used by any selected entity in conducting accreditations and overseeing the certification process under this subsection. 

‘‘(iii) DISAGREEMENT.—Any disagreement among 

selected entities in developing procedures under clause 

(i) shall be resolved by the designated officer. 

‘‘(C) DESIGNATION.—A selected entity may accredit any 

qualified third party to carry out the certification process 

under this subsection. 

‘‘(D) DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT.—In accrediting qualified third parties to carry out the certification process under this subsection, a selected entity shall 

ensure, to the extent practicable, that the third parties include qualified small, minority, women-owned, or disadvantaged business concerns when appropriate. The term 

‘disadvantaged business concern’ means a small business 

that is owned and controlled by socially and economically 

disadvantaged individuals, as defined in section 124 of 

title 13, United States Code of Federal Regulations. 

‘‘(E) TREATMENT OF OTHER CERTIFICATIONS.—At the request of any entity seeking certification, any selected entity 

may consider, as appropriate, other relevant certifications 

acquired by the entity seeking certification. If the selected 

entity determines that such other certifications are sufficient to meet the certification requirement or aspects of the 

certification requirement under this section, the selected entity may give credit to the entity seeking certification, as appropriate, to avoid unnecessarily duplicative certification 

requirements. 

‘‘(F) THIRD PARTIES.—To be accredited under subparagraph (C), a third party shall—

‘‘(i) demonstrate that the third party has the ability to certify private sector entities in accordance with 

the procedures and requirements developed under subparagraph (B); 

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‘‘(ii) agree to perform certifications in accordance 

with such procedures and requirements; ‘‘(iii) agree not to have any beneficial interest in or 

any direct or indirect control over— ‘‘(I) a private sector entity for which that third 

party conducts a certification under this subsection; or ‘‘(II) any organization that provides preparedness consulting services to private sector entities; 

‘‘(iv) agree not to have any other conflict of interest 

with respect to any private sector entity for which that 

third party conducts a certification under this subsection; ‘‘(v) maintain liability insurance coverage at policy 

limits in accordance with the requirements developed 

under subparagraph (B); and ‘‘(vi) enter into an agreement with the selected entity accrediting that third party to protect any proprietary information of a private sector entity obtained 

under this subsection. 

‘‘(G) MONITORING.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The designated officer and any 

selected entity shall regularly monitor and inspect the 

operations of any third party conducting certifications 

under this subsection to ensure that the third party is 

complying with the procedures and requirements established under subparagraph (B) and all other applicable requirements. ‘‘(ii) REVOCATION.—If the designated officer or any 

selected entity determines that a third party is not 

meeting the procedures or requirements established 

under subparagraph (B), the selected entity shall—

‘‘(I) revoke the accreditation of that third party 

to conduct certifications under this subsection; and ‘‘(II) review any certification conducted by that 

third party, as necessary and appropriate. ‘‘(4) ANNUAL REVIEW.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The designated officer, in consultation with representatives of appropriate organizations that 

coordinate or facilitate the development and use of voluntary consensus standards, appropriate voluntary consensus standards development organizations, appropriate 

representatives of State and local governments, including 

emergency management officials, and each private sector 

advisory council created under section 102(f)(4), shall annually review the voluntary accreditation and certification 

program established under this subsection to ensure the effectiveness of such program (including the operations and 

management of such program by any selected entity and 

the selected entity’s inclusion of qualified disadvantaged 

business concerns under paragraph (3)(D)) and make improvements and adjustments to the program as necessary 

and appropriate. 

‘‘(B) REVIEW OF STANDARDS.—Each review under subparagraph (A) shall include an assessment of the voluntary 

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preparedness standard or standards used in the program 

under this subsection. 

‘‘(5) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—Certification under this 

subsection shall be voluntary for any private sector entity. ‘‘(6) PUBLIC LISTING.—The designated officer shall maintain and make public a listing of any private sector entity certified as being in compliance with the program established 

under this subsection, if that private sector entity consents to 

such listing. 

‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section may be 

construed as— ‘‘(1) a requirement to replace any preparedness, emergency 

response, or business continuity standards, requirements, or 

best practices established— ‘‘(A) under any other provision of federal law; or 

‘‘(B) by any sector-specific agency, as those agencies are 

defined under Homeland Security Presidential Directive-7; 

or 

‘‘(2) exempting any private sector entity seeking certification 

or meeting certification requirements under subsection (b) from 

compliance with all applicable statutes, regulations, directives, 

policies, and industry codes of practice.’’. (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 210 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

a report detailing— (1) any action taken to implement section 524(b) of the 

Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), including a discussion of— (A) the separate methods of classification and certification for small business concerns (under the meaning 

given that term in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 

U.S.C. 632)) as compared to other private sector entities; 

and 

(B) whether the separate classifications and methods of 

certification for small business concerns are likely to help 

to ensure that such measures are not overly burdensome 

and are adequate to meet the voluntary preparedness 

standard or standards adopted by the program under section 524(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added 

by subsection (a); and 

(2) the status, as of the date of that report, of the implementation of that subsection. 

(c) DEADLINE FOR DESIGNATION OF OFFICER.—The Secretary of 

Homeland Security shall designate the officer as described in section 524 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), by not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment 

of this Act. 

(d) DEFINITION.—Section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (6 U.S.C. 101) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(18) The term ‘voluntary preparedness standards’ means a 

common set of criteria for preparedness, disaster management, 

emergency management, and business continuity programs, 

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such as the American National Standards Institute’s National 

Fire Protection Association Standard on Disaster/Emergency 

Management and Business Continuity Programs (ANSI/NFPA 

1600).’’. 

(e) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents in section 

1(b) of such Act is further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘Sec. 523. Guidance and recommendations. 

‘‘Sec. 524. Voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and certification program.’’. 

(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 

section and the amendments made by this section. 

SEC. 902. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR OFFICE OF THE 

DEPARTMENT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 102(f) of the Homeland Security Act 

of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 112(f)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (10) as paragraphs (9) through (11), respectively; and 

(2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following: 

‘‘(8) providing information to the private sector regarding 

voluntary preparedness standards and the business justification 

for preparedness and promoting to the private sector the adoption of voluntary preparedness standards;’’. 

(b) PRIVATE SECTOR ADVISORY COUNCILS.—Section 102(f)(4) of 

the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 112(f)(4)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the end; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(C) advise the Secretary on private sector preparedness 

issues, including effective methods for—

‘‘(i) promoting voluntary preparedness standards 

to the private sector; and 

‘‘(ii) assisting the private sector in adopting voluntary preparedness standards;’’. 

TITLE X—IMPROVING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 

SECURITY 

SEC. 1001. NATIONAL ASSET DATABASE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security 

Act of 2002, as amended by title V, is further amended by adding 

at the end the following new section: 

‘‘SEC. 210E. NATIONAL ASSET DATABASE. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—

‘‘(1) NATIONAL ASSET DATABASE.—The Secretary shall establish and maintain a national database of each system or 

asset that—

‘‘(A) the Secretary, in consultation with appropriate 

homeland security officials of the States, determines to be 

vital and the loss, interruption, incapacity, or destruction of 

which would have a negative or debilitating effect on the 

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economic security, public health, or safety of the United 

States, any State, or any local government; or ‘‘(B) the Secretary determines is appropriate for inclusion in the database. 

‘‘(2) PRIORITIZED CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE LIST.—In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive-7, as 

in effect on January 1, 2007, the Secretary shall establish and 

maintain a single classified prioritized list of systems and assets included in the database under paragraph (1) that the Secretary determines would, if destroyed or disrupted, cause national or regional catastrophic effects. 

‘‘(b) USE OF DATABASE.—The Secretary shall use the database 

established under subsection (a)(1) in the development and implementation of Department plans and programs as appropriate. 

‘‘(c) MAINTENANCE OF DATABASE.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall maintain and annually update the database established under subsection (a)(1) 

and the list established under subsection (a)(2), including—

‘‘(A) establishing data collection guidelines and providing such guidelines to the appropriate homeland security official of each State; 

‘‘(B) regularly reviewing the guidelines established 

under subparagraph (A), including by consulting with the 

appropriate homeland security officials of States, to solicit 

feedback about the guidelines, as appropriate; 

‘‘(C) after providing the homeland security official of a 

State with the guidelines under subparagraph (A), allowing 

the official a reasonable amount of time to submit to the 

Secretary any data submissions recommended by the official for inclusion in the database established under subsection (a)(1); 

‘‘(D) examining the contents and identifying any submissions made by such an official that are described incorrectly or that do not meet the guidelines established under 

subparagraph (A); and ‘‘(E) providing to the appropriate homeland security official of each relevant State a list of submissions identified 

under subparagraph (D) for review and possible correction 

before the Secretary finalizes the decision of which submissions will be included in the database established under 

subsection (a)(1). 

‘‘(2) ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION IN DATABASE.—The 

Secretary shall organize the contents of the database established under subsection (a)(1) and the list established under 

subsection (a)(2) as the Secretary determines is appropriate. 

Any organizational structure of such contents shall include the 

categorization of the contents—

‘‘(A) according to the sectors listed in National Infrastructure Protection Plan developed pursuant to Homeland 

Security Presidential Directive-7; and ‘‘(B) by the State and county of their location. ‘‘(3) PRIVATE SECTOR INTEGRATION.—The Secretary shall 

identify and evaluate methods, including the Department’s Protected Critical Infrastructure Information Program, to acquire 

relevant private sector information for the purpose of using that 

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information to generate any database or list, including the 

database established under subsection (a)(1) and the list established under subsection (a)(2). ‘‘(4) RETENTION OF CLASSIFICATION.—The classification of 

information required to be provided to Congress, the Department, or any other department or agency under this section by 

a sector-specific agency, including the assignment of a level of 

classification of such information, shall be binding on Congress, the Department, and that other Federal agency. 

‘‘(d) REPORTS.— ‘‘(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the 

date of the enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of 

the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, and annually thereafter, the 

Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 

Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report on 

the database established under subsection (a)(1) and the list established under subsection (a)(2). ‘‘(2) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Each such report shall include 

the following: 

‘‘(A) The name, location, and sector classification of 

each of the systems and assets on the list established under 

subsection (a)(2). 

‘‘(B) The name, location, and sector classification of 

each of the systems and assets on such list that are determined by the Secretary to be most at risk to terrorism. 

‘‘(C) Any significant challenges in compiling the list of 

the systems and assets included on such list or in the database established under subsection (a)(1). 

‘‘(D) Any significant changes from the preceding report 

in the systems and assets included on such list or in such 

database. 

‘‘(E) If appropriate, the extent to which such database 

and such list have been used, individually or jointly, for allocating funds by the Federal Government to prevent, reduce, mitigate, or respond to acts of terrorism. ‘‘(F) The amount of coordination between the Department and the private sector, through any entity of the Department that meets with representatives of private sector 

industries for purposes of such coordination, for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy of such database and such 

list. ‘‘(G) Any other information the Secretary deems relevant. 

‘‘(3) CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.—The report shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. 

‘‘(e) INSPECTOR GENERAL STUDY.—By not later than two years 

after the date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations 

of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the Inspector General of the 

Department shall conduct a study of the implementation of this section. ‘‘(f) NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION CONSORTIUM.— The Secretary may establish a consortium to be known as the ‘National Infrastructure Protection Consortium’. The Consortium may 

advise the Secretary on the best way to identify, generate, organize, 

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and maintain any database or list of systems and assets established 

by the Secretary, including the database established under subsection (a)(1) and the list established under subsection (a)(2). If the 

Secretary establishes the National Infrastructure Protection Consortium, the Consortium may—

‘‘(1) be composed of national laboratories, Federal agencies, 

State and local homeland security organizations, academic institutions, or national Centers of Excellence that have demonstrated experience working with and identifying critical infrastructure and key resources; and 

‘‘(2) provide input to the Secretary on any request pertaining to the contents of such database or such list.’’. 

(b) DEADLINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND NOTIFICATION OF

CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 

of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit the 

first report required under section 210E(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a). 

(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in section 1(b) 

of such Act is further amended by inserting after the item relating 

to section 210D the following: 

‘‘Sec. 210E. National Asset Database.’’. 

SEC. 1002. RISK ASSESSMENTS AND REPORT. 

(a) RISK ASSESSMENTS.—Section 201(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121(d)) is further amended by adding at 

the end the following new paragraph: 

‘‘(25) To prepare and submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 

Committee on Homeland Security in the House of Representatives, and to other appropriate congressional committees having 

jurisdiction over the critical infrastructure or key resources, for 

each sector identified in the National Infrastructure Protection 

Plan, a report on the comprehensive assessments carried out by 

the Secretary of the critical infrastructure and key resources of 

the United States, evaluating threat, vulnerability, and consequence, as required under this subsection. Each such report—

‘‘(A) shall contain, if applicable, actions or countermeasures recommended or taken by the Secretary or the 

head of another Federal agency to address issues identified 

in the assessments; 

‘‘(B) shall be required for fiscal year 2007 and each 

subsequent fiscal year and shall be submitted not later 

than 35 days after the last day of the fiscal year covered 

by the report; and ‘‘(C) may be classified.’’. 

(b) REPORT ON INDUSTRY PREPAREDNESS.—Not later than 6 

months after the last day of fiscal year 2007 and each subsequent 

fiscal year, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in cooperation with 

the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on 

Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report that details the actions taken by the Federal Government to ensure, in acmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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cordance with subsections (a) and (c) of section 101 of the Defense 

Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2071), the preparedness of 

industry to reduce interruption of critical infrastructure and key resource operations during an act of terrorism, natural catastrophe, 

or other similar national emergency. 

SEC. 1003. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE INCLUSION OF LEVEES IN THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION 

PLAN. 

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should ensure that 

levees are included in one of the critical infrastructure and key resources sectors identified in the National Infrastructure Protection 

Plan. 

TITLE XI—ENHANCED DEFENSES AGAINST WEAPONS OF 

MASS DESTRUCTION 

SEC. 1101. NATIONAL BIOSURVEILLANCE INTEGRATION CENTER. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (6 U.S.C. et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 316. NATIONAL BIOSURVEILLANCE INTEGRATION CENTER. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish, operate, 

and maintain a National Biosurveillance Integration Center (referred to in this section as the ‘NBIC’), which shall be headed by 

a Directing Officer, under an office or directorate of the Department 

that is in existence as of the date of the enactment of this section. 

‘‘(b) PRIMARY MISSION.—The primary mission of the NBIC is 

to—

‘‘(1) enhance the capability of the Federal Government to—

‘‘(A) rapidly identify, characterize, localize, and track a 

biological event of national concern by integrating and analyzing data relating to human health, animal, plant, food, 

and environmental monitoring systems (both national and 

international); and 

‘‘(B) disseminate alerts and other information to Member Agencies and, in coordination with (and where possible 

through) Member Agencies, to agencies of State, local, and 

tribal governments, as appropriate, to enhance the ability of 

such agencies to respond to a biological event of national 

concern; and 

‘‘(2) oversee development and operation of the National Biosurveillance Integration System. 

‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The NBIC shall detect, as early as possible, a biological event of national concern that presents a risk to 

the United States or the infrastructure or key assets of the United 

States, including by—

‘‘(1) consolidating data from all relevant surveillance systems maintained by Member Agencies to detect biological events 

of national concern across human, animal, and plant species; 

‘‘(2) seeking private sources of surveillance, both foreign 

and domestic, when such sources would enhance coverage of 

critical surveillance gaps; 

‘‘(3) using an information technology system that uses the 

best available statistical and other analytical tools to identify 

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and characterize biological events of national concern in as 

close to real-time as is practicable; ‘‘(4) providing the infrastructure for such integration, including information technology systems and space, and support 

for personnel from Member Agencies with sufficient expertise to 

enable analysis and interpretation of data; ‘‘(5) working with Member Agencies to create information 

technology systems that use the minimum amount of patient 

data necessary and consider patient confidentiality and privacy 

issues at all stages of development and apprise the Privacy Officer of such efforts; and ‘‘(6) alerting Member Agencies and, in coordination with 

(and where possible through) Member Agencies, public health 

agencies of State, local, and tribal governments regarding any 

incident that could develop into a biological event of national 

concern. 

‘‘(d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTING OFFICER OF THE

NBIC.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Directing Officer of the NBIC 

shall—

‘‘(A) on an ongoing basis, monitor the availability and 

appropriateness of surveillance systems used by the NBIC 

and those systems that could enhance biological situational 

awareness or the overall performance of the NBIC; 

‘‘(B) on an ongoing basis, review and seek to improve 

the statistical and other analytical methods used by the 

NBIC; 

‘‘(C) receive and consider other relevant homeland security information, as appropriate; and 

‘‘(D) provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to all 

Federal, regional, State, local, and tribal government entities and private sector entities that contribute data relevant 

to the operation of the NBIC. 

‘‘(2) ASSESSMENTS.—The Directing Officer of the NBIC 

shall—

‘‘(A) on an ongoing basis, evaluate available data for 

evidence of a biological event of national concern; and 

‘‘(B) integrate homeland security information with 

NBIC data to provide overall situational awareness and determine whether a biological event of national concern has 

occurred. 

‘‘(3) INFORMATION SHARING.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Directing Officer of the NBIC 

shall—

‘‘(i) establish a method of real-time communication 

with the National Operations Center; 

‘‘(ii) in the event that a biological event of national 

concern is detected, notify the Secretary and disseminate results of NBIC assessments relating to that biological event of national concern to appropriate Federal 

response entities and, in coordination with relevant 

Member Agencies, regional, State, local, and tribal governmental response entities in a timely manner; ‘‘(iii) provide any report on NBIC assessments to 

Member Agencies and, in coordination with relevant 

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Member Agencies, any affected regional, State, local, or 

tribal government, and any private sector entity considered appropriate that may enhance the mission of such 

Member Agencies, governments, or entities or the ability of the Nation to respond to biological events of national concern; and ‘‘(iv) share NBIC incident or situational awareness 

reports, and other relevant information, consistent with 

the information sharing environment established under 

section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 

Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485) and any policies, 

guidelines, procedures, instructions, or standards established under that section. 

‘‘(B) CONSULTATION.—The Directing Officer of the 

NBIC shall implement the activities described in subparagraph (A) consistent with the policies, guidelines, procedures, instructions, or standards established under section 

1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention 

Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485) and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, and other offices or agencies of the 

Federal Government, as appropriate. 

‘‘(e) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NBIC MEMBER AGENCIES.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Member Agency shall— ‘‘(A) use its best efforts to integrate biosurveillance information into the NBIC, with the goal of promoting information sharing between Federal, State, local, and tribal 

governments to detect biological events of national concern; ‘‘(B) provide timely information to assist the NBIC in 

maintaining biological situational awareness for accurate 

detection and response purposes; ‘‘(C) enable the NBIC to receive and use biosurveillance 

information from member agencies to carry out its requirements under subsection (c); 

‘‘(D) connect the biosurveillance data systems of that 

Member Agency to the NBIC data system under mutually 

agreed protocols that are consistent with subsection (c)(5); 

‘‘(E) participate in the formation of strategy and policy 

for the operation of the NBIC and its information sharing; 

‘‘(F) provide personnel to the NBIC under an interagency personnel agreement and consider the qualifications 

of such personnel necessary to provide human, animal, and 

environmental data analysis and interpretation support to 

the NBIC; and 

‘‘(G) retain responsibility for the surveillance and intelligence systems of that department or agency, if applicable. 

‘‘(f) ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES.—

‘‘(1) HIRING OF EXPERTS.—The Directing Officer of the 

NBIC shall hire individuals with the necessary expertise to develop and operate the NBIC. 

‘‘(2) DETAIL OF PERSONNEL.—Upon the request of the Directing Officer of the NBIC, the head of any Federal department 

or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Department to assist 

the NBIC in carrying out this section. 

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‘‘(g) NBIC INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall—

‘‘(1) establish an interagency working group to facilitate 

interagency cooperation and to advise the Directing Officer of 

the NBIC regarding recommendations to enhance the biosurveillance capabilities of the Department; and 

‘‘(2) invite Member Agencies to serve on that working group. 

‘‘(h) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—

The authority of the Directing Officer of the NBIC under this section 

shall not affect any authority or responsibility of any other department or agency of the Federal Government with respect to biosurveillance activities under any program administered by that department or agency. 

‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section. 

‘‘(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) The terms ‘biological agent’ and ‘toxin’ have the meanings given those terms in section 178 of title 18, United States 

Code. 

‘‘(2) The term ‘biological event of national concern’ means—

‘‘(A) an act of terrorism involving a biological agent or 

toxin; or 

‘‘(B) a naturally occurring outbreak of an infectious 

disease that may result in a national epidemic. 

‘‘(3) The term ‘homeland security information’ has the 

meaning given that term in section 892. 

‘‘(4) The term ‘Member Agency’ means any Federal department or agency that, at the discretion of the head of that department or agency, has entered a memorandum of understanding regarding participation in the NBIC. 

‘‘(5) The term ‘Privacy Officer’ means the Privacy Officer 

appointed under section 222.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in section 

1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is 

amended by inserting after the item relating to section 315 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 316. National Biosurveillance Integration Center.’’. 

(c) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The National Biosurveillance Integration Center under section 316 of the Homeland Security Act, as added by subsection (a), shall be fully operational by not 

later than September 30, 2008; 

(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit 

to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the 

House of Representatives an interim report on the status of the operations at the National Biosurviellance Integration Center that addresses the efforts of the Center to integrate the surveillance efforts 

of Federal, State, local, and tribal governments. When the National 

Biosurveillance Integration Center is fully operational, the Secretary 

shall submit to such committees a final report on the status of such 

operations. 

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SEC. 1102. BIOSURVEILLANCE EFFORTS. 

The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 

Congress a report — (1) describing the state of Federal, State, local, and tribal 

government biosurveillance efforts as of the date of such report; 

(2) describing any duplication of effort at the Federal, 

State, local, or tribal government level to create biosurveillance 

systems; and 

(3) providing the recommendations of the Comptroller General regarding— (A) the integration of biosurveillance systems; 

(B) the effective use of biosurveillance resources; and 

(C) the effective use of the expertise of Federal, State, 

local, and tribal governments. 

SEC. 1103. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION TO ENHANCE DEFENSES 

AGAINST NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL WEAPONS OF 

MASS DESTRUCTION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 

101 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1906, as redesignated by section 104, the following: 

‘‘SEC. 1907. JOINT ANNUAL INTERAGENCY REVIEW OF GLOBAL NUCLEAR DETECTION ARCHITECTURE. 

‘‘(a) ANNUAL REVIEW.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, the Attorney General, the 

Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of National Intelligence shall jointly ensure interagency coordination on the development and implementation of the global nuclear detection architecture by ensuring that, not less frequently than once each year— ‘‘(A) each relevant agency, office, or entity— ‘‘(i) assesses its involvement, support, and participation in the development, revision, and implementation of the global nuclear detection architecture; and ‘‘(ii) examines and evaluates components of the 

global nuclear detection architecture (including associated strategies and acquisition plans) relating to the 

operations of that agency, office, or entity, to determine 

whether such components incorporate and address current threat assessments, scenarios, or intelligence analyses developed by the Director of National Intelligence 

or other agencies regarding threats relating to nuclear 

or radiological weapons of mass destruction; and 

‘‘(B) each agency, office, or entity deploying or operating any nuclear or radiological detection technology 

under the global nuclear detection architecture—

‘‘(i) evaluates the deployment and operation of nuclear or radiological detection technologies under the 

global nuclear detection architecture by that agency, office, or entity; 

‘‘(ii) identifies performance deficiencies and operational or technical deficiencies in nuclear or radiological detection technologies deployed under the global 

nuclear detection architecture; and 

‘‘(iii) assesses the capacity of that agency, office, or 

entity to implement the responsibilities of that agency, 

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office, or entity under the global nuclear detection architecture. 

‘‘(2) TECHNOLOGY.—Not less frequently than once each year, 

the Secretary shall examine and evaluate the development, assessment, and acquisition of radiation detection technologies deployed or implemented in support of the domestic portion of the 

global nuclear detection architecture. 

‘‘(b) ANNUAL REPORT ON JOINT INTERAGENCY REVIEW.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 31 of each year, 

the Secretary, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the 

Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director 

of National Intelligence, shall jointly submit a report regarding 

the implementation of this section and the results of the reviews 

required under subsection (a) to—

‘‘(A) the President; 

‘‘(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee 

on Armed Services, the Select Committee on Intelligence, 

and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and 

‘‘(C) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee 

on Armed Services, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the 

Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives. 

‘‘(2) FORM.—The annual report submitted under paragraph 

(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form to the maximum extent practicable, but may include a classified annex. 

‘‘(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘global nuclear detection architecture’ means the global nuclear detection architecture developed under section 1902.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in section 

1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 note) is 

amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1906, as 

added by section 104, the following: 

‘‘Sec. 1907. Joint annual interagency review of global nuclear detection architecture.’’. 

SEC. 1104. INTEGRATION OF DETECTION EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES. 

(a) RESPONSIBILITY OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall have responsibility for ensuring that domestic 

chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear detection equipment 

and technologies are integrated, as appropriate, with other border 

security systems and detection technologies. 

(b) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress 

that contains a plan to develop a departmental technology assessment process to determine and certify the technology readiness levels 

of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear detection technologies before the full deployment of such technologies within the 

United States. 

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TITLE XII—TRANSPORTATION SECURITY PLANNING 

AND INFORMATION SHARING 

SEC. 1201. DEFINITIONS. 

For purposes of this title, the following terms apply: 

(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ means the Department of Homeland Security. 

(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of Homeland Security. 

SEC. 1202. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY STRATEGIC PLANNING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 114(t)(1)(B) of title 49, United States 

Code, is amended to read as follows: ‘‘(B) transportation modal security plans addressing security risks, including threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences, for aviation, railroad, ferry, highway, maritime, 

pipeline, public transportation, over-the-road bus, and 

other transportation infrastructure assets.’’. 

(b) CONTENTS OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR TRANSPOR- TATION SECURITY.—Section 114(t)(3) of such title is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘, based on risk assessments conducted or received by the Secretary of Homeland 

Security (including assessments conducted under the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 

2007’’ after ‘‘risk based priorities’’; 

(2) in subparagraph (D)— (A) by striking ‘‘and local’’ and inserting ‘‘local, and 

tribal’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘private sector cooperation and participation’’ and inserting ‘‘cooperation and participation by private sector entities, including nonprofit employee labor organizations,’’; 

(3) in subparagraph (E)— (A) by striking ‘‘response’’ and inserting ‘‘prevention, response,’’; and 

(B) by inserting ‘‘and threatened and executed acts of 

terrorism outside the United States to the extent such acts 

affect United States transportation systems’’ before the period at the end; 

(4) in subparagraph (F), by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Transportation security research and development 

projects shall be based, to the extent practicable, on such 

prioritization. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to require the termination of any research or development project initiated by the Secretary of Homeland Security or 

the Secretary of Transportation before the date of enactment of 

the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission 

Act of 2007.’’; and 

(5) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(G) A 3- and 10-year budget for Federal transportation security programs that will achieve the priorities of 

the National Strategy for Transportation Security. 

‘‘(H) Methods for linking the individual transportation 

modal security plans and the programs contained therein, 

and a plan for addressing the security needs of intermodal 

transportation. 

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‘‘(I) Transportation modal security plans described in 

paragraph (1)(B), including operational recovery plans to 

expedite, to the maximum extent practicable, the return to 

operation of an adversely affected transportation system following a major terrorist attack on that system or other incident. These plans shall be coordinated with the resumption 

of trade protocols required under section 202 of the SAFE 

Port Act (6 U.S.C. 942) and the National Maritime Transportation Security Plan required under section 70103(a) of 

title 46.’’. (c) PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS.—Section 114(t)(4) of such 

title is amended— (1) in subparagraph (C)— (A) in clause (i) by inserting ‘‘, including the transportation modal security plans’’ before the period at the end; 

and 

(B) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following: ‘‘(ii) CONTENT.—Each progress report submitted 

under this subparagraph shall include, at a minimum, 

the following: ‘‘(I) Recommendations for improving and implementing the National Strategy for Transportation Security and the transportation modal and 

intermodal security plans that the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, considers appropriate. ‘‘(II) An accounting of all grants for transportation security, including grants and contracts for 

research and development, awarded by the Secretary of Homeland Security in the most recent fiscal year and a description of how such grants accomplished the goals of the National Strategy for 

Transportation Security. ‘‘(III) An accounting of all—

‘‘(aa) funds requested in the President’s 

budget submitted pursuant to section 1105 of 

title 31 for the most recent fiscal year for 

transportation security, by mode; 

‘‘(bb) personnel working on transportation 

security by mode, including the number of contractors; and 

‘‘(cc) information on the turnover in the 

previous year among senior staff of the Department of Homeland Security, including component agencies, working on transportation security issues. Such information shall include the 

number of employees who have permanently 

left the office, agency, or area in which they 

worked, and the amount of time that they 

worked for the Department. 

‘‘(iii) WRITTEN EXPLANATION OF TRANSPORTATION

SECURITY ACTIVITIES NOT DELINEATED IN THE NA- TIONAL STRATEGY FOR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY.—At 

the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary of Homeland 

Security shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

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committees a written explanation of any Federal transportation security activity that is inconsistent with the 

National Strategy for Transportation Security, including the amount of funds to be expended for the activity 

and the number of personnel involved.’’; and 

(2) by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(E) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 

Senate.’’. 

(d) PRIORITY STATUS.—Section 114(t)(5)(B) of such title is 

amended—

(1) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and 

(3) by inserting after clause (iii) the following: 

‘‘(iv) the transportation sector specific plan required under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 

7; and’’. 

(e) COORDINATION AND PLAN DISTRIBUTION.—Section 114(t) of 

such title is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(6) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the responsibilities 

under this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation, shall consult, 

as appropriate, with Federal, State, and local agencies, tribal 

governments, private sector entities (including nonprofit employee labor organizations), institutions of higher learning, and 

other entities. 

‘‘(7) PLAN DISTRIBUTION.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make available and appropriately publicize an unclassified version of the National Strategy for Transportation 

Security, including its component transportation modal security 

plans, to Federal, State, regional, local and tribal authorities, 

transportation system owners or operators, private sector stakeholders, including nonprofit employee labor organizations representing transportation employees, institutions of higher learning, and other appropriate entities.’’. 

SEC. 1203. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY INFORMATION SHARING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 114 of title 49, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(u) TRANSPORTATION SECURITY INFORMATION SHARING

PLAN.—

‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

‘‘(A) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The 

term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ has the meaning given that term in subsection (t). 

‘‘(B) PLAN.—The term ‘Plan’ means the Transportation 

Security Information Sharing Plan established under paragraph (2). 

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‘‘(C) PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS.—The term ‘public and private stakeholders’ means Federal, State, and 

local agencies, tribal governments, and appropriate private 

entities, including nonprofit employee labor organizations 

representing transportation employees. ‘‘(D) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Homeland Security. ‘‘(E) TRANSPORTATION SECURITY INFORMATION.—The 

term ‘transportation security information’ means information relating to the risks to transportation modes, including 

aviation, public transportation, railroad, ferry, highway, 

maritime, pipeline, and over-the-road bus transportation, 

and may include specific and general intelligence products, 

as appropriate. 

‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT OF PLAN.—The Secretary of Homeland 

Security, in consultation with the program manager of the information sharing environment established under section 1016 

of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 

(6 U.S.C. 485), the Secretary of Transportation, and public and 

private stakeholders, shall establish a Transportation Security 

Information Sharing Plan. In establishing the Plan, the Secretary shall gather input on the development of the Plan from 

private and public stakeholders and the program manager of 

the information sharing environment established under section 

1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act 

of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485). 

‘‘(3) PURPOSE OF PLAN.—The Plan shall promote sharing of 

transportation security information between the Department of 

Homeland Security and public and private stakeholders. ‘‘(4) CONTENT OF PLAN.—The Plan shall include—

‘‘(A) a description of how intelligence analysts within 

the Department of Homeland Security will coordinate their 

activities within the Department and with other Federal, 

State, and local agencies, and tribal governments, including coordination with existing modal information sharing 

centers and the center described in section 1410 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act 

of 2007; ‘‘(B) the establishment of a point of contact, which may 

be a single point of contact within the Department of Homeland Security, for each mode of transportation for the sharing of transportation security information with public and 

private stakeholders, including an explanation and justification to the appropriate congressional committees if the 

point of contact established pursuant to this subparagraph 

differs from the agency within the Department that has the 

primary authority, or has been delegated such authority by 

the Secretary, to regulate the security of that transportation 

mode; ‘‘(C) a reasonable deadline by which the Plan will be 

implemented; and 

‘‘(D) a description of resource needs for fulfilling the 

Plan. 

‘‘(5) COORDINATION WITH INFORMATION SHARING.—The Plan 

shall be—

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‘‘(A) implemented in coordination, as appropriate, with 

the program manager for the information sharing environment established under section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485); 

and ‘‘(B) consistent with the establishment of the information sharing environment and any policies, guidelines, procedures, instructions, or standards established by the President or the program manager for the implementation and 

management of the information sharing environment. 

‘‘(6) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 150 days after the 

date of enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees, a report containing the Plan. 

‘‘(B) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall 

submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 

on updates to and the implementation of the Plan. 

‘‘(7) SURVEY AND REPORT.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 

United States shall conduct a biennial survey of the satisfaction of recipients of transportation intelligence reports 

disseminated under the Plan. ‘‘(B) INFORMATION SOUGHT.—The survey conducted 

under subparagraph (A) shall seek information about the 

quality, speed, regularity, and classification of the transportation security information products disseminated by 

the Department of Homeland Security to public and private 

stakeholders. ‘‘(C) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

the enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 

9/11 Commission Act of 2007, and every even numbered 

year thereafter, the Comptroller General shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees, a report on the results of the survey conducted under subparagraph (A). The 

Comptroller General shall also provide a copy of the report 

to the Secretary. 

‘‘(8) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—The Secretary shall, to the 

greatest extent practicable, take steps to expedite the security 

clearances needed for designated public and private stakeholders to receive and obtain access to classified information 

distributed under this section, as appropriate. ‘‘(9) CLASSIFICATION OF MATERIAL.—The Secretary, to the 

greatest extent practicable, shall provide designated public and 

private stakeholders with transportation security information in 

an unclassified format.’’. 

(b) CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF SECURITY ASSURANCE FOR

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 

Secretary shall provide a semiannual report to the Committee 

on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Commstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives that includes— (A) the number of public and private stakeholders who 

were provided with each report; 

(B) a description of the measures the Secretary has 

taken, under section 114(u)(7) of title 49, United States 

Code, as added by this section, or otherwise, to ensure proper treatment and security for any classified information to 

be shared with the public and private stakeholders under 

the Plan; and 

(C) an explanation of the reason for the denial of transportation security information to any stakeholder who had 

previously received such information. 

(2) NO REPORT REQUIRED IF NO CHANGES IN STAKE- HOLDERS.—The Secretary is not required to provide a semiannual report under paragraph (1) if no stakeholders have been 

added to or removed from the group of persons with whom 

transportation security information is shared under the plan 

since the end of the period covered by the last preceding semiannual report. 

SEC. 1204. NATIONAL DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS CONSORTIUM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to establish, operate, and maintain a National Domestic Preparedness Consortium 

within the Department. 

(b) MEMBERS.—Members of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium shall consist of— (1) the Center for Domestic Preparedness; 

(2) the National Energetic Materials Research and Testing 

Center, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; 

(3) the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training, Louisiana State University; 

(4) the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training 

Center, Texas A&M University; 

(5) the National Exercise, Test, and Training Center, Nevada Test Site; 

(6) the Transportation Technology Center, Incorporated, in 

Pueblo, Colorado; and 

(7) the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, 

University of Hawaii. 

(c) DUTIES.—The National Domestic Preparedness Consortium 

shall identify, develop, test, and deliver training to State, local, and 

tribal emergency response providers, provide on-site and mobile 

training at the performance and management and planning levels, 

and facilitate the delivery of training by the training partners of the 

Department. 

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Secretary—

(1) for the Center for Domestic Preparedness—

(A) $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) $66,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

(2) for the National Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center, the National Center for Biomedical Research and 

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ing Center, the National Exercise, Test, and Training Center, 

the Transportation Technology Center, Incorporated, and the 

National Disaster Preparedness Training Center each— (A) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $24,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) $25,500,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

(e) SAVINGS PROVISION.—From the amounts appropriated pursuant to this section, the Secretary shall ensure that future amounts 

provided to each of the following entities are not less than the 

amounts provided to each such entity for participation in the Consortium in fiscal year 2007: 

(1) the Center for Domestic Preparedness; 

(2) the National Energetic Materials Research and Testing 

Center, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; 

(3) the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training, Louisiana State University; 

(4) the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training 

Center, Texas A&M University; and 

(5) the National Exercise, Test, and Training Center, Nevada Test Site. 

SEC. 1205. NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CENTER OF EXCELLENCE. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a National 

Transportation Security Center of Excellence to conduct research 

and education activities, and to develop or provide professional security training, including the training of transportation employees 

and transportation professionals. 

(b) DESIGNATION.—The Secretary shall select one of the institutions identified in subsection (c) as the lead institution responsible 

for coordinating the National Transportation Security Center of Excellence. 

(c) MEMBER INSTITUTIONS.—

(1) CONSORTIUM.—The institution of higher education selected under subsection (b) shall execute agreements with the 

other institutions of higher education identified in this subsection and other institutions designated by the Secretary to develop a consortium to assist in accomplishing the goals of the 

Center. 

(2) MEMBERS.—The National Transportation Security Center of Excellence shall consist of— (A) Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas; 

(B) the National Transit Institute at Rutgers, The State 

University of New Jersey; 

(C) Tougaloo College; 

(D) the Connecticut Transportation Institute at the 

University of Connecticut; 

(E) the Homeland Security Management Institute, 

Long Island University; 

(F) the Mack-Blackwell National Rural Transportation 

Study Center at the University of Arkansas; and 

(G) any additional institutions or facilities designated 

by the Secretary. 

(3) CERTAIN INCLUSIONS.—To the extent practicable, the 

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tional consortium colleges or universities designated by the Secretary under this subsection are Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities. 

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to carry out this section—

(1) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(2) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(3) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(4) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

SEC. 1206. IMMUNITY FOR REPORTS OF SUSPECTED TERRORIST ACTIVITY OR SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR AND RESPONSE. 

(a) IMMUNITY FOR REPORTS OF SUSPECTED TERRORIST ACTIVITY

OR SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Any person who, in good faith and based 

on objectively reasonable suspicion, makes, or causes to be 

made, a voluntary report of covered activity to an authorized official shall be immune from civil liability under Federal, State, 

and local law for such report. 

(2) FALSE REPORTS.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any 

report that the person knew to be false or was made with reckless disregard for the truth at the time that person made that 

report. 

(b) IMMUNITY FOR RESPONSE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Any authorized official who observes, or 

receives a report of, covered activity and takes reasonable action 

in good faith to respond to such activity shall have qualified 

immunity from civil liability for such action, consistent with 

applicable law in the relevant jurisdiction. An authorized official as defined by subsection (d)(1)(A) not entitled to assert the 

defense of qualified immunity shall nevertheless be immune 

from civil liability under Federal, State, and local law if such 

authorized official takes reasonable action, in good faith, to respond to the reported activity. 

(2) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this subsection shall affect the ability of any authorized official to assert any defense, 

privilege, or immunity that would otherwise be available, and 

this subsection shall not be construed as affecting any such defense, privilege, or immunity. 

(c) ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS.—Any person or authorized official found to be immune from civil liability under this section shall 

be entitled to recover from the plaintiff all reasonable costs and attorney fees. 

(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL.—The term ‘‘authorized official’’

means—

(A) any employee or agent of a passenger transportation system or other person with responsibilities relating 

to the security of such systems; 

(B) any officer, employee, or agent of the Department of 

Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, or 

the Department of Justice with responsibilities relating to 

the security of passenger transportation systems; or 

(C) any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer. 

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(2) COVERED ACTIVITY.—The term ‘‘covered activity’’ means 

any suspicious transaction, activity, or occurrence that involves, 

or is directed against, a passenger transportation system or vehicle or its passengers indicating that an individual may be engaging, or preparing to engage, in a violation of law relating 

to—

(A) a threat to a passenger transportation system or 

passenger safety or security; or 

(B) an act of terrorism (as that term is defined in section 3077 of title 18, United States Code). 

(3) PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION.—The term ‘‘passenger 

transportation’’ means—

(A) public transportation, as defined in section 5302 of 

title 49, United States Code; 

(B) over-the-road bus transportation, as defined in title 

XV of this Act, and school bus transportation; 

(C) intercity passenger rail transportation as defined in 

section 24102 of title 49, United States Code; 

(D) the transportation of passengers onboard a passenger vessel as defined in section 2101 of title 46, United 

States Code; 

(E) other regularly scheduled waterborne transportation service of passengers by vessel of at least 20 gross 

tons; and 

(F) air transportation, as defined in section 40102 of 

title 49, United States Code, of passengers. 

(4) PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘passenger transportation system’’ means an entity or entities organized to provide passenger transportation using vehicles, including the infrastructure used to provide such transportation. 

(5) VEHICLE.—The term ‘‘vehicle’’ has the meaning given to 

that term in section 1992(16) of title 18, United States Code. 

(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect on October 

1, 2006, and shall apply to all activities and claims occurring on 

or after such date. 

TITLE XIII—TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 

ENHANCEMENTS 

SEC. 1301. DEFINITIONS. 

For purposes of this title, the following terms apply: 

(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 

‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on 

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 

and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 

(2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ means the Department of Homeland Security. 

(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of Homeland Security. 

(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any one of the 50 

States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern 

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Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 

and any other territory or possession of the United States. 

(5) TERRORISM.—The term ‘‘terrorism’’ has the meaning 

that term has in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

(6 U.S.C. 101). 

(6) UNITED STATES.—The term ‘‘United States’’ means the 

50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern 

Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 

and any other territory or possession of the United States. 

SEC. 1302. ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 114 of title 49, United States Code, 

as amended by section 1203 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(v) ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS AND ORDERS OF THE SEC- RETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY.— ‘‘(1) APPLICATION OF SUBSECTION.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—This subsection applies to the enforcement of regulations prescribed, and orders issued, by 

the Secretary of Homeland Security under a provision of 

chapter 701 of title 46 and under a provision of this title 

other than a provision of chapter 449 (in this subsection referred to as an ‘applicable provision of this title’). ‘‘(B) VIOLATIONS OF CHAPTER 449.—The penalties for 

violations of regulations prescribed and orders issued by 

the Secretary of Homeland Security under chapter 449 of 

this title are provided under chapter 463 of this title. ‘‘(C) NONAPPLICATION TO CERTAIN VIOLATIONS.— ‘‘(i) Paragraphs (2) through (5) do not apply to violations of regulations prescribed, and orders issued, by 

the Secretary of Homeland Security under a provision 

of this title—‘‘(I) involving the transportation of personnel 

or shipments of materials by contractors where the 

Department of Defense has assumed control and 

responsibility; ‘‘(II) by a member of the armed forces of the 

United States when performing official duties; or ‘‘(III) by a civilian employee of the Department 

of Defense when performing official duties. 

‘‘(ii) Violations described in subclause (I), (II), or 

(III) of clause (i) shall be subject to penalties as determined by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary’s 

designee. ‘‘(2) CIVIL PENALTY.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A person is liable to the United 

States Government for a civil penalty of not more than 

$10,000 for a violation of a regulation prescribed, or order 

issued, by the Secretary of Homeland Security under an applicable provision of this title. 

‘‘(B) REPEAT VIOLATIONS.—A separate violation occurs 

under this paragraph for each day the violation continues. 

‘‘(3) ADMINISTRATIVE IMPOSITION OF CIVIL PENALTIES.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security 

may impose a civil penalty for a violation of a regulation 

prescribed, or order issued, under an applicable provision 

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of this title. The Secretary shall give written notice of the 

finding of a violation and the penalty. ‘‘(B) SCOPE OF CIVIL ACTION.—In a civil action to collect a civil penalty imposed by the Secretary under this subsection, a court may not re-examine issues of liability or the 

amount of the penalty. ‘‘(C) JURISDICTION.—The district courts of the United 

States shall have exclusive jurisdiction of civil actions to 

collect a civil penalty imposed by the Secretary under this 

subsection if— ‘‘(i) the amount in controversy is more than— ‘‘(I) $400,000, if the violation was committed 

by a person other than an individual or small 

business concern; or ‘‘(II) $50,000 if the violation was committed by 

an individual or small business concern; 

‘‘(ii) the action is in rem or another action in rem 

based on the same violation has been brought; or ‘‘(iii) another action has been brought for an injunction based on the same violation. 

‘‘(D) MAXIMUM PENALTY.—The maximum civil penalty 

the Secretary administratively may impose under this paragraph is—

‘‘(i) $400,000, if the violation was committed by a 

person other than an individual or small business concern; or ‘‘(ii) $50,000, if the violation was committed by an 

individual or small business concern. 

‘‘(E) NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST HEARING.—Before imposing a penalty under this section the Secretary shall provide to the person against whom the penalty 

is to be imposed—

‘‘(i) written notice of the proposed penalty; and 

‘‘(ii) the opportunity to request a hearing on the 

proposed penalty, if the Secretary receives the request 

not later than 30 days after the date on which the person receives notice. ‘‘(4) COMPROMISE AND SETOFF.— ‘‘(A) The Secretary may compromise the amount of a 

civil penalty imposed under this subsection. ‘‘(B) The Government may deduct the amount of a civil 

penalty imposed or compromised under this subsection 

from amounts it owes the person liable for the penalty. 

‘‘(5) INVESTIGATIONS AND PROCEEDINGS.—Chapter 461 shall 

apply to investigations and proceedings brought under this subsection to the same extent that it applies to investigations and 

proceedings brought with respect to aviation security duties designated to be carried out by the Secretary. 

‘‘(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: ‘‘(A) PERSON.—The term ‘person’ does not include— ‘‘(i) the United States Postal Service; or 

‘‘(ii) the Department of Defense. ‘‘(B) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.—The term ‘small business concern’ has the meaning given that term in section 3 

of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). 

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‘‘(7) ENFORCEMENT TRANSPARENCY.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31, 2008, 

and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall—

‘‘(i) provide an annual summary to the public of 

all enforcement actions taken by the Secretary under 

this subsection; and 

‘‘(ii) include in each such summary the docket 

number of each enforcement action, the type of alleged 

violation, the penalty or penalties proposed, and the 

final assessment amount of each penalty. 

‘‘(B) ELECTRONIC AVAILABILITY.—Each summary under 

this paragraph shall be made available to the public by 

electronic means. 

‘‘(C) RELATIONSHIP TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

ACT AND THE PRIVACY ACT.—Nothing in this subsection 

shall be construed to require disclosure of information or 

records that are exempt from disclosure under sections 552 

or 552a of title 5. 

‘‘(D) ENFORCEMENT GUIDANCE.—Not later than 180 

days after the enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the 

Secretary shall provide a report to the public describing the 

enforcement process established under this subsection.’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 46301(a)(4) of title 49, 

United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or another requirement 

under this title administered by the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security’’. 

SEC. 1303. AUTHORIZATION OF VISIBLE INTERMODAL PREVENTION 

AND RESPONSE TEAMS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, may develop 

Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (referred to in this section as ‘‘VIPR’’) teams to augment the security of any mode of transportation at any location within the United States. In forming a 

VIPR team, the Secretary—

(1) may use any asset of the Department, including Federal 

air marshals, surface transportation security inspectors, canine 

detection teams, and advanced screening technology; 

(2) may determine when a VIPR team shall be deployed, as 

well as the duration of the deployment; 

(3) shall, prior to and during the deployment, consult with 

local security and law enforcement officials in the jurisdiction 

where the VIPR team is or will be deployed, to develop and 

agree upon the appropriate operational protocols and provide 

relevant information about the mission of the VIPR team, as 

appropriate; and 

(4) shall, prior to and during the deployment, consult with 

all transportation entities directly affected by the deployment of 

a VIPR team, as appropriate, including railroad carriers, air 

carriers, airport owners, over-the-road bus operators and terminal owners and operators, motor carriers, public transportation agencies, owners or operators of highways, port operators 

and facility owners, vessel owners and operators and pipeline 

operators. 

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(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section such 

sums as necessary for fiscal years 2007 through 2011. 

SEC. 1304. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY INSPECTORS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, is authorized 

to train, employ, and utilize surface transportation security inspectors. 

(b) MISSION.—The Secretary shall use surface transportation security inspectors to assist surface transportation carriers, operators, 

owners, entities, and facilities to enhance their security against terrorist attack and other security threats and to assist the Secretary 

in enforcing applicable surface transportation security regulations 

and directives. 

(c) AUTHORITIES.—Surface transportation security inspectors 

employed pursuant to this section shall be authorized such powers 

and delegated such responsibilities as the Secretary determines appropriate, subject to subsection (e). 

(d) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall require that surface 

transportation security inspectors have relevant transportation experience and other security and inspection qualifications, as determined appropriate. 

(e) LIMITATIONS.—

(1) INSPECTORS.—Surface transportation inspectors shall be 

prohibited from issuing fines to public transportation agencies, 

as defined in title XIV, for violations of the Department’s regulations or orders except through the process described in paragraph (2). 

(2) CIVIL PENALTIES.—The Secretary shall be prohibited 

from assessing civil penalties against public transportation 

agencies, as defined in title XIV, for violations of the Department’s regulations or orders, except in accordance with the following: 

(A) In the case of a public transportation agency that 

is found to be in violation of a regulation or order issued 

by the Secretary, the Secretary shall seek correction of the 

violation through a written notice to the public transportation agency and shall give the public transportation 

agency reasonable opportunity to correct the violation or 

propose an alternative means of compliance acceptable to 

the Secretary. 

(B) If the public transportation agency does not correct 

the violation or propose an alternative means of compliance 

acceptable to the Secretary within a reasonable time period 

that is specified in the written notice, the Secretary may 

take any action authorized in section 114 of title 49, United 

States Code, as amended by this Act. 

(3) LIMITATION ON SECRETARY.—The Secretary shall not 

initiate civil enforcement actions for violations of administrative 

and procedural requirements pertaining to the application for, 

and expenditure of, funds awarded under transportation security grant programs under this Act. 

(f) NUMBER OF INSPECTORS.—The Secretary shall employ up to 

a total of—

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(1) 100 surface transportation security inspectors in fiscal 

year 2007; 

(2) 150 surface transportation security inspectors in fiscal 

year 2008; 

(3) 175 surface transportation security inspectors in fiscal 

year 2009; and 

(4) 200 surface transportation security inspectors in fiscal 

years 2010 and 2011. 

(g) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall ensure that the mission of the surface transportation security inspectors is consistent 

with any relevant risk assessments required by this Act or completed by the Department, the modal plans required under section 

114(t) of title 49, United States Code, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and the Department of Transportation on Roles and Responsibilities, dated September 28, 2004, and 

any and all subsequent annexes to this Memorandum of Understanding, and other relevant documents setting forth the Department’s transportation security strategy, as appropriate. 

(h) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall periodically consult 

with the surface transportation entities which are or may be inspected by the surface transportation security inspectors, including, 

as appropriate, railroad carriers, over-the-road bus operators and 

terminal owners and operators, motor carriers, public transportation agencies, owners or operators of highways, and pipeline operators on—

(1) the inspectors’ duties, responsibilities, authorities, and 

mission; and 

(2) strategies to improve transportation security and to ensure compliance with transportation security requirements. 

(i) REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General shall transmit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on the performance 

and effectiveness of surface transportation security inspectors, 

whether there is a need for additional inspectors, and other recommendations. 

(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section—

(1) $11,400,000 for fiscal year 2007; 

(2) $17,100,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(3) $19,950,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(4) $22,800,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(5) $22,800,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

SEC. 1305. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SHARING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—

(1) INFORMATION SHARING.—The Secretary, in consultation 

with the Secretary of Transportation, shall establish a program 

to provide appropriate information that the Department has 

gathered or developed on the performance, use, and testing of 

technologies that may be used to enhance railroad, public transportation, and surface transportation security to surface transportation entities, including railroad carriers, over-the-road bus 

operators and terminal owners and operators, motor carriers, 

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ways, pipeline operators, and State, local, and tribal governments that provide security assistance to such entities. 

(2) DESIGNATION OF QUALIFIED ANTITERRORISM TECHNOLOGIES.—The Secretary shall include in such information 

provided in paragraph (1) whether the technology is designated 

as a qualified antiterrorism technology under the Support Antiterrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296), as appropriate. 

(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program is to assist eligible 

grant recipients under this Act and others, as appropriate, to purchase and use the best technology and equipment available to meet 

the security needs of the Nation’s surface transportation system. 

(c) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall ensure that the program established under this section makes use of and is consistent 

with other Department technology testing, information sharing, 

evaluation, and standards-setting programs, as appropriate. 

SEC. 1306. TSA PERSONNEL LIMITATIONS. 

Any statutory limitation on the number of employees in the 

Transportation Security Administration does not apply to employees 

carrying out this title and titles XII, XIV, and XV. 

SEC. 1307. NATIONAL EXPLOSIVES DETECTION CANINE TEAM TRAINING PROGRAM. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘explosives detection canine team’’ means a canine and a canine handler 

that are trained to detect explosives, radiological materials, chemical, nuclear or biological weapons, or other threats as defined by 

the Secretary. 

(b) IN GENERAL.—

(1) INCREASED CAPACITY.—Not later than 180 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall—

(A) begin to increase the number of explosives detection 

canine teams certified by the Transportation Security Administration for the purposes of transportation-related security by up to 200 canine teams annually by the end of 2010; 

and 

(B) encourage State, local, and tribal governments and 

private owners of high-risk transportation facilities to 

strengthen security through the use of highly trained explosives detection canine teams. 

(2) EXPLOSIVES DETECTION CANINE TEAMS.—The Secretary 

of Homeland Security shall increase the number of explosives 

detection canine teams by—

(A) using the Transportation Security Administration’s 

National Explosives Detection Canine Team Training Center, including expanding and upgrading existing facilities, 

procuring and breeding additional canines, and increasing 

staffing and oversight commensurate with the increased 

training and deployment capabilities; 

(B) partnering with other Federal, State, or local agencies, nonprofit organizations, universities, or the private 

sector to increase the training capacity for canine detection 

teams; 

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(C) procuring explosives detection canines trained by 

nonprofit organizations, universities, or the private sector 

provided they are trained in a manner consistent with the 

standards and requirements developed pursuant to subsection (c) or other criteria developed by the Secretary; or 

(D) a combination of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), 

as appropriate. 

(c) STANDARDS FOR EXPLOSIVES DETECTION CANINE TEAMS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Based on the feasibility in meeting the 

ongoing demand for quality explosives detection canine teams, 

the Secretary shall establish criteria, including canine training 

curricula, performance standards, and other requirements approved by the Transportation Security Administration necessary 

to ensure that explosives detection canine teams trained by nonprofit organizations, universities, and private sector entities are 

adequately trained and maintained. 

(2) EXPANSION.—In developing and implementing such curriculum, performance standards, and other requirements, the 

Secretary shall—

(A) coordinate with key stakeholders, including international, Federal, State, and local officials, and private 

sector and academic entities to develop best practice guidelines for such a standardized program, as appropriate; 

(B) require that explosives detection canine teams 

trained by nonprofit organizations, universities, or private 

sector entities that are used or made available by the Secretary be trained consistent with specific training criteria 

developed by the Secretary; and 

(C) review the status of the private sector programs on 

at least an annual basis to ensure compliance with training 

curricula, performance standards, and other requirements. 

(d) DEPLOYMENT.—The Secretary shall—

(1) use the additional explosives detection canine teams as 

part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen security across the 

Nation’s transportation network, and may use the canine teams 

on a more limited basis to support other homeland security missions, as determined appropriate by the Secretary; 

(2) make available explosives detection canine teams to all 

modes of transportation, for high-risk areas or to address specific threats, on an as-needed basis and as otherwise determined appropriate by the Secretary; 

(3) encourage, but not require, any transportation facility or 

system to deploy TSA-certified explosives detection canine teams 

developed under this section; and 

(4) consider specific needs and training requirements for explosives detection canine teams to be deployed across the Nation’s transportation network, including in venues of multiple 

modes of transportation, as appropriate. 

(e) CANINE PROCUREMENT.—The Secretary, acting through the 

Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall 

work to ensure that explosives detection canine teams are procured 

as efficiently as possible and at the best price, while maintaining 

the needed level of quality, including, if appropriate, through increased domestic breeding. 

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(f) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

of this Act, the Comptroller General shall report to the appropriate 

congressional committees on the utilization of explosives detection 

canine teams to strengthen security and the capacity of the national 

explosive detection canine team program. 

(g) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated 

to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 

section for fiscal years 2007 through 2011. 

SEC. 1308. MARITIME AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 

USER FEE STUDY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 

conduct a study of the need for, and feasibility of, establishing a 

system of maritime and surface transportation-related user fees that 

may be imposed and collected as a dedicated revenue source, on a 

temporary or continuing basis, to provide necessary funding for legitimate improvements to, and maintenance of, maritime and surface transportation security, including vessel and facility plans required under section 70103(c) of title 46, United States Code. In developing the study, the Secretary shall consult with maritime and 

surface transportation carriers, shippers, passengers, facility owners 

and operators, and other persons as determined by the Secretary. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional 

committees that contains—

(1) the results of the study; 

(2) an assessment of the annual sources of funding collected 

through maritime and surface transportation at ports of entry 

and a detailed description of the distribution and use of such 

funds, including the amount and percentage of such sources 

that are dedicated to improve and maintain security; 

(3) an assessment of—

(A) the fees, charges, and standards imposed on United 

States ports, port terminal operators, shippers, carriers, 

and other persons who use United States ports of entry 

compared with the fees and charges imposed on Canadian 

and Mexican ports, Canadian and Mexican port terminal 

operators, shippers, carriers, and other persons who use 

Canadian or Mexican ports of entry; and 

(B) the impact of such fees, charges, and standards on 

the competitiveness of United States ports, port terminal 

operators, railroad carriers, motor carriers, pipelines, other 

transportation modes, and shippers; 

(4) the private efforts and investments to secure maritime 

and surface transportation modes, including those that are 

operational and those that are planned; and 

(5) the Secretary’s recommendations based upon the study, 

and an assessment of the consistency of such recommendations 

with the international obligations and commitments of the 

United States. 

(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) PORT OF ENTRY.—The term ‘‘port of entry’’ means any 

port or other facility through which foreign goods are permitted 

to enter the customs territory of a country under official supervision. 

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(2) MARITIME AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION.—The term ‘‘maritime and surface transportation’’ includes ocean borne 

and vehicular transportation. 

SEC. 1309. PROHIBITION OF ISSUANCE OF TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CARDS TO CONVICTED FELONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, 

is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘decides that the individual poses a security risk under subsection (c)’’ and inserting ‘‘determines under subsection (c) that the individual poses a security risk’’; and 

(2) in subsection (c), by amending paragraph (1) to read as 

follows: ‘‘(1) DISQUALIFICATIONS.— ‘‘(A) PERMANENT DISQUALIFYING CRIMINAL OFFENSES.— Except as provided under paragraph (2), an individual is 

permanently disqualified from being issued a biometric 

transportation security card under subsection (b) if the individual has been convicted, or found not guilty by reason 

of insanity, in a civilian or military jurisdiction of any of 

the following felonies: ‘‘(i) Espionage or conspiracy to commit espionage. 

‘‘(ii) Sedition or conspiracy to commit sedition. 

‘‘(iii) Treason or conspiracy to commit treason. 

‘‘(iv) A Federal crime of terrorism (as defined in 

section 2332b(g) of title 18), a crime under a comparable State law, or conspiracy to commit such crime. ‘‘(v) A crime involving a transportation security incident. ‘‘(vi) Improper transportation of a hazardous material in violation of section 5104(b) of title 49, or a comparable State law. ‘‘(vii) Unlawful possession, use, sale, distribution, 

manufacture, purchase, receipt, transfer, shipment, 

transportation, delivery, import, export, or storage of, 

or dealing in, an explosive or explosive device. In this 

clause, an explosive or explosive device includes—

‘‘(I) an explosive (as defined in sections 232(5) 

and 844(j) of title 18); 

‘‘(II) explosive materials (as defined in subsections (c) through (f) of section 841 of title 18); 

and 

‘‘(III) a destructive device (as defined in 

921(a)(4) of title 18 or section 5845(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986). 

‘‘(viii) Murder. 

‘‘(ix) Making any threat, or maliciously conveying 

false information knowing the same to be false, concerning the deliverance, placement, or detonation of an 

explosive or other lethal device in or against a place of 

public use, a State or other government facility, a public transportation system, or an infrastructure facility. 

‘‘(x) A violation of chapter 96 of title 18, popularly 

known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or a comparable State law, if one of the 

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predicate acts found by a jury or admitted by the defendant consists of one of the crimes listed in this subparagraph. 

‘‘(xi) Attempt to commit any of the crimes listed in 

clauses (i) through (iv). 

‘‘(xii) Conspiracy or attempt to commit any of the 

crimes described in clauses (v) through (x). 

‘‘(B) INTERIM DISQUALIFYING CRIMINAL OFFENSES.—Except as provided under paragraph (2), an individual is disqualified from being issued a biometric transportation security card under subsection (b) if the individual has been 

convicted, or found not guilty by reason of insanity, during 

the 7-year period ending on the date on which the individual applies for such card, or was released from incarceration during the 5-year period ending on the date on which 

the individual applies for such card, of any of the following 

felonies: 

‘‘(i) Unlawful possession, use, sale, manufacture, 

purchase, distribution, receipt, transfer, shipment, 

transportation, delivery, import, export, or storage of, 

or dealing in, a firearm or other weapon. In this 

clause, a firearm or other weapon includes—

‘‘(I) firearms (as defined in section 921(a)(3) of 

title 18 or section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue 

Code of 1986); and 

‘‘(II) items contained on the U.S. Munitions 

Import List under section 447.21 of title 27, Code 

of Federal Regulations. 

‘‘(ii) Extortion. 

‘‘(iii) Dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation, including identity fraud and money laundering if the 

money laundering is related to a crime described in 

this subparagraph or subparagraph (A). In this clause, 

welfare fraud and passing bad checks do not constitute 

dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation. 

‘‘(iv) Bribery. 

‘‘(v) Smuggling. 

‘‘(vi) Immigration violations. 

‘‘(vii) Distribution of, possession with intent to distribute, or importation of a controlled substance. 

‘‘(viii) Arson. 

‘‘(ix) Kidnaping or hostage taking. 

‘‘(x) Rape or aggravated sexual abuse. 

‘‘(xi) Assault with intent to kill. 

‘‘(xii) Robbery. 

‘‘(xiii) Conspiracy or attempt to commit any of the 

crimes listed in this subparagraph. 

‘‘(xiv) Fraudulent entry into a seaport in violation 

of section 1036 of title 18, or a comparable State law. 

‘‘(xv) A violation of the chapter 96 of title 18, popularly known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt 

Organizations Act or a comparable State law, other 

than any of the violations listed in subparagraph 

(A)(x). 

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‘‘(C) UNDER WANT, WARRANT, OR INDICTMENT.—An applicant who is wanted, or under indictment, in any civilian 

or military jurisdiction for a felony listed in paragraph 

(1)(A), is disqualified from being issued a biometric transportation security card under subsection (b) until the want 

or warrant is released or the indictment is dismissed. 

‘‘(D) OTHER POTENTIAL DISQUALIFICATIONS.—Except as 

provided under subparagraphs (A) through (C), an individual may not be denied a transportation security card 

under subsection (b) unless the Secretary determines that 

individual—

‘‘(i) has been convicted within the preceding 7-year 

period of a felony or found not guilty by reason of insanity of a felony—

‘‘(I) that the Secretary believes could cause the 

individual to be a terrorism security risk to the 

United States; or 

‘‘(II) for causing a severe transportation security incident; 

‘‘(ii) has been released from incarceration within 

the preceding 5-year period for committing a felony described in clause (i); 

‘‘(iii) may be denied admission to the United States 

or removed from the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); or 

‘‘(iv) otherwise poses a terrorism security risk to the 

United States. 

‘‘(E) MODIFICATION OF LISTED OFFENSES.—The Secretary may, by rulemaking, add to or modify the list of disqualifying crimes described in paragraph (1)(B).’’. 

SEC. 1310. ROLES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND 

THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. 

The Secretary of Homeland Security is the principal Federal official responsible for transportation security. The roles and responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation in carrying out this title and titles XII, XIV, 

and XV are the roles and responsibilities of such Departments pursuant to the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (Public Law 

107–71); the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 

2004 (Public Law 108–458); the National Infrastructure Protection 

Plan required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7; The 

Homeland Security Act of 2002; The National Response Plan; Executive Order 13416: Strengthening Surface Transportation Security, 

dated December 5, 2006; the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and the Department of Transportation on 

Roles and Responsibilities, dated September 28, 2004 and any and 

all subsequent annexes to this Memorandum of Understanding; and 

any other relevant agreements between the two Departments. 

TITLE XIV—PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 

SEC. 1401. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Transit Systems Security Act of 2007’’. 

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SEC. 1402. DEFINITIONS. 

For purposes of this title, the following terms apply: 

(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 

‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means the Committee 

on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee 

on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 

and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 

(2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ means the Department of Homeland Security. 

(3) DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS CONCERNS.—The term ‘‘disadvantaged business concerns’’ means small businesses that are 

owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals as defined in section 124, title 13, Code of 

Federal Regulations. 

(4) FRONTLINE EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘‘frontline employee’’

means an employee of a public transportation agency who is a 

transit vehicle driver or operator, dispatcher, maintenance and 

maintenance support employee, station attendant, customer 

service employee, security employee, or transit police, or any 

other employee who has direct contact with riders on a regular 

basis, and any other employee of a public transportation agency 

that the Secretary determines should receive security training 

under section 1408. 

(5) PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AGENCY.—The term ‘‘public 

transportation agency’’ means a publicly owned operator of public transportation eligible to receive Federal assistance under 

chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code. 

(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of Homeland Security. 

SEC. 1403. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds that—

(1) 182 public transportation systems throughout the world 

have been primary targets of terrorist attacks; 

(2) more than 6,000 public transportation agencies operate 

in the United States; 

(3) people use public transportation vehicles 33,000,000 

times each day; 

(4) the Federal Transit Administration has invested 

$93,800,000,000 since 1992 for construction and improvements; 

(5) the Federal investment in transit security has been insufficient; and 

(6) greater Federal investment in transit security improvements per passenger boarding is necessary to better protect the 

American people, given transit’s vital importance in creating 

mobility and promoting our Nation’s economy. 

SEC. 1404. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY. 

(a) NATIONAL STRATEGY.—Not later than 9 months after the 

date of enactment of this Act and based upon the previous and ongoing security assessments conducted by the Department and the 

Department of Transportation, the Secretary, consistent with and as 

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velop and implement the modal plan for public transportation, entitled the ‘‘National Strategy for Public Transportation Security’’. 

(b) PURPOSE.—

(1) GUIDELINES.—In developing the National Strategy for 

Public Transportation Security, the Secretary shall establish 

guidelines for public transportation security that—

(A) minimize security threats to public transportation 

systems; and 

(B) maximize the abilities of public transportation systems to mitigate damage resulting from terrorist attack or 

other major incident. 

(2) ASSESSMENTS AND CONSULTATIONS.—In developing the 

National Strategy for Public Transportation Security, the Secretary shall—

(A) use established and ongoing public transportation 

security assessments as the basis of the National Strategy 

for Public Transportation Security; and 

(B) consult with all relevant stakeholders, including 

public transportation agencies, nonprofit labor organizations representing public transportation employees, emergency responders, public safety officials, and other relevant 

parties. 

(c) CONTENTS.—In the National Strategy for Public Transportation Security, the Secretary shall describe prioritized goals, objectives, policies, actions, and schedules to improve the security of public transportation. 

(d) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Secretary shall include in the National Strategy for Public Transportation Security a description of 

the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of Federal, State, and 

local agencies, tribal governments, and appropriate stakeholders. 

The plan shall also include—

(1) the identification of, and a plan to address, gaps and 

unnecessary overlaps in the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of Federal agencies; and 

(2) a process for coordinating existing or future security 

strategies and plans for public transportation, including the 

National Infrastructure Protection Plan required by Homeland 

Security Presidential Directive 7; Executive Order 13416: 

Strengthening Surface Transportation Security dated December 

5, 2006; the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and the Department of Transportation on Roles and 

Responsibilities dated September 28, 2004; and subsequent annexes and agreements. 

(e) ADEQUACY OF EXISTING PLANS AND STRATEGIES.—In developing the National Strategy for Public Transportation Security, the 

Secretary shall use relevant existing risk assessments and strategies 

developed by the Department or other Federal agencies, including 

those developed or implemented pursuant to section 114(t) of title 

49, United States Code, or Homeland Security Presidential Directive 

7. 

(f) FUNDING.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

SEC. 1405. SECURITY ASSESSMENTS AND PLANS. 

(a) PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ASSESSMENTS.—

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(1) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 30 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Transit 

Administration of the Department of Transportation shall submit all public transportation security assessments and all other 

relevant information to the Secretary. 

(2) SECRETARIAL REVIEW.—Not later than 60 days after receiving the submission under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 

review and augment the security assessments received, and conduct additional security assessments as necessary to ensure that 

at a minimum, all high risk public transportation agencies, as 

determined by the Secretary, will have a completed security assessment. 

(3) CONTENT.—The Secretary shall ensure that each completed security assessment includes—

(A) identification of critical assets, infrastructure, and 

systems and their vulnerabilities; and 

(B) identification of any other security weaknesses, including weaknesses in emergency response planning and 

employee training. 

(b) BUS AND RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.—Not 

later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—

(1) conduct security assessments, based on a representative 

sample, to determine the specific needs of—

(A) local bus-only public transportation systems; and 

(B) public transportation systems that receive funds 

under section 5311 of title 49, United States Code; and 

(2) make the representative assessments available for use by 

similarly situated systems. 

(c) SECURITY PLANS.—

(1) REQUIREMENT FOR PLAN.—

(A) HIGH RISK AGENCIES.—The Secretary shall require 

public transportation agencies determined by the Secretary 

to be at high risk for terrorism to develop a comprehensive 

security plan. The Secretary shall provide technical assistance and guidance to public transportation agencies in preparing and implementing security plans under this section. 

(B) OTHER AGENCIES.—Provided that no public transportation agency that has not been designated high risk 

shall be required to develop a security plan, the Secretary 

may also establish a security program for public transportation agencies not designated high risk by the Secretary, 

to assist those public transportation agencies which request 

assistance, including—

(i) guidance to assist such agencies in conducting 

security assessments and preparing and implementing 

security plans; and 

(ii) a process for the Secretary to review and approve such assessments and plans, as appropriate. 

(2) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—The Secretary shall ensure that 

security plans include, as appropriate—

(A) a prioritized list of all items included in the public 

transportation agency’s security assessment that have not 

yet been addressed; 

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(B) a detailed list of any additional capital and operational improvements identified by the Department or the 

public transportation agency and a certification of the public transportation agency’s technical capacity for operating 

and maintaining any security equipment that may be identified in such list; 

(C) specific procedures to be implemented or used by 

the public transportation agency in response to a terrorist 

attack, including evacuation and passenger communication 

plans and appropriate evacuation and communication 

measures for the elderly and individuals with disabilities; 

(D) a coordinated response plan that establishes procedures for appropriate interaction with State and local law 

enforcement agencies, emergency responders, and Federal 

officials in order to coordinate security measures and plans 

for response in the event of a terrorist attack or other major 

incident; 

(E) a strategy and timeline for conducting training 

under section 1408; 

(F) plans for providing redundant and other appropriate backup systems necessary to ensure the continued operation of critical elements of the public transportation system in the event of a terrorist attack or other major incident; 

(G) plans for providing service capabilities throughout 

the system in the event of a terrorist attack or other major 

incident in the city or region which the public transportation system serves; 

(H) methods to mitigate damage within a public transportation system in case of an attack on the system, including a plan for communication and coordination with emergency responders; and 

(I) other actions or procedures as the Secretary determines are appropriate to address the security of the public 

transportation system. 

(3) REVIEW.—Not later than 6 months after receiving the 

plans required under this section, the Secretary shall—

(A) review each security plan submitted; 

(B) require the public transportation agency to make 

any amendments needed to ensure that the plan meets the 

requirements of this section; and 

(C) approve any security plan that meets the requirements of this section. 

(4) EXEMPTION.—The Secretary shall not require a public 

transportation agency to develop a security plan under paragraph (1) if the agency does not receive a grant under section 

1406. 

(5) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the exemption provided in paragraph (4) to require a public transportation agency to develop a security plan under paragraph (1) in the absence of grant funds under section 1406 if not less than 3 days 

after making the determination the Secretary provides the appropriate congressional committees and the public transportation agency written notification detailing the need for the semstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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curity plan, the reasons grant funding has not been made available, and the reason the agency has been designated high risk. 

(d) CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER PLANS.—The Secretary shall ensure that the security plans developed by public transportation 

agencies under this section are consistent with the security assessments developed by the Department and the National Strategy for 

Public Transportation Security developed under section 1404. 

(e) UPDATES.—Not later than September 30, 2008, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall— (1) update the security assessments referred to in subsection 

(a); 

(2) update the security improvement priorities required 

under subsection (f); and 

(3) require public transportation agencies to update the security plans required under subsection (c) as appropriate. 

(f) SECURITY IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning in fiscal year 2008 and each 

fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary, after consultation with 

management and nonprofit employee labor organizations representing public transportation employees as appropriate, and 

with appropriate State and local officials, shall utilize the information developed or received in this section to establish security improvement priorities unique to each individual public 

transportation agency that has been assessed. 

(2) ALLOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall use the security improvement priorities established in paragraph (1) as the basis 

for allocating risk-based grant funds under section 1406, unless 

the Secretary notifies the appropriate congressional committees 

that the Secretary has determined an adjustment is necessary 

to respond to an urgent threat or other significant national security factors. 

(g) SHARED FACILITIES.—The Secretary shall encourage the development and implementation of coordinated assessments and security plans to the extent a public transportation agency shares facilities (such as tunnels, bridges, stations, or platforms) with another public transportation agency, a freight or passenger railroad 

carrier, or over-the-road bus operator that are geographically close 

or otherwise co-located. 

(h) NONDISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.— (1) SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION TO CONGRESS.—Nothing 

in this section shall be construed as authorizing the withholding of any information from Congress. 

(2) DISCLOSURE OF INDEPENDENTLY FURNISHED INFORMATION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting 

any authority or obligation of a Federal agency to disclose any 

record or information that the Federal agency obtains from a 

public transportation agency under any other Federal law. 

(i) DETERMINATION.—In response to a petition by a public 

transportation agency or at the discretion of the Secretary, the Secretary may recognize existing procedures, protocols, and standards 

of a public transportation agency that the Secretary determines meet 

all or part of the requirements of this section regarding security assessments or security plans. 

SEC. 1406. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ASSISTANCE. 

(a) SECURITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—

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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a program 

for making grants to eligible public transportation agencies for 

security improvements described in subsection (b). 

(2) ELIGIBILITY.—A public transportation agency is eligible 

for a grant under this section if the Secretary has performed a 

security assessment or the agency has developed a security plan 

under section 1405. Grant funds shall only be awarded for permissible uses under subsection (b) to— (A) address items included in a security assessment; or 

(B) further a security plan. 

(b) USES OF FUNDS.—A recipient of a grant under subsection 

(a) shall use the grant funds for one or more of the following: 

(1) Capital uses of funds, including— (A) tunnel protection systems; 

(B) perimeter protection systems, including access control, installation of improved lighting, fencing, and barricades; 

(C) redundant critical operations control systems; 

(D) chemical, biological, radiological, or explosive detection systems, including the acquisition of canines used 

for such detection; 

(E) surveillance equipment; 

(F) communications equipment, including mobile service equipment to provide access to wireless Enhanced 911 

(E911) emergency services in an underground fixed guideway system; 

(G) emergency response equipment, including personal 

protective equipment; 

(H) fire suppression and decontamination equipment; 

(I) global positioning or tracking and recovery equipment, and other automated-vehicle-locator-type system 

equipment; 

(J) evacuation improvements; 

(K) purchase and placement of bomb-resistant trash 

cans throughout public transportation facilities, including 

subway exits, entrances, and tunnels; 

(L) capital costs associated with security awareness, security preparedness, and security response training, including training under section 1408 and exercises under section 

1407; 

(M) security improvements for public transportation 

systems, including extensions thereto, in final design or 

under construction; 

(N) security improvements for stations and other public 

transportation infrastructure, including stations and other 

public transportation infrastructure owned by State or local 

governments; and 

(O) other capital security improvements determined appropriate by the Secretary. 

(2) Operating uses of funds, including—

(A) security training, including training under section 

1408 and training developed by institutions of higher education and by nonprofit employee labor organizations, for 

public transportation employees, including frontline employees; 

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(B) live or simulated exercises under section 1407; 

(C) public awareness campaigns for enhanced public 

transportation security; 

(D) canine patrols for chemical, radiological, biological, 

or explosives detection; 

(E) development of security plans under section 1405; 

(F) overtime reimbursement including reimbursement 

of State, local, and tribal governments, for costs for enhanced security personnel during significant national and 

international public events; 

(G) operational costs, including reimbursement of 

State, local, and tribal governments for costs for personnel 

assigned to full-time or part-time security or 

counterterrorism duties related to public transportation, 

provided that this expense totals no more than 10 percent 

of the total grant funds received by a public transportation 

agency in any 1 year; and 

(H) other operational security costs determined appropriate by the Secretary, excluding routine, ongoing personnel costs, other than those set forth in this section. 

(c) DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES.— In carrying out the responsibilities under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) determine the requirements for recipients of grants 

under this section, including application requirements; 

(2) pursuant to subsection (a)(2), select the recipients of 

grants based solely on risk; and 

(3) pursuant to subsection (b), establish the priorities for 

which grant funds may be used under this section. 

(d) DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS.—Not later than 90 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of 

Transportation shall determine the most effective and efficient way 

to distribute grant funds to the recipients of grants determined by 

the Secretary under subsection (a). Subject to the determination 

made by the Secretaries, the Secretary may transfer funds to the 

Secretary of Transportation for the purposes of disbursing funds to 

the grant recipient. 

(e) SUBJECT TO CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Except as 

otherwise specifically provided in this section, a grant provided 

under this section shall be subject to the terms and conditions applicable to a grant made under section 5307 of title 49, United States 

Code, as in effect on January 1, 2007, and such other terms and 

conditions as are determined necessary by the Secretary. 

(f) LIMITATION ON USES OF FUNDS.—Grants made under this 

section may not be used to make any State or local government costsharing contribution under any other Federal law. 

(g) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Each recipient of a grant under this section shall report annually to the Secretary on the use of the grant 

funds. 

(h) GUIDELINES.—Before distribution of funds to recipients of 

grants, the Secretary shall issue guidelines to ensure that, to the extent that recipients of grants under this section use contractors or 

subcontractors, such recipients shall use small, minority, womenowned, or disadvantaged business concerns as contractors or subcontractors to the extent practicable. 

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(i) COORDINATION WITH STATE HOMELAND SECURITY PLANS.— In establishing security improvement priorities under section 1405 

and in awarding grants for capital security improvements and operational security improvements under subsection (b), the Secretary 

shall act consistently with relevant State homeland security plans. 

(j) MULTISTATE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.—In cases in which 

a public transportation system operates in more than one State, the 

Secretary shall give appropriate consideration to the risks of the entire system, including those portions of the States into which the 

system crosses, in establishing security improvement priorities 

under section 1405 and in awarding grants for capital security improvements and operational security improvements under subsection 

(b). 

(k) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 3 days before the award of any grant under this section, the Secretary shall 

notify simultaneously, the appropriate congressional committees of 

the intent to award such grant. 

(l) RETURN OF MISSPENT GRANT FUNDS.—The Secretary shall 

establish a process to require the return of any misspent grant funds 

received under this section determined to have been spent for a purpose other than those specified in the grant award. 

(m) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (1) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 

to make grants under this section— (A) such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2007; 

(B) $650,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, except that not 

more than 50 percent of such funds may be used for operational costs under subsection (b)(2); 

(C) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, except that not 

more than 30 percent of such funds may be used for operational costs under subsection (b)(2); 

(D) $900,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, except that not 

more than 20 percent of such funds may be used for operational costs under subsection (b)(2); and 

(E) $1,100,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, except that not 

more than 10 percent of such funds may be used for operational costs under subsection (b)(2). 

(2) PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY.—Sums appropriated to carry 

out this section shall remain available until expended. 

(3) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the limitation on 

operational costs specified in subparagraphs (B) through (E) of 

paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that such a waiver is 

required in the interest of national security, and if the Secretary 

provides a written justification to the appropriate congressional 

committees prior to any such action. 

(4) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Funds provided for fiscal year 2007 

transit security grants under Public Law 110–28 shall be allocated based on security assessments that are in existence as of 

the date of enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 1407. SECURITY EXERCISES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a program for 

conducting security exercises for public transportation agencies for 

the purpose of assessing and improving the capabilities of entities 

described in subsection (b) to prevent, prepare for, mitigate against, 

respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. 

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(b) COVERED ENTITIES.—Entities to be assessed under the program shall include—

(1) Federal, State, and local agencies and tribal governments; 

(2) public transportation agencies; 

(3) governmental and nongovernmental emergency response 

providers and law enforcement personnel, including transit police; and 

(4) any other organization or entity that the Secretary determines appropriate. 

(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that the program—

(1) requires, for public transportation agencies which the 

Secretary deems appropriate, exercises to be conducted that 

are—

(A) scaled and tailored to the needs of specific public 

transportation systems, and include taking into account the 

needs of the elderly and individuals with disabilities; 

(B) live; 

(C) coordinated with appropriate officials; 

(D) as realistic as practicable and based on current 

risk assessments, including credible threats, vulnerabilities, 

and consequences; 

(E) inclusive, as appropriate, of frontline employees 

and managers; and 

(F) consistent with the National Incident Management 

System, the National Response Plan, the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, the National Preparedness Guidance, the National Preparedness Goal, and other such national initiatives; 

(2) provides that exercises described in paragraph (1) will 

be—

(A) evaluated by the Secretary against clear and consistent performance measures; 

(B) assessed by the Secretary to learn best practices, 

which shall be shared with appropriate Federal, State, 

local, and tribal officials, governmental and nongovernmental emergency response providers, law enforcement personnel, including railroad and transit police, and appropriate stakeholders; and 

(C) followed by remedial action by covered entities in 

response to lessons learned; 

(3) involves individuals in neighborhoods around the infrastructure of a public transportation system; and 

(4) assists State, local, and tribal governments and public 

transportation agencies in designing, implementing, and evaluating exercises that conform to the requirements of paragraph 

(2). 

(d) NATIONAL EXERCISE PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall ensure 

that the exercise program developed under subsection (a) is a component of the National Exercise Program established under section 

648 of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (Public 

Law 109–295; 6 U.S.C. 748). 

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(e) FERRY SYSTEM EXEMPTION.—This section does not apply to 

any ferry system for which drills are required to be conducted pursuant to section 70103 of title 46, United States Code. 

SEC. 1408. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and issue detailed 

interim final regulations, and not later than 1 year after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and issue detailed final regulations, for a public transportation security training 

program to prepare public transportation employees, including 

frontline employees, for potential security threats and conditions. 

(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall develop the interim 

final and final regulations under subsection (a) in consultation 

with— (1) appropriate law enforcement, fire service, security, and 

terrorism experts; 

(2) representatives of public transportation agencies; and 

(3) nonprofit employee labor organizations representing 

public transportation employees or emergency response personnel. 

(c) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The interim final and final regulations developed under subsection (a) shall require security training 

programs to include, at a minimum, elements to address the following: 

(1) Determination of the seriousness of any occurrence or 

threat. 

(2) Crew and passenger communication and coordination. 

(3) Appropriate responses to defend oneself, including using 

nonlethal defense devices. 

(4) Use of personal protective devices and other protective 

equipment. 

(5) Evacuation procedures for passengers and employees, 

including individuals with disabilities and the elderly. 

(6) Training related to behavioral and psychological understanding of, and responses to, terrorist incidents, including the 

ability to cope with hijacker behavior, and passenger responses. 

(7) Live situational training exercises regarding various 

threat conditions, including tunnel evacuation procedures. 

(8) Recognition and reporting of dangerous substances and 

suspicious packages, persons, and situations. 

(9) Understanding security incident procedures, including 

procedures for communicating with governmental and nongovernmental emergency response providers and for on scene 

interaction with such emergency response providers. 

(10) Operation and maintenance of security equipment and 

systems. 

(11) Other security training activities that the Secretary 

deems appropriate. 

(d) REQUIRED PROGRAMS.—

(1) DEVELOPMENT AND SUBMISSION TO SECRETARY.—Not 

later than 90 days after a public transportation agency meets 

the requirements under subsection (e), each such public transportation agency shall develop a security training program in 

accordance with the regulations developed under subsection (a) 

and submit the program to the Secretary for approval. 

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(2) APPROVAL.—Not later than 60 days after receiving a security training program proposal under this subsection, the Secretary shall approve the program or require the public transportation agency that developed the program to make any revisions 

to the program that the Secretary determines necessary for the 

program to meet the requirements of the regulations. A public 

transportation agency shall respond to the Secretary’s comments 

within 30 days after receiving them. 

(3) TRAINING.—Not later than 1 year after the Secretary approves a security training program proposal in accordance with 

this subsection, the public transportation agency that developed 

the program shall complete the training of all employees covered under the program. 

(4) UPDATES OF REGULATIONS AND PROGRAM REVISIONS.— The Secretary shall periodically review and update, as appropriate, the training regulations issued under subsection (a) to 

reflect new or changing security threats. Each public transportation agency shall revise its training program accordingly and 

provide additional training as necessary to its workers within 

a reasonable time after the regulations are updated. 

(e) APPLICABILITY.—A public transportation agency that receives 

a grant award under this title shall be required to develop and implement a security training program pursuant to this section. 

(f) LONG-TERM TRAINING REQUIREMENT.—Any public transportation agency required to develop a security training program pursuant to this section shall provide routine and ongoing training for 

employees covered under the program, regardless of whether the 

public transportation agency receives subsequent grant awards. 

(g) NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall ensure 

that the training program developed under subsection (a) is a component of the National Training Program established under section 

648 of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (Public 

Law 109–295; 6 U.S.C. 748). 

(h) FERRY EXEMPTION.—This section shall not apply to any 

ferry system for which training is required to be conducted pursuant 

to section 70103 of title 46, United States Code. 

(i) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of issuance 

of the final regulation, the Comptroller General shall review implementation of the training program, including interviewing a representative sample of public transportation agencies and employees, 

and report to the appropriate congressional committees, on the number of reviews conducted and the results. The Comptroller General 

may submit the report in both classified and redacted formats as 

necessary. 

SEC. 1409. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall carry out a research and development 

program through the Homeland Security Advanced Research 

Projects Agency in the Science and Technology Directorate and in 

consultation with the Transportation Security Administration and 

with the Federal Transit Administration, for the purpose of improving the security of public transportation systems. 

(b) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary shall 

award grants or contracts to public or private entities to conduct research and demonstrate technologies and methods to reduce and 

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deter terrorist threats or mitigate damages resulting from terrorist 

attacks against public transportation systems. 

(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants or contracts awarded under subsection (a)—

(1) shall be coordinated with activities of the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency; and 

(2) may be used to—

(A) research chemical, biological, radiological, or explosive detection systems that do not significantly impede passenger access; 

(B) research imaging technologies; 

(C) conduct product evaluations and testing; 

(D) improve security and redundancy for critical communications, electrical power, and computer and train control systems; 

(E) develop technologies for securing tunnels, transit 

bridges and aerial structures; 

(F) research technologies that mitigate damages in the 

event of a cyber attack; and 

(G) research other technologies or methods for reducing 

or deterring terrorist attacks against public transportation 

systems, or mitigating damage from such attacks. 

(d) PRIVACY AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES.—

(1) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out research and development projects under this section, the Secretary shall consult 

with the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department, as 

appropriate, and in accordance with section 222 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 142). 

(2) PRIVACY IMPACT ASSESSMENTS.—In accordance with 

sections 222 and 705 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 

U.S.C. 142; 345), the Chief Privacy Officer shall conduct privacy impact assessments and the Officer for Civil Rights and 

Civil Liberties shall conduct reviews, as appropriate, for research and development initiatives developed under this section. 

(e) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Each entity that is awarded a 

grant or contract under this section shall report annually to the Department on the use of grant or contract funds received under this 

section to ensure that the awards made are expended in accordance 

with the purposes of this title and the priorities developed by the 

Secretary. 

(f) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall ensure that the research is consistent with the priorities established in the National 

Strategy for Public Transportation Security and is coordinated, to 

the extent practicable, with other Federal, State, local, tribal, and 

private sector public transportation, railroad, commuter railroad, 

and over-the-road bus research initiatives to leverage resources and 

avoid unnecessary duplicative efforts. 

(g) RETURN OF MISSPENT GRANT OR CONTRACT FUNDS.—If the 

Secretary determines that a grantee or contractor used any portion 

of the grant or contract funds received under this section for a purpose other than the allowable uses specified under subsection (c), the 

grantee or contractor shall return any amount so used to the Treasury of the United States. 

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(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Secretary to make grants under this section—

(1) such sums as necessary for fiscal year 2007; 

(2) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(3) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(4) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(5) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

SEC. 1410. INFORMATION SHARING. 

(a) INTELLIGENCE SHARING.—The Secretary shall ensure that 

the Department of Transportation receives appropriate and timely 

notification of all credible terrorist threats against public transportation assets in the United States. 

(b) INFORMATION SHARING ANALYSIS CENTER.—

(1) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary shall provide for the 

reasonable costs of the Information Sharing and Analysis Center for Public Transportation (referred to in this subsection as 

the ‘‘ISAC’’). 

(2) PARTICIPATION.—The Secretary—

(A) shall require public transportation agencies that 

the Secretary determines to be at high risk of terrorist attack to participate in the ISAC; 

(B) shall encourage all other public transportation 

agencies to participate in the ISAC; 

(C) shall encourage the participation of nonprofit employee labor organizations representing public transportation employees, as appropriate; and 

(D) shall not charge a fee for participating in the ISAC. 

(c) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall report, not less 

than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, to the appropriate congressional committees, as to the value and efficacy of the 

ISAC along with any other public transportation information-sharing programs ongoing at the Department. The report shall include 

an analysis of the user satisfaction of public transportation agencies 

on the state of information-sharing and the value that each system 

provides the user, the costs and benefits of all centers and programs, 

the coordination among centers and programs, how each center or 

program contributes to implementing the information sharing plan 

under section 1203, and analysis of the extent to which the ISAC 

is duplicative with the Department’s information-sharing program. 

(d) AUTHORIZATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated 

to the Secretary to carry out this section— (A) $600,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $600,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $600,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) such sums as may be necessary for 2011, provided 

the report required in subsection (c) of this section has been 

submitted to Congress. 

(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Such sums shall remain 

available until expended. 

SEC. 1411. THREAT ASSESSMENTS. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 

the Secretary shall complete a name-based security background 

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check against the consolidated terrorist watchlist and an immigration status check for all public transportation frontline employees, 

similar to the threat assessment screening program required for facility employees and longshoremen by the Commandant of the Coast 

Guard under Coast Guard Notice USCG–2006–24189 (71 Fed. Reg. 

25066 (April 8, 2006)). 

SEC. 1412. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 

(a) ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 31st of each year, 

the Secretary shall submit a report, containing the information 

described in paragraph (2), to the appropriate congressional 

committees. 

(2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under paragraph (1) 

shall include—

(A) a description of the implementation of the provisions of this title; 

(B) the amount of funds appropriated to carry out the 

provisions of this title that have not been expended or obligated; 

(C) the National Strategy for Public Transportation Security required under section 1404; 

(D) an estimate of the cost to implement the National 

Strategy for Public Transportation Security which shall 

break out the aggregated total cost of needed capital and 

operational security improvements for fiscal years 2008–

2018; and 

(E) the state of public transportation security in the 

United States, which shall include detailing the status of 

security assessments, the progress being made around the 

country in developing prioritized lists of security improvements necessary to make public transportation facilities 

and passengers more secure, the progress being made by 

agencies in developing security plans and how those plans 

differ from the security assessments and a prioritized list of 

security improvements being compiled by other agencies, as 

well as a random sample of an equal number of large- and 

small-scale projects currently underway. 

(3) FORMAT.—The Secretary may submit the report in both 

classified and redacted formats if the Secretary determines that 

such action is appropriate or necessary. 

(b) ANNUAL REPORT TO GOVERNORS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 31 of each year, the 

Secretary shall submit a report to the Governor of each State 

with a public transportation agency that has received a grant 

under this Act. 

(2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under paragraph (1) 

shall specify— (A) the amount of grant funds distributed to each such 

public transportation agency; and 

(B) the use of such grant funds. 

SEC. 1413. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—A public transportation agency, a contractor 

or a subcontractor of such agency, or an officer or employee of such 

agency, shall not discharge, demote, suspend, reprimand, or in any 

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other way discriminate against an employee if such discrimination 

is due, in whole or in part, to the employee’s lawful, good faith act 

done, or perceived by the employer to have been done or about to be 

done— (1) to provide information, directly cause information to be 

provided, or otherwise directly assist in any investigation regarding any conduct which the employee reasonably believes 

constitutes a violation of any Federal law, rule, or regulation 

relating to public transportation safety or security, or fraud, 

waste, or abuse of Federal grants or other public funds intended to be used for public transportation safety or security, if 

the information or assistance is provided to or an investigation 

stemming from the provided information is conducted by— (A) a Federal, State, or local regulatory or law enforcement agency (including an office of the Inspector General 

under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.; 

Public Law 95–452); 

(B) any Member of Congress, any Committee of Congress, or the Government Accountability Office; or 

(C) a person with supervisory authority over the employee or such other person who has the authority to investigate, discover, or terminate the misconduct; 

(2) to refuse to violate or assist in the violation of any Federal law, rule, or regulation relating to public transportation 

safety or security; 

(3) to file a complaint or directly cause to be brought a proceeding related to the enforcement of this section or to testify in 

that proceeding; 

(4) to cooperate with a safety or security investigation by 

the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the National Transportation Safety Board; or 

(5) to furnish information to the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the National Transportation Safety Board, or any Federal, State, or local regulatory or law enforcement agency as to the facts relating to any 

accident or incident resulting in injury or death to an individual or damage to property occurring in connection with public transportation. 

(b) HAZARDOUS SAFETY OR SECURITY CONDITIONS.—(1) A public transportation agency, or a contractor or a subcontractor of such 

agency, or an officer or employee of such agency, shall not discharge, demote, suspend, reprimand, or in any other way discriminate against an employee for— (A) reporting a hazardous safety or security condition; 

(B) refusing to work when confronted by a hazardous safety 

or security condition related to the performance of the employee’s duties, if the conditions described in paragraph (2) exist; or 

(C) refusing to authorize the use of any safety- or securityrelated equipment, track, or structures, if the employee is responsible for the inspection or repair of the equipment, track, or 

structures, when the employee believes that the equipment, 

track, or structures are in a hazardous safety or security condition, if the conditions described in paragraph (2) of this subsection exist. 

(2) A refusal is protected under paragraph (1)(B) and (C) if—

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(A) the refusal is made in good faith and no reasonable alternative to the refusal is available to the employee; 

(B) a reasonable individual in the circumstances then confronting the employee would conclude that— (i) the hazardous condition presents an imminent danger of death or serious injury; and 

(ii) the urgency of the situation does not allow sufficient time to eliminate the danger without such refusal; 

and 

(C) the employee, where possible, has notified the public transportation agency of the existence of the hazardous condition and the 

intention not to perform further work, or not to authorize the use 

of the hazardous equipment, track, or structures, unless the condition is corrected immediately or the equipment, track, or structures 

are repaired properly or replaced. 

(3) In this subsection, only subsection (b)(1)(A) shall apply to security personnel, including transit police, employed or utilized by a 

public transportation agency to protect riders, equipment, assets, or 

facilities. 

(c) ENFORCEMENT ACTION.—

(1) FILING AND NOTIFICATION.—A person who believes that 

he or she has been discharged or otherwise discriminated 

against by any person in violation of subsection (a) or (b) may, 

not later than 180 days after the date on which such violation 

occurs, file (or have any person file on his or her behalf) a complaint with the Secretary of Labor alleging such discharge or 

discrimination. Upon receipt of a complaint filed under this 

paragraph, the Secretary of Labor shall notify, in writing, the 

person named in the complaint and the person’s employer of the 

filing of the complaint, of the allegations contained in the complaint, of the substance of evidence supporting the complaint, 

and of the opportunities that will be afforded to such person 

under paragraph (2). 

(2) INVESTIGATION; PRELIMINARY ORDER.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the date 

of receipt of a complaint filed under paragraph (1) and 

after affording the person named in the complaint an opportunity to submit to the Secretary of Labor a written response to the complaint and an opportunity to meet with a 

representative of the Secretary of Labor to present statements from witnesses, the Secretary of Labor shall conduct 

an investigation and determine whether there is reasonable 

cause to believe that the complaint has merit and notify, in 

writing, the complainant and the person alleged to have 

committed a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of the Secretary of Labor’s findings. If the Secretary of Labor concludes that there is a reasonable cause to believe that a violation of subsection (a) or (b) has occurred, the Secretary of 

Labor shall accompany the Secretary of Labor’s findings 

with a preliminary order providing the relief prescribed by 

paragraph (3)(B). Not later than 30 days after the date of 

notification of findings under this paragraph, either the 

person alleged to have committed the violation or the complainant may file objections to the findings or preliminary 

order, or both, and request a hearing on the record. The filmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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ing of such objections shall not operate to stay any reinstatement remedy contained in the preliminary order. Such 

hearings shall be conducted expeditiously. If a hearing is 

not requested in such 30-day period, the preliminary order 

shall be deemed a final order that is not subject to judicial 

review. 

(B) REQUIREMENTS.— (i) REQUIRED SHOWING BY COMPLAINANT.—The 

Secretary of Labor shall dismiss a complaint filed 

under this subsection and shall not conduct an investigation otherwise required under subparagraph (A) 

unless the complainant makes a prima facie showing 

that any behavior described in subsection (a) or (b) was 

a contributing factor in the unfavorable personnel action alleged in the complaint. 

(ii) SHOWING BY EMPLOYER.—Notwithstanding a 

finding by the Secretary of Labor that the complainant 

has made the showing required under clause (i), no investigation otherwise required under paragraph (A) 

shall be conducted if the employer demonstrates, by 

clear and convincing evidence, that the employer would 

have taken the same unfavorable personnel action in 

the absence of that behavior. 

(iii) CRITERIA FOR DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY

OF LABOR.—The Secretary of Labor may determine that 

a violation of subsection (a) or (b) has occurred only if 

the complainant demonstrates that any behavior described in subsection (a) or (b) was a contributing factor in the unfavorable personnel action alleged in the 

complaint. 

(iv) PROHIBITION.—Relief may not be ordered 

under paragraph (A) if the employer demonstrates by 

clear and convincing evidence that the employer would 

have taken the same unfavorable personnel action in 

the absence of that behavior. 

(3) FINAL ORDER.— (A) DEADLINE FOR ISSUANCE; SETTLEMENT AGREE- MENTS.—Not later than 120 days after the date of conclusion of a hearing under paragraph (2), the Secretary of 

Labor shall issue a final order providing the relief prescribed by this paragraph or denying the complaint. At any 

time before issuance of a final order, a proceeding under 

this subsection may be terminated on the basis of a settlement agreement entered into by the Secretary of Labor, the 

complainant, and the person alleged to have committed the 

violation. 

(B) REMEDY.—If, in response to a complaint filed 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor determines 

that a violation of subsection (a) or (b) has occurred, the 

Secretary of Labor shall order the person who committed 

such violation to— (i) take affirmative action to abate the violation; 

and 

(ii) provide the remedies described in subsection 

(d). 

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(C) ORDER.—If an order is issued under subparagraph 

(B), the Secretary of Labor, at the request of the complainant, shall assess against the person against whom the order 

is issued a sum equal to the aggregate amount of all costs 

and expenses (including attorney and expert witness fees) 

reasonably incurred, as determined by the Secretary of 

Labor, by the complainant for, or in connection with, bringing the complaint upon which the order was issued. 

(D) FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINTS.—If the Secretary of Labor 

finds that a complaint under paragraph (1) is frivolous or 

has been brought in bad faith, the Secretary of Labor may 

award to the prevailing employer reasonable attorney fees 

not exceeding $1,000. 

(4) REVIEW.—

(A) APPEAL TO COURT OF APPEALS.—Any person adversely affected or aggrieved by an order issued under 

paragraph (3) may obtain review of the order in the United 

States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the violation, with respect to which the order was issued, allegedly 

occurred or the circuit in which the complainant resided on 

the date of such violation. The petition for review must be 

filed not later than 60 days after the date of the issuance 

of the final order of the Secretary of Labor. Review shall 

conform to chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code. The 

commencement of proceedings under this subparagraph 

shall not, unless ordered by the court, operate as a stay of 

the order. 

(B) LIMITATION ON COLLATERAL ATTACK.—An order of 

the Secretary of Labor with respect to which review could 

have been obtained under subparagraph (A) shall not be 

subject to judicial review in any criminal or other civil proceeding. 

(5) ENFORCEMENT OF ORDER BY SECRETARY OF LABOR.— Whenever any person has failed to comply with an order issued 

under paragraph (3), the Secretary of Labor may file a civil action in the United States district court for the district in which 

the violation was found to occur to enforce such order. In actions brought under this paragraph, the district courts shall 

have jurisdiction to grant all appropriate relief including, but 

not limited to, injunctive relief and compensatory damages. 

(6) ENFORCEMENT OF ORDER BY PARTIES.—

(A) COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION.—A person on whose 

behalf an order was issued under paragraph (3) may commence a civil action against the person to whom such order 

was issued to require compliance with such order. The appropriate United States district court shall have jurisdiction, without regard to the amount in controversy or the 

citizenship of the parties, to enforce such order. 

(B) ATTORNEY FEES.—The court, in issuing any final 

order under this paragraph, may award costs of litigation 

(including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) to 

any party whenever the court determines such award is appropriate. 

(7) DE NOVO REVIEW.—With respect to a complaint under 

paragraph (1), if the Secretary of Labor has not issued a final 

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decision within 210 days after the filing of the complaint and 

if the delay is not due to the bad faith of the employee, the employee may bring an original action at law or equity for de novo 

review in the appropriate district court of the United States, 

which shall have jurisdiction over such an action without regard to the amount in controversy, and which action shall, at 

the request of either party to such action, be tried by the court 

with a jury. The action shall be governed by the same legal burdens of proof specified in paragraph (2)(B) for review by the 

Secretary of Labor. 

(d) REMEDIES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—An employee prevailing in any action 

under subsection (c) shall be entitled to all relief necessary to 

make the employee whole. 

(2) DAMAGES.—Relief in an action under subsection (c) (including an action described in (c)(7)) shall include—

(A) reinstatement with the same seniority status that 

the employee would have had, but for the discrimination; 

(B) any backpay, with interest; and 

(C) compensatory damages, including compensation for 

any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs, expert witness fees, and 

reasonable attorney fees. 

(3) POSSIBLE RELIEF.—Relief in any action under subsection (c) may include punitive damages in an amount not to 

exceed $250,000. 

(e) ELECTION OF REMEDIES.—An employee may not seek protection under both this section and another provision of law for the 

same allegedly unlawful act of the public transportation agency. 

(f) NO PREEMPTION.—Nothing in this section preempts or diminishes any other safeguards against discrimination, demotion, 

discharge, suspension, threats, harassment, reprimand, retaliation, 

or any other manner of discrimination provided by Federal or State 

law. 

(g) RIGHTS RETAINED BY EMPLOYEE.—Nothing in this section 

shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of 

any employee under any Federal or State law or under any collective bargaining agreement. The rights and remedies in this section 

may not be waived by any agreement, policy, form, or condition of 

employment. 

(h) DISCLOSURE OF IDENTITY.—

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, 

or with the written consent of the employee, the Secretary of 

Transportation or the Secretary of Homeland Security may not 

disclose the name of an employee who has provided information 

described in subsection (a)(1). 

(2) The Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary of 

Homeland Security shall disclose to the Attorney General the 

name of an employee described in paragraph (1) of this subsection if the matter is referred to the Attorney General for enforcement. The Secretary making such disclosure shall provide 

reasonable advance notice to the affected employee if disclosure 

of that person’s identity or identifying information is to occur. 

(i) PROCESS FOR REPORTING SECURITY PROBLEMS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.—

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(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCESS.—The Secretary shall establish through regulations after an opportunity for notice and 

comment, and provide information to the public regarding, a 

process by which any person may submit a report to the Secretary regarding public transportation security problems, deficiencies, or vulnerabilities. 

(2) ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT.—If a report submitted 

under paragraph (1) identifies the person making the report, 

the Secretary shall respond promptly to such person and acknowledge receipt of the report. 

(3) STEPS TO ADDRESS PROBLEM.—The Secretary shall review and consider the information provided in any report submitted under paragraph (1) and shall take appropriate steps to 

address any problems or deficiencies identified. 

SEC. 1414. SECURITY BACKGROUND CHECKS OF COVERED INDIVIDUALS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following definitions 

apply: 

(1) SECURITY BACKGROUND CHECK.—The term ‘‘security 

background check’’ means reviewing the following for the purpose of identifying individuals who may pose a threat to transportation security, national security, or of terrorism: 

(A) Relevant criminal history databases. 

(B) In the case of an alien (as defined in section 101 

of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

1101(a)(3))), the relevant databases to determine the status 

of the alien under the immigration laws of the United 

States. 

(C) Other relevant information or databases, as determined by the Secretary. 

(2) COVERED INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means an employee of a public transportation agency or a contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency. 

(b) GUIDANCE.—

(1) Any guidance, recommendations, suggested action 

items, or any other widely disseminated voluntary action item 

issued by the Secretary to a public transportation agency or a 

contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency relating to performing a security background check of a covered 

individual shall contain recommendations on the appropriate 

scope and application of such a security background check, including the time period covered, the types of disqualifying offenses, and a redress process for adversely impacted covered individuals consistent with subsections (c) and (d) of this section. 

(2) Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of 

this Act, any guidance, recommendations, suggested action 

items, or any other widely disseminated voluntary action item 

issued by the Secretary prior to the date of enactment of this Act 

to a public transportation agency or a contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency relating to performing 

a security background check of a covered individual shall be 

updated in compliance with paragraph (b)(1). 

(3) If a public transportation agency or a contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency performs a security 

background check on a covered individual to fulfill guidance 

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issued by the Secretary under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary shall not consider such guidance fulfilled unless an adequate redress process as described in subsection (d) is provided 

to covered individuals. 

(c) REQUIREMENTS.—If the Secretary issues a rule, regulation or 

directive requiring a public transportation agency or contractor or 

subcontractor of a public transportation agency to perform a security background check of a covered individual, then the Secretary 

shall prohibit a public transportation agency or contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency from making an adverse employment decision, including removal or suspension of the 

employee, due to such rule, regulation, or directive with respect to 

a covered individual unless the public transportation agency or contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency determines that the covered individual— (1) has been convicted of, has been found not guilty of by 

reason of insanity, or is under want, warrant, or indictment for 

a permanent disqualifying criminal offense listed in part 1572 

of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations; 

(2) was convicted of or found not guilty by reason of insanity of an interim disqualifying criminal offense listed in part 

1572 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, within 7 years of 

the date that the public transportation agency or contractor or 

subcontractor of the public transportation agency performs the 

security background check; or 

(3) was incarcerated for an interim disqualifying criminal 

offense listed in part 1572 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, and released from incarceration within 5 years of the 

date that the public transportation agency or contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency performs the security background check. 

(d) REDRESS PROCESS.—If the Secretary issues a rule, regulation, or directive requiring a public transportation agency or contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency to perform a security background check of a covered individual, the Secretary shall— (1) provide an adequate redress process for a covered individual subjected to an adverse employment decision, including 

removal or suspension of the employee, due to such rule, regulation, or directive that is consistent with the appeals and waiver 

process established for applicants for commercial motor vehicle 

hazardous materials endorsements and transportation workers 

at ports, as required by section 70105(c) of title 49, United 

States Code; and 

(2) have the authority to order an appropriate remedy, including reinstatement of the covered individual, should the Secretary determine that a public transportation agency or contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency 

wrongfully made an adverse employment decision regarding a 

covered individual pursuant to such rule, regulation, or directive. 

(e) FALSE STATEMENTS.—A public transportation agency or a 

contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency may 

not knowingly misrepresent to an employee or other relevant person, 

including an arbiter involved in a labor arbitration, the scope, apmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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plication, or meaning of any rules, regulations, directives, or guidance issued by the Secretary related to security background check 

requirements for covered individuals when conducting a security 

background check. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a regulation that prohibits a 

public transportation agency or a contractor or subcontractor of a 

public transportation agency from knowingly misrepresenting to an 

employee or other relevant person, including an arbiter involved in 

a labor arbitration, the scope, application, or meaning of any rules, 

regulations, directives, or guidance issued by the Secretary related 

to security background check requirements for covered individuals 

when conducting a security background check. 

(f) RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—Nothing in this section 

shall be construed to abridge a public transportation agency’s or a 

contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency’s 

rights or responsibilities to make adverse employment decisions permitted by other Federal, State, or local laws. Nothing in the section 

shall be construed to abridge rights and responsibilities of covered 

individuals, a public transportation agency, or a contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency under any other Federal, State, or local laws or collective bargaining agreement. 

(g) NO PREEMPTION OF FEDERAL OR STATE LAW.—Nothing in 

this section shall be construed to preempt a Federal, State, or local 

law that requires criminal history background checks, immigration 

status checks, or other background checks of covered individuals. 

(h) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall 

be construed to affect the process for review established under section 70105(c) of title 46, United States Code, including regulations 

issued pursuant to such section. 

SEC. 1415. LIMITATION ON FINES AND CIVIL PENALTIES. 

(a) INSPECTORS.—Surface transportation inspectors shall be 

prohibited from issuing fines to public transportation agencies for 

violations of the Department’s regulations or orders except through 

the process described in subsection (b). 

(b) CIVIL PENALTIES.—The Secretary shall be prohibited from 

assessing civil penalties against public transportation agencies for 

violations of the Department’s regulations or orders, except in accordance with the following: 

(1) In the case of a public transportation agency that is 

found to be in violation of a regulation or order issued by the 

Secretary, the Secretary shall seek correction of the violation 

through a written notice to the public transportation agency 

and shall give the public transportation agency reasonable opportunity to correct the violation or propose an alternative 

means of compliance acceptable to the Secretary. 

(2) If the public transportation agency does not correct the 

violation or propose an alternative means of compliance acceptable to the Secretary within a reasonable time period that is 

specified in the written notice, the Secretary may take any action authorized in section 114 of title 49, United States Code, 

as amended by this Act. 

(c) LIMITATION ON SECRETARY.—The Secretary shall not initiate 

civil enforcement actions for violations of administrative and procedural requirements pertaining to the application for and expendimstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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ture of funds awarded under transportation security grant programs under this title. 

TITLE XV—SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 

Subtitle A—General Provisions 

SEC. 1501. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title, the following definitions apply: 

(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 

‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee 

on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 

and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 

(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of Homeland Security. 

(3) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ means the Department of Homeland Security. 

(4) OVER-THE-ROAD BUS.—The term ‘‘over-the-road bus’’

means a bus characterized by an elevated passenger deck located over a baggage compartment. 

(5) OVER-THE-ROAD BUS FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.—In this 

section, the term ‘‘over-the-road bus frontline employees’’ means 

over-the-road bus drivers, security personnel, dispatchers, maintenance and maintenance support personnel, ticket agents, other 

terminal employees, and other employees of an over-the-road 

bus operator or terminal owner or operator that the Secretary 

determines should receive security training under this title. 

(6) RAILROAD FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.—In this section, the 

term ‘‘railroad frontline employees’’ means security personnel, 

dispatchers, locomotive engineers, conductors, trainmen, other 

onboard employees, maintenance and maintenance support personnel, bridge tenders, and any other employees of railroad carriers that the Secretary determines should receive security training under this title. 

(7) RAILROAD.—The term ‘‘railroad’’ has the meaning that 

term has in section 20102 of title 49, United States Code. 

(8) RAILROAD CARRIER.—The term ‘‘railroad carrier’’ has 

the meaning that term has in section 20102 of title 49, United 

States Code. 

(9) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any one of the 50 

States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern 

Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 

and any other territory or possession of the United States. 

(10) TERRORISM.—The term ‘‘terrorism’’ has the meaning 

that term has in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

(6 U.S.C. 101). 

(11) TRANSPORTATION.—The term ‘‘transportation’’, as used 

with respect to an over-the-road bus, means the movement of 

passengers or property by an over-the-road bus—

(A) in the jurisdiction of the United States between a 

place in a State and a place outside the State (including a 

place outside the United States); or 

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(B) in a State that affects trade, traffic, and transportation described in subparagraph (A). 

(12) UNITED STATES.—The term ‘‘United States’’ means the 

50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern 

Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 

and any other territory or possession of the United States. 

(13) SECURITY-SENSITIVE MATERIAL.—The term ‘‘securitysensitive material’’ means a material, or a group or class of material, in a particular amount and form that the Secretary, in 

consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, determines, 

through a rulemaking with opportunity for public comment, 

poses a significant risk to national security while being transported in commerce due to the potential use of the material in 

an act of terrorism. In making such a designation, the Secretary shall, at a minimum, consider the following: 

(A) Class 7 radioactive materials. 

(B) Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives. 

(C) Materials poisonous or toxic by inhalation, including Division 2.3 gases and Division 6.1 materials. 

(D) A select agent or toxin regulated by the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention under part 73 of title 42, 

Code of Federal Regulations. 

(14) DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS CONCERNS.—The term ‘‘disadvantaged business concerns’’ means small businesses that are 

owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals as defined in section 124, of title 13, Code of 

Federal Regulations. 

(15) AMTRAK.—The term ‘‘Amtrak’’ means the National 

Railroad Passenger Corporation. 

SEC. 1502. OVERSIGHT AND GRANT PROCEDURES. 

(a) SECRETARIAL OVERSIGHT.—The Secretary, in coordination 

with Secretary of Transportation for grants awarded to Amtrak, 

shall establish necessary procedures, including monitoring and audits, to ensure that grants made under this title are expended in accordance with the purposes of this title and the priorities and other 

criteria developed by the Secretary. 

(b) ADDITIONAL AUDITS AND REVIEWS.—The Secretary, and the 

Secretary of Transportation for grants awarded to Amtrak, may 

award contracts to undertake additional audits and reviews of the 

safety, security, procurement, management, and financial compliance of a recipient of amounts under this title. 

(c) PROCEDURES FOR GRANT AWARD.—Not later than 180 days 

after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe 

procedures and schedules for the awarding of grants under this 

title, including application and qualification procedures, and a 

record of decision on applicant eligibility. The procedures shall include the execution of a grant agreement between the grant recipient 

and the Secretary and shall be consistent, to the extent practicable, 

with the grant procedures established under section 70107(i) and (j) 

of title 46, United States Code. 

(d) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.—

(1) ISSUANCE.—The Secretary may issue non-binding letters 

of intent to recipients of a grant under this title, to commit 

funding from future budget authority of an amount, not more 

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than the Federal Government’s share of the project’s cost, for a 

capital improvement project. 

(2) SCHEDULE.—The letter of intent under this subsection 

shall establish a schedule under which the Secretary will reimburse the recipient for the Government’s share of the project’s 

costs, as amounts become available, if the recipient, after the 

Secretary issues that letter, carries out the project without receiving amounts under a grant issued under this title. 

(3) NOTICE TO SECRETARY.—A recipient that has been 

issued a letter of intent under this section shall notify the Secretary of the recipient’s intent to carry out a project before the 

project begins. 

(4) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall transmit to 

the appropriate congressional committees a written notification 

at least 5 days before the issuance of a letter of intent under 

this subsection. 

(5) LIMITATIONS.—A letter of intent issued under this subsection is not an obligation of the Federal Government under 

section 1501 of title 31, United States Code, and the letter is not 

deemed to be an administrative commitment for financing. An 

obligation or administrative commitment may be made only as 

amounts are provided in authorization and appropriations 

laws. 

(e) RETURN OF MISSPENT GRANT FUNDS.—As part of the grant 

agreement under subsection (c), the Secretary shall require grant 

applicants to return any misspent grant funds received under this 

title that the Secretary considers to have been spent for a purpose 

other than those specified in the grant award. The Secretary shall 

take all necessary actions to recover such funds. 

(f) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 5 days before the award of any grant is made under this title, the Secretary 

shall notify the appropriate congressional committees of the intent 

to award such grant. 

(g) GUIDELINES.—The Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that grant recipients under this title who use contractors or 

subcontractors use small, minority, women-owned, or disadvantaged business concerns as contractors or subcontractors when appropriate. 

SEC. 1503. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZA- TION.—Section 114 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by 

section 1302 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end 

the following: 

‘‘(w) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security for—

‘‘(1) railroad security—

‘‘(A) $488,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

‘‘(B) $483,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

‘‘(C) $508,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

‘‘(D) $508,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; 

‘‘(2) over-the-road bus and trucking security—

‘‘(A) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

‘‘(B) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

‘‘(C) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

‘‘(D) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

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‘‘(3) hazardous material and pipeline security—

‘‘(A) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

‘‘(B) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and 

‘‘(C) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.’’. 

(b) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.—There are authorized to 

be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation to carry out section 1515—

(1) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(2) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(3) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(4) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

SEC. 1504. PUBLIC AWARENESS. 

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 

the Secretary shall develop a national plan for railroad and overthe-road bus security public outreach and awareness. Such a plan 

shall be designed to increase awareness of measures that the general 

public, passengers, and employees of railroad carriers and over-theroad bus operators can take to increase the security of the national 

railroad and over-the-road bus transportation systems. Such a plan 

shall also provide outreach to railroad carriers and over-the-road 

bus operators and their employees to improve their awareness of 

available technologies, ongoing research and development efforts, 

and available Federal funding sources to improve security. Not later 

than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

shall implement the plan developed under this section. 

Subtitle B—Railroad Security 

SEC. 1511. RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT 

AND NATIONAL STRATEGY. 

(a) RISK ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a Federal 

task force, including the Transportation Security Administration 

and other agencies within the Department, the Department of 

Transportation, and other appropriate Federal agencies, to complete, within 6 months of the date of enactment of this Act, a nationwide risk assessment of a terrorist attack on railroad carriers. The 

assessment shall include—

(1) a methodology for conducting the risk assessment, including timelines, that addresses how the Department will work 

with the entities described in subsection (c) and make use of existing Federal expertise within the Department, the Department 

of Transportation, and other appropriate agencies; 

(2) identification and evaluation of critical assets and infrastructure, including tunnels used by railroad carriers in 

high-threat urban areas; 

(3) identification of risks to those assets and infrastructure; 

(4) identification of risks that are specific to the transportation of hazardous materials via railroad; 

(5) identification of risks to passenger and cargo security, 

transportation infrastructure protection systems, operations, 

communications systems, and any other area identified by the 

assessment; 

(6) an assessment of employee training and emergency response planning; 

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(7) an assessment of public and private operational recovery plans, taking into account the plans for the maritime sector 

required under section 70103 of title 46, United States Code, to 

expedite, to the maximum extent practicable, the return of an 

adversely affected railroad transportation system or facility to 

its normal performance level after a major terrorist attack or 

other security event on that system or facility; and 

(8) an account of actions taken or planned by both public 

and private entities to address identified railroad security 

issues and an assessment of the effective integration of such actions. 

(b) NATIONAL STRATEGY.—

(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 9 months after the date 

of enactment of this Act and based upon the assessment conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary, consistent with and 

as required by section 114(t) of title 49, United States Code, 

shall develop and implement the modal plan for railroad transportation, entitled the ‘‘National Strategy for Railroad Transportation Security’’. 

(2) CONTENTS.—The modal plan shall include prioritized 

goals, actions, objectives, policies, mechanisms, and schedules 

for, at a minimum—

(A) improving the security of railroad tunnels, railroad 

bridges, railroad switching and car storage areas, other 

railroad infrastructure and facilities, information systems, 

and other areas identified by the Secretary as posing significant railroad-related risks to public safety and the 

movement of interstate commerce, taking into account the 

impact that any proposed security measure might have on 

the provision of railroad service or on operations served or 

otherwise affected by railroad service; 

(B) deploying equipment and personnel to detect security threats, including those posed by explosives and hazardous chemical, biological, and radioactive substances, 

and any appropriate countermeasures; 

(C) consistent with section 1517, training railroad employees in terrorism prevention, preparedness, passenger 

evacuation, and response activities; 

(D) conducting public outreach campaigns for railroads regarding security, including educational initiatives 

designed to inform the public on how to prevent, prepare 

for, respond to, and recover from a terrorist attack on railroad transportation; 

(E) providing additional railroad security support for 

railroads at high or severe threat levels of alert; 

(F) ensuring, in coordination with freight and intercity 

and commuter passenger railroads, the continued movement of freight and passengers in the event of an attack affecting the railroad system, including the possibility of rerouting traffic due to the loss of critical infrastructure, such 

as a bridge, tunnel, yard, or station; 

(G) coordinating existing and planned railroad security 

initiatives undertaken by the public and private sectors; 

(H) assessing—

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(i) the usefulness of covert testing of railroad security systems; 

(ii) the ability to integrate security into infrastructure design; and 

(iii) the implementation of random searches of passengers and baggage; and 

(I) identifying the immediate and long-term costs of 

measures that may be required to address those risks and 

public and private sector sources to fund such measures. 

(3) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Secretary shall include in the 

modal plan a description of the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of Federal, State, and local agencies, government-sponsored entities, tribal governments, and appropriate stakeholders 

described in subsection (c). The plan shall also include— (A) the identification of, and a plan to address, gaps 

and unnecessary overlaps in the roles, responsibilities, and 

authorities described in this paragraph; 

(B) a methodology for how the Department will work 

with the entities described in subsection (c), and make use 

of existing Federal expertise within the Department, the Department of Transportation, and other appropriate agencies; 

(C) a process for facilitating security clearances for the 

purpose of intelligence and information sharing with the 

entities described in subsection (c), as appropriate; 

(D) a strategy and timeline, coordinated with the research and development program established under section 

1518, for the Department, the Department of Transportation, other appropriate Federal agencies and private entities to research and develop new technologies for securing 

railroad systems; and 

(E) a process for coordinating existing or future security strategies and plans for railroad transportation, including the National Infrastructure Protection Plan required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7; Executive Order Number 13416: ‘‘Strengthening Surface 

Transportation Security’’ dated December 5, 2006; the 

Memorandum of Understanding between the Department 

and the Department of Transportation on Roles and Responsibilities dated September 28, 2004, and any and all 

subsequent annexes to this Memorandum of Understanding, and any other relevant agreements between the 

two Departments. 

(c) CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS.—In developing the 

National Strategy required under this section, the Secretary shall 

consult with railroad management, nonprofit employee organizations representing railroad employees, owners or lessors of railroad 

cars used to transport hazardous materials, emergency responders, 

offerors of security-sensitive materials, public safety officials, and 

other relevant parties. 

(d) ADEQUACY OF EXISTING PLANS AND STRATEGIES.—In developing the risk assessment and National Strategy required under 

this section, the Secretary shall utilize relevant existing plans, strategies, and risk assessments developed by the Department or other 

Federal agencies, including those developed or implemented pursumstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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ant to section 114(t) of title 49, United States Code, or Homeland 

Security Presidential Directive 7, and, as appropriate, assessments 

developed by other public and private stakeholders. 

(e) REPORT.— (1) CONTENTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing— (A) the assessment and the National Strategy required 

by this section; and 

(B) an estimate of the cost to implement the National 

Strategy. 

(2) FORMAT.—The Secretary may submit the report in both 

classified and redacted formats if the Secretary determines that 

such action is appropriate or necessary. 

(f) ANNUAL UPDATES.—Consistent with the requirements of section 114(t) of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary shall update the assessment and National Strategy each year and transmit 

a report, which may be submitted in both classified and redacted 

formats, to the appropriate congressional committees containing the 

updated assessment and recommendations. 

(g) FUNDING.—Out of funds appropriated pursuant to section 

114(w) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 1503 

of this title, there shall be made available to the Secretary to carry 

out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

SEC. 1512. RAILROAD CARRIER ASSESSMENTS AND PLANS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations that— (1) require each railroad carrier assigned to a high-risk tier 

under this section to— (A) conduct a vulnerability assessment in accordance 

with subsections (c) and (d); and 

(B) to prepare, submit to the Secretary for approval, 

and implement a security plan in accordance with this section that addresses security performance requirements; and 

(2) establish standards and guidelines, based on and consistent with the risk assessment and National Strategy for Railroad Transportation Security developed under section 1511, for 

developing and implementing the vulnerability assessments and 

security plans for railroad carriers assigned to high-risk tiers. 

(b) NON HIGH-RISK PROGRAMS.—The Secretary may establish a 

security program for railroad carriers not assigned to a high-risk 

tier, including—

(1) guidance for such carriers in conducting vulnerability 

assessments and preparing and implementing security plans, as 

determined appropriate by the Secretary; and 

(2) a process to review and approve such assessments and 

plans, as appropriate. 

(c) DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION.—Not later than 9 months after 

the date of issuance of the regulations under subsection (a), the vulnerability assessments and security plans required by such regulations for railroad carriers assigned to a high-risk tier shall be completed and submitted to the Secretary for review and approval. 

(d) VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS.—

(1) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall provide technical 

assistance and guidance to railroad carriers in conducting vulmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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nerability assessments under this section and shall require that 

each vulnerability assessment of a railroad carrier assigned to 

a high-risk tier under this section, include, as applicable— (A) identification and evaluation of critical railroad 

carrier assets and infrastructure, including platforms, stations, intermodal terminals, tunnels, bridges, switching 

and storage areas, and information systems as appropriate; 

(B) identification of the vulnerabilities to those assets 

and infrastructure; 

(C) identification of strengths and weaknesses in— (i) physical security; 

(ii) passenger and cargo security, including the security of security-sensitive materials being transported 

by railroad or stored on railroad property; 

(iii) programmable electronic devices, computers, 

or other automated systems which are used in providing the transportation; 

(iv) alarms, cameras, and other protection systems; 

(v) communications systems and utilities needed 

for railroad security purposes, including dispatching 

and notification systems; 

(vi) emergency response planning; 

(vii) employee training; and 

(viii) such other matters as the Secretary determines appropriate; and 

(D) identification of redundant and backup systems required to ensure the continued operation of critical elements 

of a railroad carrier’s system in the event of an attack or 

other incident, including disruption of commercial electric 

power or communications network. 

(2) THREAT INFORMATION.—The Secretary shall provide in 

a timely manner to the appropriate employees of a railroad carrier, as designated by the railroad carrier, threat information 

that is relevant to the carrier when preparing and submitting 

a vulnerability assessment and security plan, including an assessment of the most likely methods that could be used by terrorists to exploit weaknesses in railroad security. 

(e) SECURITY PLANS.— (1) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall provide technical 

assistance and guidance to railroad carriers in preparing and 

implementing security plans under this section, and shall require that each security plan of a railroad carrier assigned to 

a high-risk tier under this section include, as applicable— (A) identification of a security coordinator having authority—

(i) to implement security actions under the plan; 

(ii) to coordinate security improvements; and 

(iii) to receive immediate communications from appropriate Federal officials regarding railroad security; 

(B) a list of needed capital and operational improvements; 

(C) procedures to be implemented or used by the railroad carrier in response to a terrorist attack, including 

evacuation and passenger communication plans that include individuals with disabilities as appropriate; 

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(D) identification of steps taken with State and local 

law enforcement agencies, emergency responders, and Federal officials to coordinate security measures and plans for 

response to a terrorist attack; 

(E) a strategy and timeline for conducting training 

under section 1517; 

(F) enhanced security measures to be taken by the railroad carrier when the Secretary declares a period of heightened security risk; 

(G) plans for providing redundant and backup systems 

required to ensure the continued operation of critical elements of the railroad carrier’s system in the event of a terrorist attack or other incident; 

(H) a strategy for implementing enhanced security for 

shipments of security-sensitive materials, including plans 

for quickly locating and securing such shipments in the 

event of a terrorist attack or security incident; and 

(I) such other actions or procedures as the Secretary determines are appropriate to address the security of railroad 

carriers. 

(2) SECURITY COORDINATOR REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary 

shall require that the individual serving as the security coordinator identified in paragraph (1)(A) is a citizen of the United 

States. The Secretary may waive this requirement with respect 

to an individual if the Secretary determines that it is appropriate to do so based on a background check of the individual 

and a review of the consolidated terrorist watchlist. 

(3) CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER PLANS.—The Secretary shall 

ensure that the security plans developed by railroad carriers 

under this section are consistent with the risk assessment and 

National Strategy for Railroad Transportation Security developed under section 1511. 

(f) DEADLINE FOR REVIEW PROCESS.—Not later than 6 months 

after receiving the assessments and plans required under this section, the Secretary shall—

(1) review each vulnerability assessment and security plan 

submitted to the Secretary in accordance with subsection (c); 

(2) require amendments to any security plan that does not 

meet the requirements of this section; and 

(3) approve any vulnerability assessment or security plan 

that meets the requirements of this section. 

(g) INTERIM SECURITY MEASURES.—The Secretary may require 

railroad carriers, during the period before the deadline established 

under subsection (c), to submit a security plan under subsection (e) 

to implement any necessary interim security measures essential to 

providing adequate security of the railroad carrier’s system. An interim plan required under this subsection will be superseded by a 

plan required under subsection (e). 

(h) TIER ASSIGNMENT.—Utilizing the risk assessment and National Strategy for Railroad Transportation Security required under 

section 1511, the Secretary shall assign each railroad carrier to a 

risk-based tier established by the Secretary. 

(1) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary may request, and a railroad carrier shall provide, information necmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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essary for the Secretary to assign a railroad carrier to the appropriate tier under this subsection. 

(2) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 60 days after the date a 

railroad carrier is assigned to a tier under this subsection, the 

Secretary shall notify the railroad carrier of the tier to which 

it is assigned and the reasons for such assignment. 

(3) HIGH-RISK TIERS.—At least one of the tiers established 

by the Secretary under this subsection shall be designated a tier 

for high-risk railroad carriers. 

(4) REASSIGNMENT.—The Secretary may reassign a railroad 

carrier to another tier, as appropriate, in response to changes 

in risk. The Secretary shall notify the railroad carrier not later 

than 60 days after such reassignment and provide the railroad 

carrier with the reasons for such reassignment. 

(i) NONDISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.—

(1) SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION TO CONGRESS.—Nothing 

in this section shall be construed as authorizing the withholding of any information from Congress. 

(2) DISCLOSURE OF INDEPENDENTLY FURNISHED INFORMATION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting 

any authority or obligation of a Federal agency to disclose any 

record or information that the Federal agency obtains from a 

railroad carrier under any other Federal law. 

(j) EXISTING PROCEDURES, PROTOCOLS AND STANDARDS.—

(1) DETERMINATION.—In response to a petition by a railroad carrier or at the discretion of the Secretary, the Secretary 

may determine that existing procedures, protocols, and standards meet all or part of the requirements of this section, including regulations issued under subsection (a), regarding vulnerability assessments and security plans. 

(2) ELECTION.—Upon review and written determination by 

the Secretary that existing procedures, protocols, or standards 

of a railroad carrier satisfy the requirements of this section, the 

railroad carrier may elect to comply with those procedures, protocols, or standards instead of the requirements of this section. 

(3) PARTIAL APPROVAL.—If the Secretary determines that 

the existing procedures, protocols, or standards of a railroad 

carrier satisfy only part of the requirements of this section, the 

Secretary may accept such submission, but shall require submission by the railroad carrier of any additional information 

relevant to the vulnerability assessment and security plan of the 

railroad carrier to ensure that the remaining requirements of 

this section are fulfilled. 

(4) NOTIFICATION.—If the Secretary determines that particular existing procedures, protocols, or standards of a railroad 

carrier under this subsection do not satisfy the requirements of 

this section, the Secretary shall provide to the railroad carrier 

a written notification that includes an explanation of the determination. 

(5) REVIEW.—Nothing in this subsection shall relieve the 

Secretary of the obligation—

(A) to review the vulnerability assessment and security 

plan submitted by a railroad carrier under this section; 

and 

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(B) to approve or disapprove each submission on an individual basis. 

(k) PERIODIC EVALUATION BY RAILROAD CARRIERS REQUIRED.— (1) SUBMISSION OF EVALUATION.—Not later than 3 years 

after the date on which a vulnerability assessment or security 

plan required to be submitted to the Secretary under subsection 

(c) is approved, and at least once every 5 years thereafter (or on 

such a schedule as the Secretary may establish by regulation), 

a railroad carrier who submitted a vulnerability assessment 

and security plan and who is still assigned to the high-risk tier 

must also submit to the Secretary an evaluation of the adequacy 

of the vulnerability assessment and security plan that includes 

a description of any material changes made to the vulnerability 

assessment or security plan. 

(2) REVIEW OF EVALUATION.—Not later than 180 days after 

the date on which an evaluation is submitted, the Secretary 

shall review the evaluation and notify the railroad carrier submitting the evaluation of the Secretary’s approval or disapproval of the evaluation. 

(l) SHARED FACILITIES.—The Secretary may permit under this 

section the development and implementation of coordinated vulnerability assessments and security plans to the extent that a railroad 

carrier shares facilities with, or is colocated with, other transportation entities or providers that are required to develop vulnerability 

assessments and security plans under Federal law. 

(m) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary 

shall consult with railroad carriers, nonprofit employee labor organizations representating railroad employees, and public safety and 

law enforcement officials. 

SEC. 1513. RAILROAD SECURITY ASSISTANCE. 

(a) SECURITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.—(1) The Secretary, in 

consultation with the Administrator of the Transportation Security 

Administration and other appropriate agencies or officials, is authorized to make grants to railroad carriers, the Alaska Railroad, 

security-sensitive materials offerors who ship by railroad, owners of 

railroad cars used in the transportation of security-sensitive materials, State and local governments (for railroad passenger facilities 

and infrastructure not owned by Amtrak), and Amtrak for intercity 

passenger railroad and freight railroad security improvements described in subsection (b) as approved by the Secretary. 

(2) A railroad carrier is eligible for a grant under this section 

if the carrier has completed a vulnerability assessment and developed a security plan that the Secretary has approved in accordance 

with section 1512. 

(3) A recipient of a grant under this section may use grant 

funds only for permissible uses under subsection (b) to further a 

railroad security plan that meets the requirements of paragraph (2). 

(4) Notwithstanding the requirement for eligibility and uses of 

funds in paragraphs (2) and (3), a railroad carrier is eligible for a 

grant under this section if the applicant uses the funds solely for the 

development of assessments or security plans under section 1512. 

(5) Notwithstanding the requirements for eligibility and uses of 

funds in paragraphs (2) and (3), prior to the earlier of one year after 

the date of issuance of final regulations requiring vulnerability assessments and security plans under section 1512 or 3 years after the 

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date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary may award grants 

under this section for rail security improvements listed under subsection (b) based upon railroad carrier vulnerability assessments 

and security plans that the Secretary determines are sufficient for 

the purposes of this section but have not been approved by the Secretary in accordance with section 1512. 

(b) USES OF FUNDS.—A recipient of a grant under this section 

shall use the grant funds for one or more of the following: 

(1) Security and redundancy for critical communications, 

computer, and train control systems essential for secure railroad operations. 

(2) Accommodation of railroad cargo or passenger security 

inspection facilities, related infrastructure, and operations at or 

near United States international borders or other ports of entry. 

(3) The security of security-sensitive materials transportation by railroad. 

(4) Chemical, biological, radiological, or explosive detection, 

including canine patrols for such detection. 

(5) The security of intercity passenger railroad stations, 

trains, and infrastructure, including security capital improvement projects that the Secretary determines enhance railroad 

station security. 

(6) Technologies to reduce the vulnerabilities of railroad 

cars, including structural modification of railroad cars transporting security-sensitive materials to improve their resistance 

to acts of terrorism. 

(7) The sharing of intelligence and information about security threats. 

(8) To obtain train tracking and communications equipment, including equipment that is interoperable with Federal, 

State, and local agencies and tribal governments. 

(9) To hire, train, and employ police and security officers, 

including canine units, assigned to full-time security or 

counterterrorism duties related to railroad transportation. 

(10) Overtime reimbursement, including reimbursement of 

State, local, and tribal governments for costs, for enhanced security personnel assigned to duties related to railroad security 

during periods of high or severe threat levels and National Special Security Events or other periods of heightened security as 

determined by the Secretary. 

(11) Perimeter protection systems, including access control, 

installation of improved lighting, fencing, and barricades at 

railroad facilities. 

(12) Tunnel protection systems. 

(13) Passenger evacuation and evacuation-related capital 

improvements. 

(14) Railroad security inspection technologies, including 

verified visual inspection technologies using hand-held readers. 

(15) Surveillance equipment. 

(16) Cargo or passenger screening equipment. 

(17) Emergency response equipment, including fire suppression and decontamination equipment, personal protective equipment, and defibrillators. 

(18) Operating and capital costs associated with security 

awareness, preparedness, and response training, including 

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training under section 1517, and training developed by universities, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit employee 

labor organizations, for railroad employees, including frontline 

employees. 

(19) Live or simulated exercises, including exercises described in section 1516. 

(20) Public awareness campaigns for enhanced railroad security. 

(21) Development of assessments or security plans under 

section 1512. 

(22) Other security improvements—

(A) identified, required, or recommended under sections 

1511 and 1512, including infrastructure, facilities, and 

equipment upgrades; or 

(B) that the Secretary considers appropriate. 

(c) DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES.—

In carrying out the responsibilities under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1) determine the requirements for recipients of grants; 

(2) establish priorities for uses of funds for grant recipients; 

(3) award the funds authorized by this section based on 

risk, as identified by the plans required under sections 1511 

and 1512, or assessment or plan described in subsection (a)(5); 

(4) take into account whether stations or facilities are used 

by commuter railroad passengers as well as intercity railroad 

passengers in reviewing grant applications; 

(5) encourage non-Federal financial participation in 

projects funded by grants; and 

(6) not later than 5 business days after awarding a grant 

to Amtrak under this section, transfer grant funds to the Secretary of Transportation to be disbursed to Amtrak. 

(d) MULTIYEAR AWARDS.—Grant funds awarded under this section may be awarded for projects that span multiple years. 

(e) LIMITATION ON USES OF FUNDS.—A grant made under this 

section may not be used to make any State or local government costsharing contribution under any other Federal law. 

(f) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Each recipient of a grant under this section shall report annually to the Secretary on the use of grant funds. 

(g) NON-FEDERAL MATCH STUDY.—Not later than 240 days 

after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide 

a report to the appropriate congressional committees on the feasibility and appropriateness of requiring a non-Federal match for 

grants awarded to freight railroad carriers and other private entities under this section. 

(h) SUBJECT TO CERTAIN STANDARDS.—A recipient of a grant 

under this section and sections 1514 and 1515 shall be required to 

comply with the standards of section 24312 of title 49, United States 

Code, as in effect on January 1, 2007, with respect to the project in 

the same manner as Amtrak is required to comply with such standards for construction work financed under an agreement made 

under section 24308(a) of that title. 

(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Out of funds appropriated pursuant to 

section 114(w) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by 

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section 1503 of this title, there shall be made available to the 

Secretary to carry out this section—

(A) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

(2) PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY.—Sums appropriated to carry 

out this section shall remain available until expended. 

SEC. 1514. SYSTEMWIDE AMTRAK SECURITY UPGRADES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—

(1) GRANTS.—Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary, in 

consultation with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, is authorized to make grants to Amtrak in 

accordance with the provisions of this section. 

(2) GENERAL PURPOSES.—The Secretary may make such 

grants for the purposes of—

(A) protecting underwater and underground assets and 

systems; 

(B) protecting high-risk and high-consequence assets 

identified through systemwide risk assessments; 

(C) providing counterterrorism or security training; 

(D) providing both visible and unpredictable deterrence; and 

(E) conducting emergency preparedness drills and exercises. 

(3) SPECIFIC PROJECTS.—The Secretary shall make such 

grants—

(A) to secure major tunnel access points and ensure 

tunnel integrity in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and 

Washington, DC; 

(B) to secure Amtrak trains; 

(C) to secure Amtrak stations; 

(D) to obtain a watchlist identification system approved by the Secretary; 

(E) to obtain train tracking and interoperable communications systems that are coordinated with Federal, State, 

and local agencies and tribal governments to the maximum 

extent possible; 

(F) to hire, train, and employ police and security officers, including canine units, assigned to full-time security 

or counterterrorism duties related to railroad transportation; 

(G) for operating and capital costs associated with security awareness, preparedness, and response training, including training under section 1517, and training developed by universities, institutions of higher education, and 

nonprofit employee labor organizations, for railroad employees, including frontline employees; and 

(H) for live or simulated exercises, including exercises 

described in section 1516. 

(b) CONDITIONS.—The Secretary shall award grants to Amtrak 

under this section for projects contained in a systemwide security 

plan approved by the Secretary developed pursuant to section 1512. 

Not later than 5 business days after awarding a grant to Amtrak 

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under this section, the Secretary shall transfer the grant funds to 

the Secretary of Transportation to be disbursed to Amtrak. 

(c) EQUITABLE GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION.—The Secretary shall 

ensure that, subject to meeting the highest security needs on Amtrak’s entire system and consistent with the risk assessment required under section 1511 and Amtrak’s vulnerability assessment 

and security plan developed under section 1512, stations and facilities located outside of the Northeast Corridor receive an equitable 

share of the security funds authorized by this section. 

(d) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Out of funds appropriated pursuant to 

section 114(w) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by 

section 1503 of this title, there shall be made available to the 

Secretary and the Administrator of the Transportation Security 

Administration to carry out this section—

(A) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

(2) AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall remain available 

until expended. 

SEC. 1515. FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. 

(a) LIFE-SAFETY NEEDS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for making grants to Amtrak for the purpose of carrying out projects to make fire and life 

safety improvements to Amtrak tunnels on the Northeast Corridor 

the following amounts: 

(1) For the 6 New York and New Jersey tunnels to provide 

ventilation, electrical, and fire safety technology improvements, 

emergency communication and lighting systems, and emergency 

access and egress for passengers—

(A) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

(2) For the Baltimore Potomac Tunnel and the Union Tunnel, together, to provide adequate drainage and ventilation, 

communication, lighting, standpipe, and passenger egress improvements—

(A) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

(3) For the Union Station tunnels in the District of Columbia to improve ventilation, communication, lighting, and passenger egress improvements—

(A) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

(b) INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.—Out of funds appropriated 

pursuant to section 1503(b), there shall be made available to the 

Secretary of Transportation for fiscal year 2008, $3,000,000 for the 

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preliminary design of options for a new tunnel on a different alignment to augment the capacity of the existing Baltimore tunnels. 

(c) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall remain available until expended. 

(d) PLANS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Transportation may 

not make amounts available to Amtrak for obligation or expenditure 

under subsection (a)—

(1) until Amtrak has submitted to the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Transportation has approved, 

an engineering and financial plan for such projects; and 

(2) unless, for each project funded pursuant to this section, 

the Secretary of Transportation has approved a project management plan prepared by Amtrak. 

(e) REVIEW OF PLANS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 

complete the review of a plan required under subsection (d) and 

approve or disapprove the plan within 45 days after the date 

on which each such plan is submitted by Amtrak. 

(2) INCOMPLETE OR DEFICIENT PLAN.—If the Secretary of 

Transportation determines that a plan is incomplete or deficient, the Secretary of Transportation shall notify Amtrak of the 

incomplete items or deficiencies and Amtrak shall, within 30 

days after receiving the Secretary of Transportation’s notification, submit a modified plan for the Secretary of Transportation’s review. 

(3) APPROVAL OF PLAN.—Within 15 days after receiving additional information on items previously included in the plan, 

and within 45 days after receiving items newly included in a 

modified plan, the Secretary of Transportation shall either approve the modified plan, or if the Secretary of Transportation 

finds the plan is still incomplete or deficient, the Secretary of 

Transportation shall—

(A) identify in writing to the appropriate congressional 

committees the portions of the plan the Secretary finds incomplete or deficient; 

(B) approve all other portions of the plan; 

(C) obligate the funds associated with those portions; 

and 

(D) execute an agreement with Amtrak within 15 days 

thereafter on a process for resolving the remaining portions 

of the plan. 

(f) FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FROM OTHER TUNNEL USERS.—

The Secretary of Transportation, taking into account the need for 

the timely completion of all portions of the tunnel projects described 

in subsection (a), shall—

(1) consider the extent to which railroad carriers other than 

Amtrak use or plan to use the tunnels; 

(2) consider the feasibility of seeking a financial contribution from those other railroad carriers toward the costs of the 

projects; and 

(3) obtain financial contributions or commitments from 

such other railroad carriers at levels reflecting the extent of 

their use or planned use of the tunnels, if feasible. 

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SEC. 1516. RAILROAD CARRIER EXERCISES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a program for 

conducting security exercises for railroad carriers for the purpose of 

assessing and improving the capabilities of entities described in 

subsection (b) to prevent, prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. 

(b) COVERED ENTITIES.—Entities to be assessed under the program shall include—

(1) Federal, State, and local agencies and tribal governments; 

(2) railroad carriers; 

(3) governmental and nongovernmental emergency response 

providers, law enforcement agencies, and railroad and transit 

police, as appropriate; and 

(4) any other organization or entity that the Secretary determines appropriate. 

(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that the program—

(1) consolidates existing security exercises for railroad carriers administered by the Department and the Department of 

Transportation, as jointly determined by the Secretary and the 

Secretary of Transportation, unless the Secretary waives this 

consolidation requirement as appropriate; 

(2) consists of exercises that are—

(A) scaled and tailored to the needs of the carrier, including addressing the needs of the elderly and individuals 

with disabilities; 

(B) live, in the case of the most at-risk facilities to a 

terrorist attack; 

(C) coordinated with appropriate officials; 

(D) as realistic as practicable and based on current 

risk assessments, including credible threats, vulnerabilities, 

and consequences; 

(E) inclusive, as appropriate, of railroad frontline employees; and 

(F) consistent with the National Incident Management 

System, the National Response Plan, the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, the National Preparedness Guidance, the National Preparedness Goal, and other such national initiatives; 

(3) provides that exercises described in paragraph (2) will 

be—

(A) evaluated by the Secretary against clear and consistent performance measures; 

(B) assessed by the Secretary to identify best practices, 

which shall be shared, as appropriate, with railroad carriers, nonprofit employee organizations that represent railroad carrier employees, Federal, State, local, and tribal officials, governmental and nongovernmental emergency response providers, law enforcement personnel, including 

railroad carrier and transit police, and other stakeholders; 

and 

(C) used to develop recommendations, as appropriate, 

from the Secretary to railroad carriers on remedial action 

to be taken in response to lessons learned; 

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(4) allows for proper advanced notification of communities 

and local governments in which exercises are held, as appropriate; and 

(5) assists State, local, and tribal governments and railroad carriers in designing, implementing, and evaluating additional exercises that conform to the requirements of paragraph 

(1). 

(d) NATIONAL EXERCISE PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall ensure 

that the exercise program developed under subsection (c) is a component of the National Exercise Program established under section 

648 of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (Public 

Law 109–295; 6 U.S.C. 748). 

SEC. 1517. RAILROAD SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and issue regulations for a training program to prepare railroad frontline employees 

for potential security threats and conditions. The regulations shall 

take into consideration any current security training requirements 

or best practices. 

(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall develop the regulations under subsection (a) in consultation with— (1) appropriate law enforcement, fire service, emergency response, security, and terrorism experts; 

(2) railroad carriers; 

(3) railroad shippers; and 

(4) nonprofit employee labor organizations representing 

railroad employees or emergency response personnel. 

(c) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The regulations developed under subsection (a) shall require security training programs described in 

subsection (a) to include, at a minimum, elements to address the following, as applicable: 

(1) Determination of the seriousness of any occurrence or 

threat. 

(2) Crew and passenger communication and coordination. 

(3) Appropriate responses to defend or protect oneself. 

(4) Use of personal and other protective equipment. 

(5) Evacuation procedures for passengers and railroad employees, including individuals with disabilities and the elderly. 

(6) Psychology, behavior, and methods of terrorists, including observation and analysis. 

(7) Training related to psychological responses to terrorist 

incidents, including the ability to cope with hijacker behavior 

and passenger responses. 

(8) Live situational training exercises regarding various 

threat conditions, including tunnel evacuation procedures. 

(9) Recognition and reporting of dangerous substances, suspicious packages, and situations. 

(10) Understanding security incident procedures, including 

procedures for communicating with governmental and nongovernmental emergency response providers and for on-scene 

interaction with such emergency response providers. 

(11) Operation and maintenance of security equipment and 

systems. 

(12) Other security training activities that the Secretary 

considers appropriate. 

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(d) REQUIRED PROGRAMS.— (1) DEVELOPMENT AND SUBMISSION TO SECRETARY.—Not 

later than 90 days after the Secretary issues regulations under 

subsection (a), each railroad carrier shall develop a security 

training program in accordance with this section and submit 

the program to the Secretary for approval. 

(2) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL.—Not later than 60 days 

after receiving a security training program proposal under this 

subsection, the Secretary shall approve the program or require 

the railroad carrier that developed the program to make any revisions to the program that the Secretary considers necessary 

for the program to meet the requirements of this section. A railroad carrier shall respond to the Secretary’s comments within 

30 days after receiving them. 

(3) TRAINING.—Not later than 1 year after the Secretary approves a security training program in accordance with this subsection, the railroad carrier that developed the program shall 

complete the training of all railroad frontline employees who 

were hired by a carrier more than 30 days preceding such date. 

For such employees employed less than 30 days by a carrier 

preceding such date, training shall be completed within the first 

60 days of employment. 

(4) UPDATES OF REGULATIONS AND PROGRAM REVISIONS.— The Secretary shall periodically review and update as appropriate the training regulations issued under subsection (a) to reflect new or changing security threats. Each railroad carrier 

shall revise its training program accordingly and provide additional training as necessary to its frontline employees within a 

reasonable time after the regulations are updated. 

(e) NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall ensure 

that the training program developed under subsection (a) is a component of the National Training Program established under section 

648 of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (Public 

Law 109–295; 6 U.S.C. 748). 

(f) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Not later than 2 years after the 

date of regulation issuance, the Secretary shall review implementation of the training program of a representative sample of railroad 

carriers and railroad frontline employees, and report to the appropriate congressional committees on the number of reviews conducted 

and the results of such reviews. The Secretary may submit the report in both classified and redacted formats as necessary. 

(g) OTHER EMPLOYEES.—The Secretary shall issue guidance 

and best practices for a railroad shipper employee security program 

containing the elements listed under subsection (c). 

SEC. 1518. RAILROAD SECURITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.—The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for 

Science and Technology and the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall carry out a research and development program for the purpose of improving the security of railroad transportation systems. 

(b) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—The research and development program may include projects—

(1) to reduce the vulnerability of passenger trains, stations, 

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cal, and radioactive substances, including the development of 

technology to screen passengers in large numbers at peak commuting times with minimal interference and disruption; 

(2) to test new emergency response and recovery techniques 

and technologies, including those used at international borders; 

(3) to develop improved railroad security technologies, including—

(A) technologies for sealing or modifying railroad tank 

cars; 

(B) automatic inspection of railroad cars; 

(C) communication-based train control systems; 

(D) emergency response training, including training in 

a tunnel environment; 

(E) security and redundancy for critical communications, electrical power, computer, and train control systems; 

and 

(F) technologies for securing bridges and tunnels; 

(4) to test wayside detectors that can detect tampering; 

(5) to support enhanced security for the transportation of 

security-sensitive materials by railroad; 

(6) to mitigate damages in the event of a cyber attack; and 

(7) to address other vulnerabilities and risks identified by 

the Secretary. 

(c) COORDINATION WITH OTHER RESEARCH INITIATIVES.—The 

Secretary—

(1) shall ensure that the research and development program 

is consistent with the National Strategy for Railroad Transportation Security developed under section 1511 and any other 

transportation security research and development programs required by this Act; 

(2) shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate the research 

and development activities of the Department with other ongoing research and development security-related initiatives, including research being conducted by—

(A) the Department of Transportation, including University Transportation Centers and other institutes, centers, 

and simulators funded by the Department of Transportation; 

(B) the National Academy of Sciences; 

(C) the Technical Support Working Group; 

(D) other Federal departments and agencies; and 

(E) other Federal and private research laboratories, research entities, and universities and institutions of higher 

education, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, or Indian Tribally 

Controlled Colleges and Universities; 

(3) shall carry out any research and development project 

authorized by this section through a reimbursable agreement 

with an appropriate Federal agency, if the agency—

(A) is currently sponsoring a research and development 

project in a similar area; or 

(B) has a unique facility or capability that would be 

useful in carrying out the project; 

(4) may award grants, or enter into cooperative agreements, 

contracts, other transactions, or reimbursable agreements to the 

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entities described in paragraph (2) and the eligible grant recipients under section 1513; and 

(5) shall make reasonable efforts to enter into memoranda 

of understanding, contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or 

other transactions with railroad carriers willing to contribute 

both physical space and other resources. 

(d) PRIVACY AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES.—

(1) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out research and development projects under this section, the Secretary shall consult 

with the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department as appropriate and in accordance with section 222 of the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 142). 

(2) PRIVACY IMPACT ASSESSMENTS.—In accordance with 

sections 222 and 705 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 

U.S.C. 142; 345), the Chief Privacy Officer shall conduct privacy impact assessments and the Officer for Civil Rights and 

Civil Liberties shall conduct reviews, as appropriate, for research and development initiatives developed under this section 

that the Secretary determines could have an impact on privacy, 

civil rights, or civil liberties. 

(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Out of funds appropriated pursuant to 

section 114(w) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by 

section 1503, there shall be made available to the Secretary to 

carry out this section—

(A) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

(2) PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY.—Such sums shall remain 

available until expended. 

SEC. 1519. RAILROAD TANK CAR SECURITY TESTING. 

(a) RAILROAD TANK CAR VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT.—

(1) ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary shall assess the likely 

methods of a deliberate terrorist attack against a railroad tank 

car used to transport toxic-inhalation-hazard materials, and for 

each method assessed, the degree to which it may be successful 

in causing death, injury, or serious adverse effects to human 

health, the environment, critical infrastructure, national security, the national economy, or public welfare. 

(2) THREATS.—In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary 

shall consider the most current threat information as to likely 

methods of a successful terrorist attack on a railroad tank car 

transporting toxic-inhalation-hazard materials, and may consider the following: 

(A) Explosive devices placed along the tracks or attached to a railroad tank car. 

(B) The use of missiles, grenades, rockets, mortars, or 

other high-caliber weapons against a railroad tank car. 

(3) PHYSICAL TESTING.—In developing the assessment required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall conduct physical testing of the vulnerability of railroad tank cars used to 

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ods of a deliberate attack, using technical information and criteria to evaluate the structural integrity of railroad tank cars. 

(4) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the completion 

of the assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a report, in the 

appropriate format, on such assessment. 

(b) RAILROAD TANK CAR DISPERSION MODELING.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center, shall 

conduct an air dispersion modeling analysis of release scenarios 

of toxic-inhalation-hazard materials resulting from a terrorist 

attack on a loaded railroad tank car carrying such materials 

in urban and rural environments. 

(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—The analysis under this subsection 

shall take into account the following considerations: 

(A) The most likely means of attack and the resulting 

dispersal rate. 

(B) Different times of day, to account for differences in 

cloud coverage and other atmospheric conditions in the environment being modeled. 

(C) Differences in population size and density. 

(D) Historically accurate wind speeds, temperatures, 

and wind directions. 

(E) Differences in dispersal rates or other relevant factors related to whether a railroad tank car is in motion or 

stationary. 

(F) Emergency response procedures by local officials. 

(G) Any other considerations the Secretary believes 

would develop an accurate, plausible dispersion model for 

toxic-inhalation-hazard materials released from a railroad 

tank car as a result of a terrorist act. 

(3) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the dispersion modeling 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Transportation, hazardous materials experts, railroad 

carriers, nonprofit employee labor organizations representing 

railroad employees, appropriate State, local, and tribal officials, 

and other Federal agencies, as appropriate. 

(4) INFORMATION SHARING.—Upon completion of the analysis required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall share the 

information developed with the appropriate stakeholders, given 

appropriate information protection provisions as may be required by the Secretary. 

(5) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after completion of all 

dispersion analyses under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 

submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the Secretary’s conclusions and findings in an appropriate format. 

SEC. 1520. RAILROAD THREAT ASSESSMENTS. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 

the Secretary shall complete a name-based security background 

check against the consolidated terrorist watchlist and an immigration status check for all railroad frontline employees, similar to the 

threat assessment screening program required for facility employees 

and longshoremen by the Commandant of the Coast Guard under 

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Coast Guard Notice USCG–2006–24189 (71 Fed. Reg. 25066 (April 

8, 2006)). 

SEC. 1521. RAILROAD EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS. 

Section 20109 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to 

read: 

‘‘SEC. 20109. EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A railroad carrier engaged in interstate or 

foreign commerce, a contractor or a subcontractor of such a railroad 

carrier, or an officer or employee of such a railroad carrier, may not 

discharge, demote, suspend, reprimand, or in any other way discriminate against an employee if such discrimination is due, in 

whole or in part, to the employee’s lawful, good faith act done, or 

perceived by the employer to have been done or about to be done—

‘‘(1) to provide information, directly cause information to be 

provided, or otherwise directly assist in any investigation regarding any conduct which the employee reasonably believes 

constitutes a violation of any Federal law, rule, or regulation 

relating to railroad safety or security, or gross fraud, waste, or 

abuse of Federal grants or other public funds intended to be 

used for railroad safety or security, if the information or assistance is provided to or an investigation stemming from the provided information is conducted by—

‘‘(A) a Federal, State, or local regulatory or law enforcement agency (including an office of the Inspector General under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 

App.; Public Law 95–452); 

‘‘(B) any Member of Congress, any committee of Congress, or the Government Accountability Office; or 

‘‘(C) a person with supervisory authority over the employee or such other person who has the authority to investigate, discover, or terminate the misconduct; 

‘‘(2) to refuse to violate or assist in the violation of any Federal law, rule, or regulation relating to railroad safety or security; 

‘‘(3) to file a complaint, or directly cause to be brought a 

proceeding related to the enforcement of this part or, as applicable to railroad safety or security, chapter 51 or 57 of this title, 

or to testify in that proceeding; 

‘‘(4) to notify, or attempt to notify, the railroad carrier or 

the Secretary of Transportation of a work-related personal injury or work-related illness of an employee; 

‘‘(5) to cooperate with a safety or security investigation by 

the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the National Transportation Safety Board; 

‘‘(6) to furnish information to the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the National Transportation Safety Board, or any Federal, State, or local regulatory or law enforcement agency as to the facts relating to any 

accident or incident resulting in injury or death to an individual or damage to property occurring in connection with railroad transportation; or 

‘‘(7) to accurately report hours on duty pursuant to chapter 

211. 

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‘‘(b) HAZARDOUS SAFETY OR SECURITY CONDITIONS.—(1) A railroad carrier engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, or an officer 

or employee of such a railroad carrier, shall not discharge, demote, 

suspend, reprimand, or in any other way discriminate against an 

employee for—

‘‘(A) reporting, in good faith, a hazardous safety or security 

condition; 

‘‘(B) refusing to work when confronted by a hazardous safety or security condition related to the performance of the employee’s duties, if the conditions described in paragraph (2) 

exist; or 

‘‘(C) refusing to authorize the use of any safety-related 

equipment, track, or structures, if the employee is responsible 

for the inspection or repair of the equipment, track, or structures, when the employee believes that the equipment, track, or 

structures are in a hazardous safety or security condition, if the 

conditions described in paragraph (2) exist. 

‘‘(2) A refusal is protected under paragraph (1)(B) and (C) if—

‘‘(A) the refusal is made in good faith and no reasonable alternative to the refusal is available to the employee; 

‘‘(B) a reasonable individual in the circumstances then confronting the employee would conclude that—

‘‘(i) the hazardous condition presents an imminent danger of death or serious injury; and 

‘‘(ii) the urgency of the situation does not allow sufficient time to eliminate the danger without such refusal; 

and 

‘‘(C) the employee, where possible, has notified the railroad 

carrier of the existence of the hazardous condition and the intention not to perform further work, or not to authorize the use 

of the hazardous equipment, track, or structures, unless the condition is corrected immediately or the equipment, track, or 

structures are repaired properly or replaced. 

‘‘(3) In this subsection, only paragraph (1)(A) shall apply to security personnel employed by a railroad carrier to protect individuals and property transported by railroad. 

‘‘(c) ENFORCEMENT ACTION.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An employee who alleges discharge, discipline, or other discrimination in violation of subsection (a) or 

(b) of this section, may seek relief in accordance with the provisions of this section, with any petition or other request for relief 

under this section to be initiated by filing a complaint with the 

Secretary of Labor. 

‘‘(2) PROCEDURE.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Any action under paragraph (1) 

shall be governed under the rules and procedures set forth 

in section 42121(b), including: 

‘‘(i) BURDENS OF PROOF.—Any action brought 

under (c)(1) shall be governed by the legal burdens of 

proof set forth in section 42121(b). 

‘‘(ii) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—An action under 

paragraph (1) shall be commenced not later than 180 

days after the date on which the alleged violation of 

subsection (a) or (b) of this section occurs. 

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‘‘(iii) CIVIL ACTIONS TO ENFORCE.—If a person fails 

to comply with an order issued by the Secretary of 

Labor pursuant to the procedures in section 42121(b), 

the Secretary of Labor may bring a civil action to enforce the order in the district court of the United States 

for the judicial district in which the violation occurred, 

as set forth in 42121. 

‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Notification made under section 

42121(b)(1) shall be made to the person named in the complaint and the person’s employer. 

‘‘(3) DE NOVO REVIEW.—With respect to a complaint under 

paragraph (1), if the Secretary of Labor has not issued a final 

decision within 210 days after the filing of the complaint and 

if the delay is not due to the bad faith of the employee, the employee may bring an original action at law or equity for de novo 

review in the appropriate district court of the United States, 

which shall have jurisdiction over such an action without regard to the amount in controversy, and which action shall, at 

the request of either party to such action, be tried by the court 

with a jury. 

‘‘(4) APPEALS.—Any person adversely affected or aggrieved 

by an order issued pursuant to the procedures in section 

42121(b), may obtain review of the order in the United States 

court of appeals for the circuit in which the violation, with respect to which the order was issued, allegedly occurred or the 

circuit in which the complainant resided on the date of such 

violation. The petition for review must be filed not later than 

60 days after the date of the issuance of the final order of the 

Secretary of Labor. The review shall conform to chapter 7 of 

title 5. The commencement of proceedings under this paragraph 

shall not, unless ordered by the court, operate as a stay of the 

order. 

‘‘(d) REMEDIES.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An employee prevailing in any action 

under subsection (c) shall be entitled to all relief necessary to 

make the employee whole. 

‘‘(2) DAMAGES.—Relief in an action under subsection (c) (including an action described in subsection (c)(3)) shall include—

‘‘(A) reinstatement with the same seniority status that 

the employee would have had, but for the discrimination; 

‘‘(B) any backpay, with interest; and 

‘‘(C) compensatory damages, including compensation 

for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs, expert witness fees, 

and reasonable attorney fees. 

‘‘(3) POSSIBLE RELIEF.—Relief in any action under subsection (c) may include punitive damages in an amount not to 

exceed $250,000. 

‘‘(e) ELECTION OF REMEDIES.—An employee may not seek protection under both this section and another provision of law for the 

same allegedly unlawful act of the railroad carrier. 

‘‘(f) NO PREEMPTION.—Nothing in this section preempts or diminishes any other safeguards against discrimination, demotion, 

discharge, suspension, threats, harassment, reprimand, retaliation, 

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or any other manner of discrimination provided by Federal or State 

law. ‘‘(g) RIGHTS RETAINED BY EMPLOYEE.—Nothing in this section 

shall be deemed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of 

any employee under any Federal or State law or under any collective bargaining agreement. The rights and remedies in this section 

may not be waived by any agreement, policy, form, or condition of 

employment. ‘‘(h) DISCLOSURE OF IDENTITY.— ‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, 

or with the written consent of the employee, the Secretary of 

Transportation or the Secretary of Homeland Security may not 

disclose the name of an employee of a railroad carrier who has 

provided information about an alleged violation of this part or, 

as applicable to railroad safety or security, chapter 51 or 57 of 

this title, or a regulation prescribed or order issued under any 

of those provisions. ‘‘(2) The Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary of 

Homeland Security shall disclose to the Attorney General the 

name of an employee described in paragraph (1) if the matter 

is referred to the Attorney General for enforcement. The Secretary making such disclosures shall provide reasonable advance notice to the affected employee if disclosure of that person’s identity or identifying information is to occur. 

‘‘(i) PROCESS FOR REPORTING SECURITY PROBLEMS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.—

‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCESS.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish through regulations, after an opportunity for notice and comment, a process by which any person may report to the Secretary of Homeland Security regarding 

railroad security problems, deficiencies, or vulnerabilities. 

‘‘(2) ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT.—If a report submitted 

under paragraph (1) identifies the person making the report, 

the Secretary of Homeland Security shall respond promptly to 

such person and acknowledge receipt of the report. ‘‘(3) STEPS TO ADDRESS PROBLEM.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall review and consider the information provided in any report submitted under paragraph (1) and shall 

take appropriate steps to address any problems or deficiencies 

identified.’’. 

SEC. 1522. SECURITY BACKGROUND CHECKS OF COVERED INDIVIDUALS. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following definitions 

apply: 

(1) SECURITY BACKGROUND CHECK.—The term ‘‘security 

background check’’ means reviewing, for the purpose of identifying individuals who may pose a threat to transportation security or national security, or of terrorism—

(A) relevant criminal history databases; 

(B) in the case of an alien (as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(3)), the relevant 

databases to determine the status of the alien under the immigration laws of the United States; and 

(C) other relevant information or databases, as determined by the Secretary. 

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(2) COVERED INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means an employee of a railroad carrier or a contractor or subcontractor of a railroad carrier. 

(b) GUIDANCE.— (1) Any guidance, recommendations, suggested action 

items, or any other widely disseminated voluntary action items 

issued by the Secretary to a railroad carrier or a contractor or 

subcontractor of a railroad carrier relating to performing a security background check of a covered individual shall contain 

recommendations on the appropriate scope and application of 

such a security background check, including the time period 

covered, the types of disqualifying offenses, and a redress process for adversely impacted covered individuals consistent with 

subsections (c) and (d) of this section. 

(2) Within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 

any guidance, recommendations, suggested action items, or any 

other widely disseminated voluntary action item issued by the 

Secretary prior to the date of enactment of this Act to a railroad 

carrier or a contractor or subcontractor of a railroad carrier relating to performing a security background check of a covered 

individual shall be updated in compliance with paragraph (1). 

(3) If a railroad carrier or a contractor or subcontractor of 

a railroad carrier performs a security background check on a 

covered individual to fulfill guidance issued by the Secretary 

under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary shall not consider 

such guidance fulfilled unless an adequate redress process as 

described in subsection (d) is provided to covered individuals. 

(c) REQUIREMENTS.—If the Secretary issues a rule, regulation, 

or directive requiring a railroad carrier or contractor or subcontractor of a railroad carrier to perform a security background check 

of a covered individual, then the Secretary shall prohibit the railroad carrier or contractor or subcontractor of a railroad carrier 

from making an adverse employment decision, including removal or 

suspension of the covered individual, due to such rule, regulation, 

or directive with respect to a covered individual unless the railroad 

carrier or contractor or subcontractor of a railroad carrier determines that the covered individual—

(1) has been convicted of, has been found not guilty by reason of insanity, or is under want, warrant, or indictment for a 

permanent disqualifying criminal offense listed in part 1572 of 

title 49, Code of Federal Regulations; 

(2) was convicted of or found not guilty by reason of insanity of an interim disqualifying criminal offense listed in part 

1572 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, within 7 years of 

the date that the railroad carrier or contractor or subcontractor 

of a railroad carrier performs the security background check; or 

(3) was incarcerated for an interim disqualifying criminal 

offense listed in part 1572 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, and released from incarceration within 5 years of the 

date that the railroad carrier or contractor or subcontractor of 

a railroad carrier performs the security background check. 

(d) REDRESS PROCESS.—If the Secretary issues a rule, regulation, or directive requiring a railroad carrier or contractor or subcontractor of a railroad carrier to perform a security background 

check of a covered individual, the Secretary shall—

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(1) provide an adequate redress process for a covered individual subjected to an adverse employment decision, including 

removal or suspension of the employee, due to such rule, regulation, or directive that is consistent with the appeals and waiver 

process established for applicants for commercial motor vehicle 

hazardous materials endorsements and transportation employees at ports, as required by section 70105(c) of title 46, United 

States Code; and 

(2) have the authority to order an appropriate remedy, including reinstatement of the covered individual, should the Secretary determine that a railroad carrier or contractor or subcontractor of a railroad carrier wrongfully made an adverse employment decision regarding a covered individual pursuant to 

such rule, regulation, or directive. 

(e) FALSE STATEMENTS.—A railroad carrier or a contractor or 

subcontractor of a railroad carrier may not knowingly misrepresent 

to an employee or other relevant person, including an arbiter involved in a labor arbitration, the scope, application, or meaning of 

any rules, regulations, directives, or guidance issued by the Secretary related to security background check requirements for covered 

individuals when conducting a security background check. Not later 

than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

shall issue a regulation that prohibits a railroad carrier or a contractor or subcontractor of a railroad carrier from knowingly misrepresenting to an employee or other relevant person, including an 

arbiter involved in a labor arbitration, the scope, application, or 

meaning of any rules, regulations, directives, or guidance issued by 

the Secretary related to security background check requirements for 

covered individuals when conducting a security background check. 

(f) RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—Nothing in this section 

shall be construed to abridge a railroad carrier’s or a contractor or 

subcontractor of a railroad carrier’s rights or responsibilities to 

make adverse employment decisions permitted by other Federal, 

State, or local laws. Nothing in the section shall be construed to 

abridge rights and responsibilities of covered individuals, a railroad 

carrier, or a contractor or subcontractor of a railroad carrier, under 

any other Federal, State, or local laws or under any collective bargaining agreement. 

(g) NO PREEMPTION OF FEDERAL OR STATE LAW.—Nothing in 

this section shall be construed to preempt a Federal, State, or local 

law that requires criminal history background checks, immigration 

status checks, or other background checks, of covered individuals. 

(h) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall 

be construed to affect the process for review established under section 70105(c) of title 46, United States Code, including regulations 

issued pursuant to such section. 

SEC. 1523. NORTHERN BORDER RAILROAD PASSENGER REPORT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, the Secretary 

of Transportation, heads of other appropriate Federal departments 

and agencies and Amtrak shall transmit a report to the appropriate 

congressional committees that contains—

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(1) a description of the current system for screening passengers and baggage on passenger railroad service between the 

United States and Canada; 

(2) an assessment of the current program to provide 

preclearance of airline passengers between the United States 

and Canada as outlined in ‘‘The Agreement on Air Transport 

Preclearance between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America’’, dated January 18, 

2001; 

(3) an assessment of the current program to provide 

preclearance of freight railroad traffic between the United 

States and Canada as outlined in the ‘‘Declaration of Principle 

for the Improved Security of Rail Shipments by Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway from Canada to 

the United States’’, dated April 2, 2003; 

(4) information on progress by the Department of Homeland Security and other Federal agencies towards finalizing a 

bilateral protocol with Canada that would provide for 

preclearance of passengers on trains operating between the 

United States and Canada; 

(5) a description of legislative, regulatory, budgetary, or 

policy barriers within the United States Government to providing prescreened passenger lists for railroad passengers traveling between the United States and Canada to the Department; 

(6) a description of the position of the Government of Canada and relevant Canadian agencies with respect to 

preclearance of such passengers; 

(7) a draft of any changes in existing Federal law necessary 

to provide for prescreening of such passengers and providing 

prescreened passenger lists to the Department; and 

(8) an analysis of the feasibility of reinstating in-transit inspections onboard international Amtrak trains. 

(b) PRIVACY AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES.— (1) CONSULTATION.—In preparing the report under this section, the Secretary shall consult with the Chief Privacy Officer 

of the Department and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil 

Liberties of the Department as appropriate and in accordance 

with section 222 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. 

(2) PRIVACY IMPACT ASSESSMENTS.—In accordance with 

sections 222 and 705 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the 

report must contain a privacy impact assessment conducted by 

the Chief Privacy Officer and a review conducted by the Officer 

for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. 

SEC. 1524. INTERNATIONAL RAILROAD SECURITY PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—

(1) The Secretary shall develop a system to detect both 

undeclared passengers and contraband, with a primary focus 

on the detection of nuclear and radiological materials entering 

the United States by railroad. 

(2) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.—In developing the system 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary may, in consultation with 

the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, Customs and Border 

Protection, and the Transportation Security Administration—

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ments cross an international border to enter the United 

States; 

(B) consider the integration of radiation detection technologies with other nonintrusive inspection technologies 

where feasible; 

(C) ensure appropriate training, operations, and response protocols are established for Federal, State, and 

local personnel; 

(D) implement alternative procedures to check railroad 

shipments at locations where the deployment of nonintrusive inspection imaging equipment is determined to not be 

practicable; 

(E) ensure, to the extent practicable, that such technologies deployed can detect terrorists or weapons, including weapons of mass destruction; and 

(F) take other actions, as appropriate, to develop the 

system. 

(b) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.—The Secretary shall—

(1) identify and seek the submission of additional data elements for improved high-risk targeting related to the movement 

of cargo through the international supply chain utilizing a railroad prior to importation into the United States; 

(2) utilize data collected and maintained by the Secretary 

of Transportation in the targeting of high-risk cargo identified 

under paragraph (1); and 

(3) analyze the data provided in this subsection to identify 

high-risk cargo for inspection. 

(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than September 30, 2008, 

the Secretary shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that describes the progress of the system being developed under subsection (a). 

(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN.—The term ‘‘international supply chain’’ means the end-to-end process for shipping goods to or from the United States, beginning at the point 

of origin (including manufacturer, supplier, or vendor) through 

a point of distribution to the destination. 

(2) RADIATION DETECTION EQUIPMENT.—The term ‘‘radiation detection equipment’’ means any technology that is capable of detecting or identifying nuclear and radiological material 

or nuclear and radiological explosive devices. 

(3) INSPECTION.—The term ‘‘inspection’’ means the comprehensive process used by Customs and Border Protection to 

assess goods entering the United States to appraise them for 

duty purposes, to detect the presence of restricted or prohibited 

items, and to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. 

SEC. 1525. TRANSMISSION LINE REPORT. 

(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General shall undertake an assessment of the placement of high-voltage, direct-current, electric 

transmission lines along active railroad and other transportation 

rights-of-way. In conducting the assessment, the Comptroller General shall evaluate any economic, safety, and security risks and benefits to inhabitants living adjacent to such rights-of-way and to consumers of electric power transmitted by such transmission lines. 

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(b) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit the results 

of the assessment in subsection (a) to the appropriate congressional 

committees. 

SEC. 1526. RAILROAD SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS. 

(a) RAILROAD POLICE OFFICERS.—Section 28101 of title 49, 

United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before ‘‘Under’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(b) ASSIGNMENT.—A railroad police officer employed by a railroad carrier and certified or commissioned as a police officer under 

the laws of a State may be temporarily assigned to assist a second 

railroad carrier in carrying out law enforcement duties upon the request of the second railroad carrier, at which time the police officer 

shall be considered to be an employee of the second railroad carrier 

and shall have authority to enforce the laws of any jurisdiction in 

which the second railroad carrier owns property to the same extent 

as provided in subsection (a).’’. 

(b) MODEL STATE LEGISLATION.—Not later than November 2, 

2007, the Secretary of Transportation shall develop and make available to States model legislation to address the problem of entities 

that claim to be railroad carriers in order to establish and run a 

police force when the entities do not in fact provide railroad transportation. In developing the model State legislation the Secretary 

shall solicit the input of the States, railroads carriers, and railroad 

carrier employees. The Secretary shall review and, if necessary, revise such model State legislation periodically. 

SEC. 1527. APPLICABILITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LAW TO CERTAIN AMTRAK CONTRACTS. 

Section 24301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 

adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(o) APPLICABILITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LAW.—Any lease 

or contract entered into between Amtrak and the State of Maryland, 

or any department or agency of the State of Maryland, after the date 

of the enactment of this subsection shall be governed by the laws of 

the District of Columbia.’’. 

SEC. 1528. RAILROAD PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION. 

Section 20106 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to 

read as follows: 

‘‘§ 20106. Preemption 

‘‘(a) NATIONAL UNIFORMITY OF REGULATION.—(1) Laws, regulations, and orders related to railroad safety and laws, regulations, 

and orders related to railroad security shall be nationally uniform 

to the extent practicable. 

‘‘(2) A State may adopt or continue in force a law, regulation, 

or order related to railroad safety or security until the Secretary of 

Transportation (with respect to railroad safety matters), or the Secretary of Homeland Security (with respect to railroad security matters), prescribes a regulation or issues an order covering the subject 

matter of the State requirement. A State may adopt or continue in 

force an additional or more stringent law, regulation, or order related to railroad safety or security when the law, regulation, or 

order—

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‘‘(A) is necessary to eliminate or reduce an essentially local 

safety or security hazard; 

‘‘(B) is not incompatible with a law, regulation, or order of 

the United States Government; and 

‘‘(C) does not unreasonably burden interstate commerce. 

‘‘(b) CLARIFICATION REGARDING STATE LAW CAUSES OF ACTION.—(1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt an 

action under State law seeking damages for personal injury, death, 

or property damage alleging that a party—

‘‘(A) has failed to comply with the Federal standard of care 

established by a regulation or order issued by the Secretary of 

Transportation (with respect to railroad safety matters), or the 

Secretary of Homeland Security (with respect to railroad security matters), covering the subject matter as provided in subsection (a) of this section; 

‘‘(B) has failed to comply with its own plan, rule, or standard that it created pursuant to a regulation or order issued by 

either of the Secretaries; or 

‘‘(C) has failed to comply with a State law, regulation, or 

order that is not incompatible with subsection (a)(2). 

‘‘(2) This subsection shall apply to all pending State law causes 

of action arising from events or activities occurring on or after January 18, 2002. 

‘‘(c) JURISDICTION.—Nothing in this section creates a Federal 

cause of action on behalf of an injured party or confers Federal 

question jurisdiction for such State law causes of action.’’. 

Subtitle C—Over-the-Road Bus and Trucking Security 

SEC. 1531. OVER-THE-ROAD BUS SECURITY ASSESSMENTS AND PLANS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations that—

(1) require each over-the-road bus operator assigned to a 

high-risk tier under this section—

(A) to conduct a vulnerability assessment in accordance 

with subsections (c) and (d); and 

(B) to prepare, submit to the Secretary for approval, 

and implement a security plan in accordance with subsection (e); and 

(2) establish standards and guidelines for developing and 

implementing the vulnerability assessments and security plans 

for carriers assigned to high-risk tiers consistent with this section. 

(b) NON HIGH-RISK PROGRAMS.—The Secretary may establish a 

security program for over-the-road bus operators not assigned to a 

high-risk tier, including—

(1) guidance for such operators in conducting vulnerability 

assessments and preparing and implementing security plans, as 

determined appropriate by the Secretary; and 

(2) a process to review and approve such assessments and 

plans, as appropriate. 

(c) DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION.—Not later than 9 months after 

the date of issuance of the regulations under subsection (a), the vulnerability assessments and security plans required by such regulations for over-the-road bus operators assigned to a high-risk tier 

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shall be completed and submitted to the Secretary for review and 

approval. 

(d) VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS.— (1) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall provide technical 

assistance and guidance to over-the-road bus operators in conducting vulnerability assessments under this section and shall 

require that each vulnerability assessment of an operator assigned to a high-risk tier under this section includes, as appropriate— (A) identification and evaluation of critical assets and 

infrastructure, including platforms, stations, terminals, 

and information systems; 

(B) identification of the vulnerabilities to those assets 

and infrastructure; and 

(C) identification of weaknesses in— (i) physical security; 

(ii) passenger and cargo security; 

(iii) the security of programmable electronic devices, computers, or other automated systems which are 

used in providing over-the-road bus transportation; 

(iv) alarms, cameras, and other protection systems; 

(v) communications systems and utilities needed 

for over-the-road bus security purposes, including dispatching systems; 

(vi) emergency response planning; 

(vii) employee training; and 

(viii) such other matters as the Secretary determines appropriate. 

(2) THREAT INFORMATION.—The Secretary shall provide in 

a timely manner to the appropriate employees of an over-theroad bus operator, as designated by the over-the-road bus operator, threat information that is relevant to the operator when 

preparing and submitting a vulnerability assessment and security plan, including an assessment of the most likely methods 

that could be used by terrorists to exploit weaknesses in overthe-road bus security. 

(e) SECURITY PLANS.— (1) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall provide technical 

assistance and guidance to over-the-road bus operators in preparing and implementing security plans under this section and 

shall require that each security plan of an over-the-road bus operator assigned to a high-risk tier under this section includes, 

as appropriate— (A) the identification of a security coordinator having 

authority—

(i) to implement security actions under the plan; 

(ii) to coordinate security improvements; and 

(iii) to receive communications from appropriate 

Federal officials regarding over-the-road bus security; 

(B) a list of needed capital and operational improvements; 

(C) procedures to be implemented or used by the overthe-road bus operator in response to a terrorist attack, including evacuation and passenger communication plans 

that include individuals with disabilities, as appropriate; 

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(D) the identification of steps taken with State and 

local law enforcement agencies, emergency responders, and 

Federal officials to coordinate security measures and plans 

for response to a terrorist attack; 

(E) a strategy and timeline for conducting training 

under section 1534; 

(F) enhanced security measures to be taken by the overthe-road bus operator when the Secretary declares a period 

of heightened security risk; 

(G) plans for providing redundant and backup systems 

required to ensure the continued operation of critical elements of the over-the-road bus operator’s system in the 

event of a terrorist attack or other incident; and 

(H) such other actions or procedures as the Secretary 

determines are appropriate to address the security of overthe-road bus operators. 

(2) SECURITY COORDINATOR REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary 

shall require that the individual serving as the security coordinator identified in paragraph (1)(A) is a citizen of the United 

States. The Secretary may waive this requirement with respect 

to an individual if the Secretary determines that it is appropriate to do so based on a background check of the individual 

and a review of the consolidated terrorist watchlist. 

(f) DEADLINE FOR REVIEW PROCESS.—Not later than 6 months 

after receiving the assessments and plans required under this section, the Secretary shall— (1) review each vulnerability assessment and security plan 

submitted to the Secretary in accordance with subsection (c); 

(2) require amendments to any security plan that does not 

meet the requirements of this section; and 

(3) approve any vulnerability assessment or security plan 

that meets the requirements of this section. 

(g) INTERIM SECURITY MEASURES.—The Secretary may require 

over-the-road bus operators, during the period before the deadline 

established under subsection (c), to submit a security plan to implement any necessary interim security measures essential to providing 

adequate security of the over-the-road bus operator’s system. An interim plan required under this subsection shall be superseded by a 

plan required under subsection (c). 

(h) TIER ASSIGNMENT.—The Secretary shall assign each overthe-road bus operator to a risk-based tier established by the Secretary. 

(1) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary may request, and an over-the-road bus operator shall provide, information necessary for the Secretary to assign an over-the-road 

bus operator to the appropriate tier under this subsection. 

(2) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 60 days after the date 

an over-the-road bus operator is assigned to a tier under this 

section, the Secretary shall notify the operator of the tier to 

which it is assigned and the reasons for such assignment. 

(3) HIGH-RISK TIERS.—At least one of the tiers established 

by the Secretary under this section shall be a tier designated for 

high-risk over-the-road bus operators. 

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sponse to changes in risk and the Secretary shall notify the 

over-the-road bus operator within 60 days after such reassignment and provide the operator with the reasons for such reassignment. 

(i) EXISTING PROCEDURES, PROTOCOLS, AND STANDARDS.— (1) DETERMINATION.—In response to a petition by an overthe-road bus operator or at the discretion of the Secretary, the 

Secretary may determine that existing procedures, protocols, 

and standards meet all or part of the requirements of this section regarding vulnerability assessments and security plans. 

(2) ELECTION.—Upon review and written determination by 

the Secretary that existing procedures, protocols, or standards 

of an over-the-road bus operator satisfy the requirements of this 

section, the over-the-road bus operator may elect to comply with 

those procedures, protocols, or standards instead of the requirements of this section. 

(3) PARTIAL APPROVAL.—If the Secretary determines that 

the existing procedures, protocols, or standards of an over-theroad bus operator satisfy only part of the requirements of this 

section, the Secretary may accept such submission, but shall require submission by the operator of any additional information 

relevant to the vulnerability assessment and security plan of the 

operator to ensure that the remaining requirements of this section are fulfilled. 

(4) NOTIFICATION.—If the Secretary determines that particular existing procedures, protocols, or standards of an overthe-road bus operator under this subsection do not satisfy the 

requirements of this section, the Secretary shall provide to the 

operator a written notification that includes an explanation of 

the reasons for nonacceptance. 

(5) REVIEW.—Nothing in this subsection shall relieve the 

Secretary of the obligation— (A) to review the vulnerability assessment and security 

plan submitted by an over-the-road bus operator under this 

section; and 

(B) to approve or disapprove each submission on an individual basis. 

(j) PERIODIC EVALUATION BY OVER-THE-ROAD BUS PROVIDER

REQUIRED.—

(1) SUBMISSION OF EVALUATION.—Not later than 3 years 

after the date on which a vulnerability assessment or security 

plan required to be submitted to the Secretary under subsection 

(c) is approved, and at least once every 5 years thereafter (or on 

such a schedule as the Secretary may establish by regulation), 

an over-the-road bus operator who submitted a vulnerability assessment and security plan and who is still assigned to the 

high-risk tier shall also submit to the Secretary an evaluation 

of the adequacy of the vulnerability assessment and security 

plan that includes a description of any material changes made 

to the vulnerability assessment or security plan. 

(2) REVIEW OF EVALUATION.—Not later than 180 days after 

the date on which an evaluation is submitted, the Secretary 

shall review the evaluation and notify the over-the-road bus operator submitting the evaluation of the Secretary’s approval or 

disapproval of the evaluation. 

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(k) SHARED FACILITIES.—The Secretary may permit under this 

section the development and implementation of coordinated vulnerability assessments and security plans to the extent that an over-theroad bus operator shares facilities with, or is colocated with, other 

transportation entities or providers that are required to develop vulnerability assessments and security plans under Federal law. 

(l) NONDISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.—

(1) SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION TO CONGRESS.—Nothing 

in this section shall be construed as authorizing the withholding of any information from Congress. 

(2) DISCLOSURE OF INDEPENDENTLY FURNISHED INFORMATION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting 

any authority or obligation of a Federal agency to disclose any 

record or information that the Federal agency obtains from an 

over-the-road bus operator under any other Federal law. 

SEC. 1532. OVER-THE-ROAD BUS SECURITY ASSISTANCE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a program for 

making grants to eligible private operators providing transportation 

by an over-the-road bus for security improvements described in subsection (b). 

(b) USES OF FUNDS.—A recipient of a grant received under subsection (a) shall use the grant funds for one or more of the following: 

(1) Constructing and modifying terminals, garages, and facilities, including terminals and other over-the-road bus facilities owned by State or local governments, to increase their security. 

(2) Modifying over-the-road buses to increase their security. 

(3) Protecting or isolating the driver of an over-the-road 

bus. 

(4) Acquiring, upgrading, installing, or operating equipment, software, or accessorial services for collection, storage, or 

exchange of passenger and driver information through ticketing 

systems or other means and for information links with government agencies, for security purposes. 

(5) Installing cameras and video surveillance equipment on 

over-the-road buses and at terminals, garages, and over-theroad bus facilities. 

(6) Establishing and improving an emergency communications system linking drivers and over-the-road buses to the recipient’s operations center or linking the operations center to 

law enforcement and emergency personnel. 

(7) Implementing and operating passenger screening programs for weapons and explosives. 

(8) Public awareness campaigns for enhanced over-the-road 

bus security. 

(9) Operating and capital costs associated with over-theroad bus security awareness, preparedness, and response training, including training under section 1534 and training developed by institutions of higher education and by nonprofit employee labor organizations, for over-the-road bus employees, including frontline employees. 

(10) Chemical, biological, radiological, or explosive detection, including canine patrols for such detection. 

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(11) Overtime reimbursement, including reimbursement of 

State, local, and tribal governments for costs, for enhanced security personnel assigned to duties related to over-the-road bus 

security during periods of high or severe threat levels, National 

Special Security Events, or other periods of heightened security 

as determined by the Secretary. 

(12) Live or simulated exercises, including those described 

in section 1533. 

(13) Operational costs to hire, train, and employ police and 

security officers, including canine units, assigned to full-time 

security or counterterrorism duties related to over-the-road bus 

transportation, including reimbursement of State, local, and 

tribal government costs for such personnel. 

(14) Development of assessments or security plans under 

section 1531. 

(15) Such other improvements as the Secretary considers 

appropriate. 

(c) DUE CONSIDERATION.—In making grants under this section, 

the Secretary shall prioritize grant funding based on security risks 

to bus passengers and the ability of a project to reduce, or enhance 

response to, that risk, and shall not penalize private operators of 

over-the-road buses that have taken measures to enhance over-theroad bus transportation security prior to September 11, 2001. 

(d) DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES.— In carrying out the responsibilities under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) determine the requirements for recipients of grants 

under this section, including application requirements; 

(2) select grant recipients; 

(3) award the funds authorized by this section based on 

risk, as identified by the plans required under section 1531 or 

assessment or plan described in subsection (f)(2); and 

(4) pursuant to subsection (c), establish priorities for the 

use of funds for grant recipients. 

(e) DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS.—Not later than 90 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of 

Transportation shall determine the most effective and efficient way 

to distribute grant funds to the recipients of grants determined by 

the Secretary under subsection (a). Subject to the determination 

made by the Secretaries, the Secretary may transfer funds to the 

Secretary of Transportation for the purposes of disbursing funds to 

the grant recipient. 

(f) ELIGIBILITY.—

(1) A private operator providing transportation by an overthe-road bus is eligible for a grant under this section if the operator has completed a vulnerability assessment and developed 

a security plan that the Secretary has approved under section 

1531. Grant funds may only be used for permissible uses under 

subsection (b) to further an over-the-road bus security plan. 

(2) Notwithstanding the requirements for eligibility and 

uses in paragraph (1), prior to the earlier of one year after the 

date of issuance of final regulations requiring vulnerability assessments and security plans under section 1531 or 3 years 

after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary may award 

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ments listed under subsection (b) based upon over-the-road bus 

vulnerability assessments and security plans that the Secretary 

deems are sufficient for the purposes of this section but have not 

been approved by the Secretary in accordance with section 1531. 

(g) SUBJECT TO CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Except as 

otherwise specifically provided in this section, a grant made under 

this section shall be subject to the terms and conditions applicable 

to subrecipients who provide over-the-road bus transportation under 

section 5311(f) of title 49, United States Code, and such other terms 

and conditions as are determined necessary by the Secretary. 

(h) LIMITATION ON USES OF FUNDS.—A grant made under this 

section may not be used to make any State or local government costsharing contribution under any other Federal law. 

(i) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Each recipient of a grant under this section shall report annually to the Secretary and on the use of such 

grant funds. 

(j) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary 

shall consult with over-the-road bus operators and nonprofit employee labor organizations representing over-the-road bus employees, 

public safety and law enforcement officials. 

(k) AUTHORIZATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts appropriated pursuant 

to section 114(w) of title 49, United States Code, as amended 

by section 1503 of this Act, there shall be made available to the 

Secretary to make grants under this section— (A) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

(2) PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY.—Sums appropriated to carry 

out this section shall remain available until expended. 

SEC. 1533. OVER-THE-ROAD BUS EXERCISES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a program for 

conducting security exercises for over-the-road bus transportation 

for the purpose of assessing and improving the capabilities of entities described in subsection (b) to prevent, prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. 

(b) COVERED ENTITIES.—Entities to be assessed under the program shall include— (1) Federal, State, and local agencies and tribal governments; 

(2) over-the-road bus operators and over-the-road bus terminal owners and operators; 

(3) governmental and nongovernmental emergency response 

providers and law enforcement agencies; and 

(4) any other organization or entity that the Secretary determines appropriate. 

(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that the program—

(1) consolidates existing security exercises for over-the-road 

bus operators and terminals administered by the Department 

and the Department of Transportation, as jointly determined by 

the Secretary and the Secretary of Transportation, unless the 

Secretary waives this consolidation requirement, as appropriate; 

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(2) consists of exercises that are— (A) scaled and tailored to the needs of the over-the-road 

bus operators and terminals, including addressing the 

needs of the elderly and individuals with disabilities; 

(B) live, in the case of the most at-risk facilities to a 

terrorist attack; 

(C) coordinated with appropriate officials; 

(D) as realistic as practicable and based on current 

risk assessments, including credible threats, vulnerabilities, 

and consequences; 

(E) inclusive, as appropriate, of over-the-road bus 

frontline employees; and 

(F) consistent with the National Incident Management 

System, the National Response Plan, the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, the National Preparedness Guidance, the National Preparedness Goal, and other such national initiatives; 

(3) provides that exercises described in paragraph (2) will 

be— (A) evaluated by the Secretary against clear and consistent performance measures; 

(B) assessed by the Secretary to identify best practices, 

which shall be shared, as appropriate, with operators providing over-the-road bus transportation, nonprofit employee 

organizations that represent over-the-road bus employees, 

Federal, State, local, and tribal officials, governmental and 

nongovernmental emergency response providers, and law 

enforcement personnel; and 

(C) used to develop recommendations, as appropriate, 

provided to over-the-road bus operators and terminal owners and operators on remedial action to be taken in response to lessons learned; 

(4) allows for proper advanced notification of communities 

and local governments in which exercises are held, as appropriate; and 

(5) assists State, local, and tribal governments and overthe-road bus operators and terminal owners and operators in 

designing, implementing, and evaluating additional exercises 

that conform to the requirements of paragraph (2). 

(d) NATIONAL EXERCISE PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall ensure 

that the exercise program developed under subsection (c) is consistent with the National Exercise Program established under section 648 of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act 

(Public Law 109–295; 6 U.S.C. 748). 

SEC. 1534. OVER-THE-ROAD BUS SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and issue regulations for an over-the-road bus training program to prepare over-theroad bus frontline employees for potential security threats and conditions. The regulations shall take into consideration any current 

security training requirements or best practices. 

(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall develop regulations 

under subsection (a) in consultation with—

(1) appropriate law enforcement, fire service, emergency response, security, and terrorism experts; 

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(2) operators providing over-the-road bus transportation; 

and 

(3) nonprofit employee labor organizations representing 

over-the-road bus employees and emergency response personnel. 

(c) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The regulations developed under subsection (a) shall require security training programs, to include, at 

a minimum, elements to address the following, as applicable: 

(1) Determination of the seriousness of any occurrence or 

threat. 

(2) Driver and passenger communication and coordination. 

(3) Appropriate responses to defend or protect oneself. 

(4) Use of personal and other protective equipment. 

(5) Evacuation procedures for passengers and over-the-road 

bus employees, including individuals with disabilities and the 

elderly. 

(6) Psychology, behavior, and methods of terrorists, including observation and analysis. 

(7) Training related to psychological responses to terrorist 

incidents, including the ability to cope with hijacker behavior 

and passenger responses. 

(8) Live situational training exercises regarding various 

threat conditions, including tunnel evacuation procedures. 

(9) Recognition and reporting of dangerous substances, suspicious packages, and situations. 

(10) Understanding security incident procedures, including 

procedures for communicating with emergency response providers and for on-scene interaction with such emergency response providers. 

(11) Operation and maintenance of security equipment and 

systems. 

(12) Other security training activities that the Secretary 

considers appropriate. 

(d) REQUIRED PROGRAMS.—

(1) DEVELOPMENT AND SUBMISSION TO SECRETARY.—Not 

later than 90 days after the Secretary issues the regulations 

under subsection (a), each over-the-road bus operator shall develop a security training program in accordance with such regulations and submit the program to the Secretary for approval. 

(2) APPROVAL.—Not later than 60 days after receiving a security training program under this subsection, the Secretary 

shall approve the program or require the over-the-road bus operator that developed the program to make any revisions to the 

program that the Secretary considers necessary for the program 

to meet the requirements of the regulations. An over-the-road 

bus operator shall respond to the Secretary’s comments not later 

than 30 days after receiving them. 

(3) TRAINING.—Not later than 1 year after the Secretary approves a security training program in accordance with this subsection, the over-the-road bus operator that developed the program shall complete the training of all over-the-road bus frontline employees who were hired by the operator more than 30 

days preceding such date. For such employees employed less 

than 30 days by an operator preceding such date, training shall 

be completed within the first 60 days of employment. 

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(4) UPDATES OF REGULATIONS AND PROGRAM REVISIONS.— The Secretary shall periodically review and update, as appropriate, the training regulations issued under subsection (a) to 

reflect new or changing security threats. Each over-the-road bus 

operator shall revise its training program accordingly and provide additional training as necessary to its employees within a 

reasonable time after the regulations are updated. 

(e) NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall ensure 

that the training program developed under subsection (a) is a component of the National Training Program established under section 

648 of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (Public 

Law 109–295; 6 U.S.C. 748). 

(f) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Not later than 2 years after the 

date of regulation issuance, the Secretary shall review implementation of the training program of a representative sample of over-theroad bus operators and over-the-road bus frontline employees, and 

report to the appropriate congressional committees of such reviews. 

The Secretary may submit the report in both classified and redacted 

formats as necessary. 

SEC. 1535. OVER-THE-ROAD BUS SECURITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRO- GRAM.—The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for 

Science and Technology and the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall carry out a research and development program for the purpose of improving the security of 

over-the-road buses. 

(b) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—The research and development program may include projects—

(1) to reduce the vulnerability of over-the-road buses, stations, terminals, and equipment to explosives and hazardous 

chemical, biological, and radioactive substances, including the 

development of technology to screen passengers in large numbers with minimal interference and disruption; 

(2) to test new emergency response and recovery techniques 

and technologies, including those used at international borders; 

(3) to develop improved technologies, including those for—

(A) emergency response training, including training in 

a tunnel environment, if appropriate; and 

(B) security and redundancy for critical communications, electrical power, computer, and over-the-road bus 

control systems; and 

(4) to address other vulnerabilities and risks identified by 

the Secretary. 

(c) COORDINATION WITH OTHER RESEARCH INITIATIVES.—The 

Secretary—

(1) shall ensure that the research and development program 

is consistent with the other transportation security research and 

development programs required by this Act; 

(2) shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate the research 

and development activities of the Department with other ongoing research and development security-related initiatives, including research being conducted by—

(A) the Department of Transportation, including University Transportation Centers and other institutes, centers, 

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and simulators funded by the Department of Transportation; 

(B) the National Academy of Sciences; 

(C) the Technical Support Working Group; 

(D) other Federal departments and agencies; and 

(E) other Federal and private research laboratories, research entities, and institutions of higher education, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic 

Serving Institutions, and Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities; 

(3) shall carry out any research and development project 

authorized by this section through a reimbursable agreement 

with an appropriate Federal agency, if the agency— (A) is currently sponsoring a research and development 

project in a similar area; or 

(B) has a unique facility or capability that would be 

useful in carrying out the project; 

(4) may award grants and enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, other transactions, or reimbursable agreements to the entities described in paragraph (2) and eligible recipients under section 1532; and 

(5) shall make reasonable efforts to enter into memoranda 

of understanding, contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or 

other transactions with private operators providing over-theroad bus transportation willing to contribute assets, physical 

space, and other resources. 

(d) PRIVACY AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES.— (1) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out research and development projects under this section, the Secretary shall consult 

with the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department as appropriate and in accordance with section 222 of the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002. 

(2) PRIVACY IMPACT ASSESSMENTS.—In accordance with 

sections 222 and 705 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the 

Chief Privacy Officer shall conduct privacy impact assessments 

and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties shall conduct reviews, as appropriate, for research and development initiatives developed under this section that the Secretary determines could have an impact on privacy, civil rights, or civil liberties. 

(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts appropriated pursuant 

to section 114(w) of title 49, United States Code, as amended 

by section 1503 of this Act, there shall be made available to the 

Secretary to carry out this section—

(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(B) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(C) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(D) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 

(2) PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY.—Such sums shall remain 

available until expended. 

SEC. 1536. MOTOR CARRIER EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS. 

Section 31105 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to 

read: 

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‘‘(a) PROHIBITIONS.—(1) A person may not discharge an employee, or discipline or discriminate against an employee regarding 

pay, terms, or privileges of employment, because— ‘‘(A)(i) the employee, or another person at the employee’s request, has filed a complaint or begun a proceeding related to a 

violation of a commercial motor vehicle safety or security regulation, standard, or order, or has testified or will testify in such 

a proceeding; or ‘‘(ii) the person perceives that the employee has filed or is 

about to file a complaint or has begun or is about to begin a 

proceeding related to a violation of a commercial motor vehicle 

safety or security regulation, standard, or order; ‘‘(B) the employee refuses to operate a vehicle because— ‘‘(i) the operation violates a regulation, standard, or 

order of the United States related to commercial motor vehicle safety, health, or security; or ‘‘(ii) the employee has a reasonable apprehension of serious injury to the employee or the public because of the vehicle’s hazardous safety or security condition; ‘‘(C) the employee accurately reports hours on duty pursuant to chapter 315; ‘‘(D) the employee cooperates, or the person perceives that 

the employee is about to cooperate, with a safety or security investigation by the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, or the National Transportation Safety 

Board; or ‘‘(E) the employee furnishes, or the person perceives that the 

employee is or is about to furnish, information to the Secretary 

of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the National Transportation Safety Board, or any Federal, State, or 

local regulatory or law enforcement agency as to the facts relating to any accident or incident resulting in injury or death to 

an individual or damage to property occurring in connection 

with commercial motor vehicle transportation. 

‘‘(2) Under paragraph (1)(B)(ii) of this subsection, an employee’s 

apprehension of serious injury is reasonable only if a reasonable individual in the circumstances then confronting the employee would 

conclude that the hazardous safety or security condition establishes 

a real danger of accident, injury, or serious impairment to health. 

To qualify for protection, the employee must have sought from the 

employer, and been unable to obtain, correction of the hazardous 

safety or security condition. 

‘‘(b) FILING COMPLAINTS AND PROCEDURES.—(1) An employee 

alleging discharge, discipline, or discrimination in violation of subsection (a) of this section, or another person at the employee’s request, may file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor not later 

than 180 days after the alleged violation occurred. All complaints 

initiated under this section shall be governed by the legal burdens 

of proof set forth in section 42121(b). On receiving the complaint, 

the Secretary of Labor shall notify, in writing, the person alleged to 

have committed the violation of the filing of the complaint. ‘‘(2)(A) Not later than 60 days after receiving a complaint, the 

Secretary of Labor shall conduct an investigation, decide whether it 

is reasonable to believe the complaint has merit, and notify, in writing, the complainant and the person alleged to have committed the 

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violation of the findings. If the Secretary of Labor decides it is reasonable to believe a violation occurred, the Secretary of Labor shall 

include with the decision findings and a preliminary order for the 

relief provided under paragraph (3) of this subsection. ‘‘(B) Not later than 30 days after the notice under subparagraph 

(A) of this paragraph, the complainant and the person alleged to 

have committed the violation may file objections to the findings or 

preliminary order, or both, and request a hearing on the record. The 

filing of objections does not stay a reinstatement ordered in the preliminary order. If a hearing is not requested within the 30 days, the 

preliminary order is final and not subject to judicial review. ‘‘(C) A hearing shall be conducted expeditiously. Not later than 

120 days after the end of the hearing, the Secretary of Labor shall 

issue a final order. Before the final order is issued, the proceeding 

may be ended by a settlement agreement made by the Secretary of 

Labor, the complainant, and the person alleged to have committed 

the violation. ‘‘(3)(A) If the Secretary of Labor decides, on the basis of a complaint, a person violated subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary 

of Labor shall order the person to— ‘‘(i) take affirmative action to abate the violation; 

‘‘(ii) reinstate the complainant to the former position 

with the same pay and terms and privileges of employment; 

and ‘‘(iii) pay compensatory damages, including backpay 

with interest and compensation for any special damages 

sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs, expert witness fees, and reasonable attorney 

fees. ‘‘(B) If the Secretary of Labor issues an order under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and the complainant requests, the Secretary of Labor may assess against the person against whom the 

order is issued the costs (including attorney fees) reasonably incurred by the complainant in bringing the complaint. The Secretary 

of Labor shall determine the costs that reasonably were incurred. 

‘‘(C) Relief in any action under subsection (b) may include punitive damages in an amount not to exceed $250,000. 

‘‘(c) DE NOVO REVIEW.—With respect to a complaint under 

paragraph (1), if the Secretary of Labor has not issued a final decision within 210 days after the filing of the complaint and if the 

delay is not due to the bad faith of the employee, the employee may 

bring an original action at law or equity for de novo review in the 

appropriate district court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction over such an action without regard to the amount in controversy, and which action shall, at the request of either party to 

such action, be tried by the court with a jury. ‘‘(d) JUDICIAL REVIEW AND VENUE.—A person adversely affected 

by an order issued after a hearing under subsection (b) of this section may file a petition for review, not later than 60 days after the 

order is issued, in the court of appeals of the United States for the 

circuit in which the violation occurred or the person resided on the 

date of the violation. Review shall conform to chapter 7 of title 5. 

The review shall be heard and decided expeditiously. An order of 

the Secretary of Labor subject to review under this subsection is not 

subject to judicial review in a criminal or other civil proceeding. 

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‘‘(e) CIVIL ACTIONS TO ENFORCE.—If a person fails to comply 

with an order issued under subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary of Labor shall bring a civil action to enforce the order in the 

district court of the United States for the judicial district in which 

the violation occurred. 

‘‘(f) NO PREEMPTION.—Nothing in this section preempts or diminishes any other safeguards against discrimination, demotion, 

discharge, suspension, threats, harassment, reprimand, retaliation, 

or any other manner of discrimination provided by Federal or State 

law. 

‘‘(g) RIGHTS RETAINED BY EMPLOYEE.—Nothing in this section 

shall be deemed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of 

any employee under any Federal or State law or under any collective bargaining agreement. The rights and remedies in this section 

may not be waived by any agreement, policy, form, or condition of 

employment. 

‘‘(h) DISCLOSURE OF IDENTITY.—

‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, 

or with the written consent of the employee, the Secretary of 

Transportation or the Secretary of Homeland Security may not 

disclose the name of an employee who has provided information 

about an alleged violation of this part, or a regulation prescribed or order issued under any of those provisions. 

‘‘(2) The Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary of 

Homeland Security shall disclose to the Attorney General the 

name of an employee described in paragraph (1) of this subsection if the matter is referred to the Attorney General for enforcement. The Secretary making such disclosure shall provide 

reasonable advance notice to the affected employee if disclosure 

of that person’s identity or identifying information is to occur. 

‘‘(i) PROCESS FOR REPORTING SECURITY PROBLEMS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.—

‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCESS.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish through regulations, after an opportunity for notice and comment, a process by which any person may report to the Secretary of Homeland Security regarding 

motor carrier vehicle security problems, deficiencies, or 

vulnerabilities. 

‘‘(2) ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT.—If a report submitted 

under paragraph (1) identifies the person making the report, 

the Secretary of Homeland Security shall respond promptly to 

such person and acknowledge receipt of the report. 

‘‘(3) STEPS TO ADDRESS PROBLEM.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall review and consider the information provided in any report submitted under paragraph (1) and shall 

take appropriate steps to address any problems or deficiencies 

identified. 

‘‘(j) DEFINITION.—In this section, ‘employee’ means a driver of 

a commercial motor vehicle (including an independent contractor 

when personally operating a commercial motor vehicle), a mechanic, 

a freight handler, or an individual not an employer, who—

‘‘(1) directly affects commercial motor vehicle safety or security in the course of employment by a commercial motor carrier; 

and 

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‘‘(2) is not an employee of the United States Government, a 

State, or a political subdivision of a State acting in the course 

of employment.’’. 

SEC. 1537. UNIFIED CARRIER REGISTRATION SYSTEM AGREEMENT. 

(a) REENACTMENT OF SSRS.—Section 14504 of title 49, United 

States Code, as that section was in effect on December 31, 2006, 

shall be in effect as a law of the United States for the period beginning on January 1, 2007, ending on the earlier of January 1, 2008, 

or the effective date of the final regulations issued pursuant to subsection (b). 

(b) DEADLINE FOR FINAL REGULATIONS.—Not later than October 

1, 2007, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shall 

issue final regulations to establish the Unified Carrier Registration 

System, as required by section 13908 of title 49, United States Code, 

and set fees for the unified carrier registration agreement for calendar year 2007 or subsequent calendar years to be charged to 

motor carriers, motor private carriers, and freight forwarders under 

such agreement, as required by 14504a of title 49, United States 

Code. 

(c) REPEAL OF SSRS.—Section 4305(a) of the Safe, Accountable, 

Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 

(119 Stat. 1764) is amended by striking ‘‘the first January’’ and all 

that follows through ‘‘this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘January 1, 2008’’. 

SEC. 1538. SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION SECURITY. 

(a) SCHOOL BUS SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 

1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report, including a classified report, as appropriate, containing a comprehensive assessment of the risk of a terrorist attack on the Nation’s 

school bus transportation system in accordance with the requirements of this section. 

(b) CONTENTS OF RISK ASSESSMENT.—The assessment shall include—

(1) an assessment of security risks to the Nation’s school 

bus transportation system, including publicly and privately operated systems; 

(2) an assessment of actions already taken by operators or 

others to address identified security risks; and 

(3) an assessment of whether additional actions and investments are necessary to improve the security of passengers traveling on school buses and a list of such actions or investments, 

if appropriate. 

(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the risk assessment, the Secretary shall consult with administrators and officials of school systems, representatives of the school bus industry, including both publicly and privately operated systems, public safety and law enforcement officials, and nonprofit employee labor organizations representing school bus drivers. 

SEC. 1539. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT. 

Section 1992(d)(7) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 

by inserting ‘‘intercity bus transportation’’ after ‘‘includes’’. 

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SEC. 1540. TRUCK SECURITY ASSESSMENT. 

(a) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this section, the term ‘‘truck’’ means any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a 

highway in interstate commerce to transport property when the vehicle— (1) has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination 

weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination 

weight, of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more, whichever is greater; or 

(2) is used in transporting material found by the Secretary 

of Transportation to be hazardous under section 5103 of title 

49, United States Code, and transported in a quantity requiring 

placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 

subtitle B, chapter I, subchapter C of title 49, Code of Federal 

Regulations. 

(b) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary 

of Transportation, shall transmit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on truck security issues that includes— (1) a security risk assessment of the trucking industry; 

(2) an assessment of actions already taken by both public 

and private entities to address identified security risks; 

(3) an assessment of the economic impact that security upgrades of trucks, truck equipment, or truck facilities may have 

on the trucking industry and its employees, including independent owner-operators; 

(4) an assessment of ongoing research by public and private 

entities and the need for additional research on truck security; 

(5) an assessment of industry best practices to enhance security; and 

(6) an assessment of the current status of secure truck parking. 

(c) FORMAT.—The Secretary may submit the report in both classified and redacted formats if the Secretary determines that such 

action is appropriate or necessary. 

SEC. 1541. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ANNEX. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 

the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary shall execute and 

develop an annex to the Memorandum of Understanding between 

the two departments signed on September 28, 2004, governing the 

specific roles, delineations of responsibilities, resources, and commitments of the Department of Transportation and the Department of 

Homeland Security, respectively, in addressing motor carrier transportation security matters, including over-the-road bus security matters, and shall cover the processes the Departments will follow to 

promote communications, efficiency, and nonduplication of effort. 

SEC. 1542. DHS INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT ON TRUCKING SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM. 

(a) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of 

Homeland Security shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on the Federal trucking industry security grant 

program, for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 that—

(1) addresses the grant announcement, application, receipt, 

review, award, monitoring, and closeout processes; and 

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(2) states the amount obligated or expended under the program for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for— (A) infrastructure protection; 

(B) training; 

(C) equipment; 

(D) educational materials; 

(E) program administration; 

(F) marketing; and 

(G) other functions. 

(b) SUBSEQUENT REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of 

Homeland Security shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that— (1) analyzes the performance, efficiency, and effectiveness of 

the Federal trucking industry security grant program, and the 

need for the program using all years of available data; and 

(2) makes recommendations regarding the future of the program, including options to improve the effectiveness and utility 

of the program and motor carrier security. 

Subtitle D—Hazardous Material and Pipeline Security 

SEC. 1551. RAILROAD ROUTING OF SECURITY-SENSITIVE MATERIALS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation 

with the Secretary, shall publish a final rule based on the Pipeline 

and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published on December 21, 2006, entitled ‘‘Hazardous Materials: Enhancing Railroad Transportation Safety and 

Security for Hazardous Materials Shipments’’. The final rule shall 

incorporate the requirements of this section and, as appropriate, 

public comments received during the comment period of the rulemaking. 

(b) SECURITY-SENSITIVE MATERIALS COMMODITY DATA.—The 

Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that the final rule requires 

each railroad carrier transporting security-sensitive materials in 

commerce to, no later than 90 days after the end of each calendar 

year, compile security-sensitive materials commodity data. Such 

data must be collected by route, line segment, or series of line segments, as aggregated by the railroad carrier. Within the railroad 

carrier selected route, the commodity data must identify the geographic location of the route and the total number of shipments by 

the United Nations identification number for the security-sensitive 

materials. 

(c) RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION ROUTE ANALYSIS FOR SECURITY- SENSITIVE MATERIALS.—The Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that the final rule requires each railroad carrier transporting 

security-sensitive materials in commerce to, for each calendar year, 

provide a written analysis of the safety and security risks for the 

transportation routes identified in the security-sensitive materials 

commodity data collected as required by subsection (b). The safety 

and security risks present shall be analyzed for the route, railroad 

facilities, railroad storage facilities, and high-consequence targets 

along or in proximity to the route. 

(d) ALTERNATIVE ROUTE ANALYSIS FOR SECURITY-SENSITIVE

MATERIALS.—The Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that the 

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final rule requires each railroad carrier transporting security-sensitive materials in commerce to— (1) for each calendar year— (A) identify practicable alternative routes over which 

the railroad carrier has authority to operate as compared 

to the current route for such a shipment analyzed under 

subsection (c); and 

(B) perform a safety and security risk assessment of the 

alternative route for comparison to the route analysis specified in subsection (c); 

(2) ensure that the analysis under paragraph (1) includes— (A) identification of safety and security risks for an alternative route; 

(B) comparison of those risks identified under subparagraph (A) to the primary railroad transportation route, including the risk of a catastrophic release from a shipment 

traveling along the alternate route compared to the primary 

route; 

(C) any remediation or mitigation measures implemented on the primary or alternative route; and 

(D) potential economic effects of using an alternative 

route; and 

(3) consider when determining the practicable alternative 

routes under paragraph (1)(A) the use of interchange agreements with other railroad carriers. 

(e) ALTERNATIVE ROUTE SELECTION FOR SECURITY-SENSITIVE

MATERIALS.—The Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that the 

final rule requires each railroad carrier transporting security-sensitive materials in commerce to use the analysis required by subsections (c) and (d) to select the safest and most secure route to be 

used in transporting security-sensitive materials. 

(f) REVIEW.—The Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that 

the final rule requires each railroad carrier transporting securitysensitive materials in commerce to annually review and select the 

practicable route posing the least overall safety and security risk in 

accordance with this section. The railroad carrier must retain in 

writing all route review and selection decision documentation and 

restrict the distribution, disclosure, and availability of information 

contained in the route analysis to appropriate persons. This documentation should include, but is not limited to, comparative analyses, charts, graphics, or railroad system maps. 

(g) RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS.—The Secretary of Transportation 

shall ensure that the final rule requires each railroad carrier transporting security-sensitive materials in commerce to, not less than 

once every 3 years, analyze the route selection determinations required under this section. Such an analysis shall include a comprehensive, systemwide review of all operational changes, infrastructure modifications, traffic adjustments, changes in the nature 

of high-consequence targets located along or in proximity to the 

route, or other changes affecting the safety and security of the movements of security-sensitive materials that were implemented since 

the previous analysis was completed. 

(h) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out subsection (c), railroad 

carriers transporting security-sensitive materials in commerce shall 

seek relevant information from State, local, and tribal officials, as 

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appropriate, regarding security risks to high-consequence targets 

along or in proximity to a route used by a railroad carrier to transport security-sensitive materials. 

(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) The term ‘‘route’’ includes storage facilities and trackage 

used by railroad cars in transportation in commerce. 

(2) The term ‘‘high-consequence target’’ means a property, 

natural resource, location, area, or other target designated by 

the Secretary that is a viable terrorist target of national significance, which may include a facility or specific critical infrastructure, the attack of which by railroad could result in—

(A) catastrophic loss of life; 

(B) significant damage to national security or defense 

capabilities; or 

(C) national economic harm. 

SEC. 1552. RAILROAD SECURITY-SENSITIVE MATERIAL TRACKING. 

(a) COMMUNICATIONS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—In conjunction with the research and development program established under section 1518 and consistent with the results of research relating to wireless and 

other tracking technologies, the Secretary, in consultation with 

the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall develop a program that will encourage the equipping 

of railroad cars transporting security-sensitive materials, as defined in section 1501, with technology that provides—

(A) car position location and tracking capabilities; and 

(B) notification of railroad car depressurization, 

breach, unsafe temperature, or release of hazardous materials, as appropriate. 

(2) COORDINATION.—In developing the program required by 

paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A) consult with the Secretary of Transportation to coordinate the program with any ongoing or planned efforts 

for railroad car tracking at the Department of Transportation; and 

(B) ensure that the program is consistent with recommendations and findings of the Department of Homeland Security’s hazardous material railroad tank car tracking pilot programs. 

(b) FUNDING.—From the amounts appropriated pursuant to 

114(w) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 1503 

of this title, there shall be made available to the Secretary to carry 

out this section—

(1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(2) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and 

(3) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. 

SEC. 1553. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS HIGHWAY ROUTING. 

(a) ROUTE PLAN GUIDANCE.—Not later than 1 year after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in 

consultation with the Secretary, shall—

(1) document existing and proposed routes for the transportation of radioactive and nonradioactive hazardous materials 

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graphic information system-based approach to characterize 

routes in the national hazardous materials route registry; 

(2) assess and characterize existing and proposed routes for 

the transportation of radioactive and nonradioactive hazardous 

materials by motor carrier for the purpose of identifying measurable criteria for selecting routes based on safety and security 

concerns; 

(3) analyze current route-related hazardous materials regulations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to identify 

cross-border differences and conflicting regulations; 

(4) document the safety and security concerns of the public, 

motor carriers, and State, local, territorial, and tribal governments about the highway routing of hazardous materials; 

(5) prepare guidance materials for State officials to assist 

them in identifying and reducing both safety concerns and security risks when designating highway routes for hazardous materials consistent with the 13 safety-based nonradioactive materials routing criteria and radioactive materials routing criteria 

in subpart C part 397 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations; 

(6) develop a tool that will enable State officials to examine 

potential routes for the highway transportation of hazardous 

materials, assess specific security risks associated with each 

route, and explore alternative mitigation measures; and 

(7) transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a 

report on the actions taken to fulfill paragraphs (1) through (6) 

and any recommended changes to the routing requirements for 

the highway transportation of hazardous materials in part 397 

of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. 

(b) ROUTE PLANS.—

(1) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 

complete an assessment of the safety and national security benefits achieved under existing requirements for route plans, in 

written or electronic format, for explosives and radioactive materials. The assessment shall, at a minimum—

(A) compare the percentage of Department of Transportation recordable incidents and the severity of such incidents for shipments of explosives and radioactive materials 

for which such route plans are required with the percentage 

of recordable incidents and the severity of such incidents 

for shipments of explosives and radioactive materials not 

subject to such route plans; and 

(B) quantify the security and safety benefits, feasibility, 

and costs of requiring each motor carrier that is required 

to have a hazardous material safety permit under part 385 

of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to maintain, follow, and carry such a route plan that meets the requirements of section 397.101 of that title when transporting the 

type and quantity of hazardous materials described in section 385.403, taking into account the various segments of 

the motor carrier industry, including tank truck, truckload 

and less than truckload carriers. 

(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit 

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a report to the appropriate congressional committees containing 

the findings and conclusions of the assessment. 

(c) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall require motor carriers 

that have a hazardous material safety permit under part 385 of title 

49, Code of Federal Regulations, to maintain, follow, and carry a 

route plan, in written or electronic format, that meets the requirements of section 397.101 of that title when transporting the type and 

quantity of hazardous materials described in section 385.403 if the 

Secretary determines, under the assessment required in subsection 

(b), that such a requirement would enhance security and safety 

without imposing unreasonable costs or burdens upon motor carriers. 

SEC. 1554. MOTOR CARRIER SECURITY-SENSITIVE MATERIAL TRACKING. 

(a) COMMUNICATIONS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the date of 

enactment of this Act, consistent with the findings of the Transportation Security Administration’s hazardous materials truck 

security pilot program, the Secretary, through the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and in 

consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall develop 

a program to facilitate the tracking of motor carrier shipments 

of security-sensitive materials and to equip vehicles used in 

such shipments with technology that provides—

(A) frequent or continuous communications; 

(B) vehicle position location and tracking capabilities; 

and 

(C) a feature that allows a driver of such vehicles to 

broadcast an emergency distress signal. 

(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the program required 

by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A) consult with the Secretary of Transportation to coordinate the program with any ongoing or planned efforts 

for motor carrier or security-sensitive materials tracking at 

the Department of Transportation; 

(B) take into consideration the recommendations and 

findings of the report on the hazardous material safety and 

security operational field test released by the Federal Motor 

Carrier Safety Administration on November 11, 2004; and 

(C) evaluate—

(i) any new information related to the costs and 

benefits of deploying, equipping, and utilizing tracking 

technology, including portable tracking technology, for 

motor carriers transporting security-sensitive materials 

not included in the hazardous material safety and security operational field test report released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on November 

11, 2004; 

(ii) the ability of tracking technology to resist tampering and disabling; 

(iii) the capability of tracking technology to collect, 

display, and store information regarding the movement 

of shipments of security-sensitive materials by commercial motor vehicles; 

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(iv) the appropriate range of contact intervals between the tracking technology and a commercial motor 

vehicle transporting security-sensitive materials; 

(v) technology that allows the installation by a 

motor carrier of concealed electronic devices on commercial motor vehicles that can be activated by law enforcement authorities to disable the vehicle or alert 

emergency response resources to locate and recover security-sensitive materials in the event of loss or theft of 

such materials; 

(vi) whether installation of the technology described in clause (v) should be incorporated into the 

program under paragraph (1); 

(vii) the costs, benefits, and practicality of such 

technology described in clause (v) in the context of the 

overall benefit to national security, including commerce 

in transportation; and 

(viii) other systems and information the Secretary 

determines appropriate. 

(b) FUNDING.—From the amounts appropriated pursuant to section 114(w) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 

1503 of this Act, there shall be made available to the Secretary to 

carry out this section—

(1) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 of which $3,000,000 may 

be used for equipment; 

(2) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 of which $3,000,000 may 

be used for equipment; and 

(3) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 of which $3,000,000 may 

be used for equipment. 

(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the issuance of regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue a report to the 

appropriate congressional committees on the program developed and 

evaluation carried out under this section. 

(d) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not mandate the installation or utilization of a technology described under this section without additional congressional authority provided after the date of enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 1555. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SECURITY INSPECTIONS AND 

STUDY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation shall consult 

with the Secretary to limit, to the extent practicable, duplicative reviews of the hazardous materials security plans required under part 

172, title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. 

(b) TRANSPORTATION COSTS STUDY.—Within 1 year after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in 

conjunction with the Secretary, shall study to what extent the insurance, security, and safety costs borne by railroad carriers, motor 

carriers, pipeline carriers, air carriers, and maritime carriers associated with the transportation of hazardous materials are reflected 

in the rates paid by offerors of such commodities as compared to the 

costs and rates, respectively, for the transportation of nonhazardous 

materials. 

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SEC. 1556. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 

(a) CORRECTION.—Section 5103a of title 49, United States Code, 

is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’; 

(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ each place it 

appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’; 

(3) in subsection (d)(1)(B) by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’; and 

(4) in subsection (e) by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’ each place it appears. 

(b) RELATIONSHIP TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CARDS.— (1) BACKGROUND CHECK.—An individual who has a valid 

transportation employee identification card issued by the Secretary under section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, shall 

be deemed to have met the background records check required 

under section 5103a of title 49, United States Code. 

(2) STATE REVIEW.—Nothing in this subsection prevents or 

preempts a State from conducting a criminal records check of 

an individual that has applied for a license to operate a motor 

vehicle transporting in commerce a hazardous material. 

SEC. 1557. PIPELINE SECURITY INSPECTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, consistent with the Annex to the Memorandum 

of Understanding executed on August 9, 2006, between the Department of Transportation and the Department, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall establish a program for reviewing pipeline operator adoption of recommendations 

of the September 5, 2002, Department of Transportation Research 

and Special Programs Administration’s Pipeline Security Information Circular, including the review of pipeline security plans and 

critical facility inspections. 

(b) REVIEW AND INSPECTION.—Not later than 12 months after 

the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary 

of Transportation shall develop and implement a plan for reviewing 

the pipeline security plans and an inspection of the critical facilities 

of the 100 most critical pipeline operators covered by the September 

5, 2002, circular, where such facilities have not been inspected for 

security purposes since September 5, 2002, by either the Department 

or the Department of Transportation. 

(c) COMPLIANCE REVIEW METHODOLOGY.—In reviewing pipeline 

operator compliance under subsections (a) and (b), risk assessment 

methodologies shall be used to prioritize risks and to target inspection and enforcement actions to the highest risk pipeline assets. 

(d) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 18 months after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of Transportation shall develop and transmit to pipeline operators security recommendations for natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines and 

pipeline facilities. If the Secretary determines that regulations are 

appropriate, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Transportation on the extent of risk and appropriate mitigation measures, 

and the Secretary or the Secretary of Transportation, consistent 

with the Annex to the Memorandum of Understanding executed on 

August 9, 2006, shall promulgate such regulations and carry out 

necessary inspection and enforcement actions. Any regulations shall 

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incorporate the guidance provided to pipeline operators by the September 5, 2002, Department of Transportation Research and Special 

Programs Administration’s Pipeline Security Information Circular 

and contain additional requirements as necessary based upon the 

results of the inspections performed under subsection (b). The regulations shall include the imposition of civil penalties for noncompliance. 

(e) FUNDING.—From the amounts appropriated pursuant to section 114(w) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 

1503 of this Act, there shall be made available to the Secretary to 

carry out this section— (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

(2) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and 

(3) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. 

SEC. 1558. PIPELINE SECURITY AND INCIDENT RECOVERY PLAN. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Pipeline and 

Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and in accordance 

with the Annex to the Memorandum of Understanding executed on 

August 9, 2006, the National Strategy for Transportation Security, 

and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7, shall develop a 

pipeline security and incident recovery protocols plan. The plan 

shall include— (1) for the Government to provide increased security support to the most critical interstate and intrastate natural gas 

and hazardous liquid transmission pipeline infrastructure and 

operations as determined under section 1557 when— (A) under severe security threat levels of alert; or 

(B) under specific security threat information relating 

to such pipeline infrastructure or operations exists; and 

(2) an incident recovery protocol plan, developed in conjunction with interstate and intrastate transmission and distribution pipeline operators and terminals and facilities operators connected to pipelines, to develop protocols to ensure the 

continued transportation of natural gas and hazardous liquids 

to essential markets and for essential public health or national 

defense uses in the event of an incident affecting the interstate 

and intrastate natural gas and hazardous liquid transmission 

and distribution pipeline system, which shall include protocols 

for restoring essential services supporting pipelines and granting access to pipeline operators for pipeline infrastructure repair, replacement, or bypass following an incident. 

(b) EXISTING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR EFFORTS.—The plan 

shall take into account actions taken or planned by both private and 

public entities to address identified pipeline security issues and assess the effective integration of such actions. 

(c) CONSULTATION.—In developing the plan under subsection 

(a), the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Transportation, 

interstate and intrastate transmission and distribution pipeline operators, nonprofit employee organizations representing pipeline employees, emergency responders, offerors, State pipeline safety agencies, public safety officials, and other relevant parties. 

(d) REPORT.—

(1) CONTENTS.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the appromstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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priate congressional committees a report containing the plan required by subsection (a), including an estimate of the private 

and public sector costs to implement any recommendations. 

(2) FORMAT.—The Secretary may submit the report in both 

classified and redacted formats if the Secretary determines that 

such action is appropriate or necessary. 

TITLE XVI—AVIATION 

SEC. 1601. AIRPORT CHECKPOINT SCREENING FUND. 

Section 44940 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (d)(4) by inserting ‘‘, other than subsection 

(i),’’ before ‘‘except to’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(i) CHECKPOINT SCREENING SECURITY FUND.—

‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the Department of Homeland Security a fund to be known as the ‘Checkpoint Screening Security Fund’. 

‘‘(2) DEPOSITS.—In fiscal year 2008, after amounts are 

made available under section 44923(h), the next $250,000,000 

derived from fees received under subsection (a)(1) shall be available to be deposited in the Fund. 

‘‘(3) FEES.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall impose the fee authorized by subsection (a)(1) so as to collect at 

least $250,000,000 in fiscal year 2008 for deposit into the Fund. 

‘‘(4) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts in the Fund 

shall be available until expended by the Administrator of the 

Transportation Security Administration for the purchase, deployment, installation, research, and development of equipment 

to improve the ability of security screening personnel at screening checkpoints to detect explosives.’’. 

SEC. 1602. SCREENING OF CARGO CARRIED ABOARD PASSENGER AIRCRAFT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 44901 of title 49, United States Code, 

is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections 

(h) and (i), respectively; and 

(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following: 

‘‘(g) AIR CARGO ON PASSENGER AIRCRAFT.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the date of 

enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 

Commission Act of 2007, the Secretary of Homeland Security 

shall establish a system to screen 100 percent of cargo transported on passenger aircraft operated by an air carrier or foreign air carrier in air transportation or intrastate air transportation to ensure the security of all such passenger aircraft carrying cargo. 

‘‘(2) MINIMUM STANDARDS.—The system referred to in paragraph (1) shall require, at a minimum, that equipment, technology, procedures, personnel, or other methods approved by the 

Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, 

are used to screen cargo carried on passenger aircraft described 

in paragraph (1) to provide a level of security commensurate 

with the level of security for the screening of passenger checked 

baggage as follows: 

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‘‘(A) 50 percent of such cargo is so screened not later 

than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 

2007. ‘‘(B) 100 percent of such cargo is so screened not later 

than 3 years after such date of enactment. 

‘‘(3) REGULATIONS.— ‘‘(A) INTERIM FINAL RULE.—The Secretary of Homeland 

Security may issue an interim final rule as a temporary 

regulation to implement this subsection without regard to 

the provisions of chapter 5 of title 5. ‘‘(B) FINAL RULE.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary issues an interim final rule under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 

shall issue, not later than one year after the effective 

date of the interim final rule, a final rule as a permanent regulation to implement this subsection in accordance with the provisions of chapter 5 of title 5. 

‘‘(ii) FAILURE TO ACT.—If the Secretary does not 

issue a final rule in accordance with clause (i) on or 

before the last day of the one-year period referred to in 

clause (i), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 

on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

of the Senate, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 

explaining why the final rule was not timely issued 

and providing an estimate of the earliest date on which 

the final rule will be issued. The Secretary shall submit the first such report within 10 days after such last 

day and submit a report to the Committees containing 

updated information every 30 days thereafter until the 

final rule is issued. ‘‘(iii) SUPERCEDING OF INTERIM FINAL RULE.—The 

final rule issued in accordance with this subparagraph 

shall supersede the interim final rule issued under subparagraph (A). 

‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of establishment of the system under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 

submit to the Committees referred to in paragraph (3)(B)(ii) a 

report that describes the system. ‘‘(5) SCREENING DEFINED.—In this subsection the term 

‘screening’ means a physical examination or non-intrusive 

methods of assessing whether cargo poses a threat to transportation security. Methods of screening include x-ray systems, explosives detection systems, explosives trace detection, explosives 

detection canine teams certified by the Transportation Security 

Administration, or a physical search together with manifest 

verification. The Administrator may approve additional methods to ensure that the cargo does not pose a threat to transportation security and to assist in meeting the requirements of this 

subsection. Such additional cargo screening methods shall not 

include solely performing a review of information about the contents of cargo or verifying the identity of a shipper of the cargo 

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ods authorized under this subsection, including whether a 

known shipper is registered in the known shipper database. 

Such additional cargo screening methods may include a program to certify the security methods used by shippers pursuant 

to paragraphs (1) and (2) and alternative screening methods 

pursuant to exemptions referred to in subsection (b) of section 

1602 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.’’. (b) ASSESSMENT OF EXEMPTIONS.— (1) TSA ASSESSMENT.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 

Security shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and to the Comptroller General a report containing 

an assessment of each exemption granted under section 

44901(i)(1) of title 49, United States Code, for the screening 

required by such section for cargo transported on passenger 

aircraft and an analysis to assess the risk of maintaining 

such exemption. 

(B) CONTENTS.—The report under subparagraph (A) 

shall include— (i) the rationale for each exemption; 

(ii) what percentage of cargo is not screened in accordance with section 44901(g) of title 49, United 

States Code; 

(iii) the impact of each exemption on aviation security; 

(iv) the projected impact on the flow of commerce 

of eliminating each exemption, respectively, should the 

Secretary choose to take such action; and 

(v) plans and rationale for maintaining, changing, 

or eliminating each exemption. 

(C) FORMAT.—The Secretary may submit the report 

under subparagraph (A) in both classified and redacted 

formats if the Secretary determines that such action is appropriate or necessary. 

(2) GAO ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 120 days after the 

date on which the report under paragraph (1) is submitted, the 

Comptroller General shall review the report and submit to the 

Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

of the Senate, and the Committee on Homeland Security and 

Governmental Affairs of the Senate an assessment of the methodology of determinations made by the Secretary for maintaining, changing, or eliminating an exemption under section 

44901(i)(1) of title 49, United States Code. 

SEC. 1603. IN-LINE BAGGAGE SCREENING. 

(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION.—Section 44923(i)(1) of title 

49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘2007.’’ and inserting ‘‘2007, and $450,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 

2011’’. 

(b) SUBMISSION OF COST-SHARING STUDY AND PLAN.—Not later 

than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

for Homeland Security shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the cost sharing study described in section 

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4019(d) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 

2004 (118 Stat. 3722), together with the Secretary’s analysis of the 

study, a list of provisions of the study the Secretary intends to implement, and a plan and schedule for implementation of such listed 

provisions. 

SEC. 1604. IN-LINE BAGGAGE SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 44923 of title 49, United States Code, 

is amended— (1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘may make’’ and inserting ‘‘shall make’’; 

(2) in subsection (d)(1) by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’; 

(3) in subsection (h)(1) by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2028’’; 

(4) in subsection (h) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and 

inserting the following: ‘‘(2) ALLOCATION.—Of the amount made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, not less than $200,000,000 shall 

be allocated to fulfill letters of intent issued under subsection 

(d). ‘‘(3) DISCRETIONARY GRANTS.—Of the amount made avail- able under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, up to $50,000,000 

shall be used to make discretionary grants, including other 

transaction agreements for airport security improvement 

projects, with priority given to small hub airports and nonhub 

airports.’’; 

(5) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and 

(6) by inserting after subsection (h) the following: ‘‘(i) LEVERAGED FUNDING.—For purposes of this section, a grant 

under subsection (a) to an airport sponsor to service an obligation 

issued by or on behalf of that sponsor to fund a project described 

in subsection (a) shall be considered to be a grant for that project.’’. (b) PRIORITIZATION OF PROJECTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Transportation 

Security Administration shall establish a prioritization schedule for airport security improvement projects described in section 44923 of title 49, United States Code, based on risk and 

other relevant factors, to be funded under that section. The 

schedule shall include both hub airports referred to in paragraphs (29), (31), and (42) of section 40102 of such title and 

nonhub airports (as defined in section 47102(13) of such title). 

(2) AIRPORTS THAT HAVE INCURRED ELIGIBLE COSTS.—The 

schedule shall include airports that have incurred eligible costs 

associated with development of partial or completed in-line baggage systems before the date of enactment of this Act in reasonable anticipation of receiving a grant under section 44923 of 

title 49, United States Code, in reimbursement of those costs but 

that have not received such a grant. 

(3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide a copy of 

the prioritization schedule, a corresponding timeline, and a description of the funding allocation under section 44923 of title 

49, United States Code, to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 

on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives. 

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SEC. 1605. STRATEGIC PLAN TO TEST AND IMPLEMENT ADVANCED 

PASSENGER PRESCREENING SYSTEM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security 

of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a plan 

that—

(1) describes the system to be utilized by the Department of 

Homeland Security to assume the performance of comparing 

passenger information, as defined by the Administrator, to the 

automatic selectee and no-fly lists, utilizing appropriate records 

in the consolidated and integrated terrorist watchlist maintained by the Federal Government; 

(2) provides a projected timeline for each phase of testing 

and implementation of the system; 

(3) explains how the system will be integrated with the 

prescreening system for passengers on international flights; and 

(4) describes how the system complies with section 552a of 

title 5, United States Code. 

(b) GAO ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 

of Representatives that—

(1) describes the progress made by the Transportation Security Administration in implementing the secure flight passenger 

pre-screening program; 

(2) describes the effectiveness of the current appeals process 

for passengers wrongly assigned to the no-fly and terrorist 

watch lists; 

(3) describes the Transportation Security Administration’s 

plan to protect private passenger information and progress 

made in integrating the system with the pre-screening program 

for international flights operated by United States Customs and 

Border Protection; 

(4) provides a realistic determination of when the system 

will be completed; and 

(5) includes any other relevant observations or recommendations the Comptroller General deems appropriate. 

SEC. 1606. APPEAL AND REDRESS PROCESS FOR PASSENGERS WRONGLY DELAYED OR PROHIBITED FROM BOARDING A FLIGHT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 449 of title 49, 

United States Code is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 44926. Appeal and redress process for passengers wrongly 

delayed or prohibited from boarding a flight 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 

establish a timely and fair process for individuals who believe they 

have been delayed or prohibited from boarding a commercial aircraft because they were wrongly identified as a threat under the regimes utilized by the Transportation Security Administration, 

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United States Customs and Border Protection, or any other office or 

component of the Department of Homeland Security. ‘‘(b) OFFICE OF APPEALS AND REDRESS.— ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish in the 

Department an Office of Appeals and Redress to implement, coordinate, and execute the process established by the Secretary 

pursuant to subsection (a). The Office shall include representatives from the Transportation Security Administration, United 

States Customs and Border Protection, and such other offices 

and components of the Department as the Secretary determines 

appropriate. ‘‘(2) RECORDS.—The process established by the Secretary 

pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the establishment of a 

method by which the Office, under the direction of the Secretary, will be able to maintain a record of air carrier passengers and other individuals who have been misidentified and 

have corrected erroneous information. 

‘‘(3) INFORMATION.—To prevent repeated delays of an 

misidentified passenger or other individual, the Office shall— ‘‘(A) ensure that the records maintained under this subsection contain information determined by the Secretary to 

authenticate the identity of such a passenger or individual; ‘‘(B) furnish to the Transportation Security Administration, United States Customs and Border Protection, or 

any other appropriate office or component of the Department, upon request, such information as may be necessary 

to allow such office or component to assist air carriers in 

improving their administration of the advanced passenger 

prescreening system and reduce the number of false 

positives; and ‘‘(C) require air carriers and foreign air carriers take 

action to identify passengers determined, under the process 

established under subsection (a), to have been wrongly 

identified. 

‘‘(4) HANDLING OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMA- TION.—The Secretary, in conjunction with the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department shall— ‘‘(A) require that Federal employees of the Department 

handling personally identifiable information of passengers 

(in this paragraph referred to as ‘PII’) complete mandatory 

privacy and security training prior to being authorized to 

handle PII; ‘‘(B) ensure that the records maintained under this subsection are secured by encryption, one-way hashing, other 

data anonymization techniques, or such other equivalent security technical protections as the Secretary determines necessary; ‘‘(C) limit the information collected from misidentified 

passengers or other individuals to the minimum amount 

necessary to resolve a redress request; 

‘‘(D) require that the data generated under this subsection shall be shared or transferred via a secure data network, that has been audited to ensure that the anti-hacking 

and other security related software functions properly and 

is updated as necessary; 

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‘‘(E) ensure that any employee of the Department receiving the data contained within the records handles the information in accordance with the section 552a of title 5, 

United States Code, and the Federal Information Security 

Management Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296); 

‘‘(F) only retain the data for as long as needed to assist 

the individual traveler in the redress process; and 

‘‘(G) conduct and publish a privacy impact assessment 

of the process described within this subsection and transmit 

the assessment to the Committee on Homeland Security of 

the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and Committee 

on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 

Senate. 

‘‘(5) INITIATION OF REDRESS PROCESS AT AIRPORTS.—The 

Office shall establish at each airport at which the Department 

has a significant presence a process to provide information to 

air carrier passengers to begin the redress process established 

pursuant to subsection (a).’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is 

amended by inserting after the item relating to section 44925 the 

following: 

‘‘44926. Appeal and redress process for passengers wrongly delayed or prohibited 

from boarding a flight.’’. 

SEC. 1607. STRENGTHENING EXPLOSIVES DETECTION AT PASSENGER 

SCREENING CHECKPOINTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall issue the strategic plan the Secretary was required by section 44925(b) of title 49, United States Code, to have 

issued within 90 days after the date of enactment of the Intelligence 

Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–

458). 

(b) DEPLOYMENT.—Section 44925(b) of title 49, United States 

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(3) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall begin implementation of the strategic plan within one year after the date 

of enactment of this paragraph.’’. 

SEC. 1608. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF AVIATION TRANSPORTATION SECURITY TECHNOLOGY. 

Section 137(a) of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act 

(49 U.S.C. 44912 note; 115 Stat. 637) is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘2002 through 2006’’ and inserting ‘‘2006 

through 2011’’; 

(2) by striking ‘‘aviation’’ and inserting ‘‘transportation’’; 

and 

(3) by striking ‘‘2002 and 2003’’ and inserting ‘‘2006 

through 2011’’. 

SEC. 1609. BLAST-RESISTANT CARGO CONTAINERS. 

Section 44901 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by 

section 1602, is further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(j) BLAST-RESISTANT CARGO CONTAINERS.—

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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Before January 1, 2008, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall—

‘‘(A) evaluate the results of the blast-resistant cargo 

container pilot program that was initiated before the date 

of enactment of this subsection; and 

‘‘(B) prepare and distribute through the Aviation Security Advisory Committee to the appropriate Committees of 

Congress and air carriers a report on that evaluation which 

may contain nonclassified and classified sections. 

‘‘(2) ACQUISITION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPLACEMENT.—

Upon completion and consistent with the results of the evaluation that paragraph (1)(A) requires, the Administrator shall—

‘‘(A) develop and implement a program, as the Administrator determines appropriate, to acquire, maintain, and 

replace blast-resistant cargo containers; 

‘‘(B) pay for the program; and 

‘‘(C) make available blast-resistant cargo containers to 

air carriers pursuant to paragraph (3). 

‘‘(3) DISTRIBUTION TO AIR CARRIERS.—The Administrator 

shall make available, beginning not later than July 1, 2008, 

blast-resistant cargo containers to air carriers for use on a risk 

managed basis as determined by the Administrator.’’. 

SEC. 1610. PROTECTION OF PASSENGER PLANES FROM EXPLOSIVES. 

(a) TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND PILOT PROJECTS.—

(1) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Administrator of the 

Transportation Security Administration, shall expedite research 

and development programs for technologies that can disrupt or 

prevent an explosive device from being introduced onto a passenger plane or from damaging a passenger plane while in 

flight or on the ground. The research shall be used in support 

of implementation of section 44901 of title 49, United States 

Code. 

(2) PILOT PROJECTS.—The Secretary, in conjunction with 

the Secretary of Transportation, shall establish a grant program to fund pilot projects—

(A) to deploy technologies described in paragraph (1); 

and 

(B) to test technologies to expedite the recovery, development, and analysis of information from aircraft accidents 

to determine the cause of the accident, including deployable 

flight deck and voice recorders and remote location recording devices. 

(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security for fiscal 

year 2008 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 

Such sums shall remain available until expended. 

SEC. 1611. SPECIALIZED TRAINING. 

The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall provide advanced training to transportation security officers for the development of specialized security skills, including behavior observation and analysis, explosives detection, and document 

examination, in order to enhance the effectiveness of layered transportation security measures. 

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SEC. 1612. CERTAIN TSA PERSONNEL LIMITATIONS NOT TO APPLY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any provision of law, any 

statutory limitation on the number of employees in the Transportation Security Administration, before or after its transfer to the Department of Homeland Security from the Department of Transportation, does not apply after fiscal year 2007. 

(b) AVIATION SECURITY.—Notwithstanding any provision of law 

imposing a limitation on the recruiting or hiring of personnel into 

the Transportation Security Administration to a maximum number 

of permanent positions, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall recruit and hire such personnel into the Administration as may be 

necessary—

(1) to provide appropriate levels of aviation security; and 

(2) to accomplish that goal in such a manner that the average aviation security-related delay experienced by airline passengers is reduced to a level of less than 10 minutes. 

SEC. 1613. PILOT PROJECT TO TEST DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES AT 

AIRPORT EXIT LANES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall conduct a pilot program at not more 

than 2 airports to identify technologies to improve security at airport exit lanes. 

(b) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—In conducting the pilot program 

under this section, the Administrator shall—

(1) utilize different technologies that protect the integrity of 

the airport exit lanes from unauthorized entry; 

(2) work with airport officials to deploy such technologies 

in multiple configurations at a selected airport or airports at 

which some of the exits are not colocated with a screening 

checkpoint; and 

(3) ensure the level of security is at or above the level of existing security at the airport or airports where the pilot program is conducted. 

(c) REPORTS.—

(1) INITIAL BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct 

a briefing to the congressional committees set forth in paragraph (3) that describes—

(A) the airport or airports selected to participate in the 

pilot program; 

(B) the technologies to be tested; 

(C) the potential savings from implementing the technologies at selected airport exits; 

(D) the types of configurations expected to be deployed 

at such airports; and 

(E) the expected financial contribution from each airport. 

(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 

technologies are deployed at the airports participating in the 

pilot program, the Administrator shall submit a final report to 

the congressional committees set forth in paragraph (3) that describes—

(A) the changes in security procedures and technologies 

deployed; 

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(B) the estimated cost savings at the airport or airports 

that participated in the pilot program; and 

(C) the efficacy and staffing benefits of the pilot program and its applicability to other airports in the United 

States. 

(3) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The reports required 

under this subsection shall be submitted to—

(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; 

(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 

(C) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 

(D) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 

of Representatives; and 

(E) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 

Representatives. 

(d) USE OF EXISTING FUNDS.—This section shall be executed 

using existing funds. 

SEC. 1614. SECURITY CREDENTIALS FOR AIRLINE CREWS. 

(a) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 

Administration, after consultation with airline, airport, and flight 

crew representatives, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, and 

the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives a report on the status of the Administration’s efforts 

to institute a sterile area access system or method that will enhance 

security by properly identifying authorized airline flight deck and 

cabin crew members at screening checkpoints and granting them expedited access through screening checkpoints. The Administrator 

shall include in the report recommendations on the feasibility of implementing the system for the domestic aviation industry beginning 

one year after the date on which the report is submitted. 

(b) BEGINNING IMPLEMENTATION.—The Administrator shall 

begin implementation of the system or method referred to in subsection (a) not later than one year after the date on which the Administrator submits the report under subsection (a). 

SEC. 1615. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER BIOMETRIC CREDENTIAL. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 44903(h)(6) of title 49, United States 

Code, is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(6) USE OF BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY FOR ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAVEL.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the 

date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of 

the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, 

shall—

‘‘(i) implement this section by publication in the 

Federal Register; and 

‘‘(ii) establish a national registered armed law enforcement program, that shall be federally managed, 

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for law enforcement officers needing to be armed when 

traveling by commercial aircraft. 

‘‘(B) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The program shall— ‘‘(i) establish a credential or a system that incorporates biometric technology and other applicable technologies; ‘‘(ii) establish a system for law enforcement officers 

who need to be armed when traveling by commercial 

aircraft on a regular basis and for those who need to 

be armed during temporary travel assignments; ‘‘(iii) comply with other uniform credentialing initiatives, including the Homeland Security Presidential 

Directive 12; ‘‘(iv) apply to all Federal, State, local, tribal, and 

territorial government law enforcement agencies; and ‘‘(v) establish a process by which the travel credential or system may be used to verify the identity, using 

biometric technology, of a Federal, State, local, tribal, 

or territorial law enforcement officer seeking to carry a 

weapon on board a commercial aircraft, without unnecessarily disclosing to the public that the individual 

is a law enforcement officer. 

‘‘(C) PROCEDURES.—In establishing the program, the 

Secretary shall develop procedures— ‘‘(i) to ensure that a law enforcement officer of a 

Federal, State, local, tribal, or territorial government 

flying armed has a specific reason for flying armed 

and the reason is within the scope of the duties of such 

officer; ‘‘(ii) to preserve the anonymity of the armed law 

enforcement officer; ‘‘(iii) to resolve failures to enroll, false matches, 

and false nonmatches relating to the use of the law enforcement travel credential or system; 

‘‘(iv) to determine the method of issuance of the biometric credential to law enforcement officers needing 

to be armed when traveling by commercial aircraft; 

‘‘(v) to invalidate any law enforcement travel credential or system that is lost, stolen, or no longer authorized for use; 

‘‘(vi) to coordinate the program with the Federal 

Air Marshal Service, including the force multiplier program of the Service; and 

‘‘(vii) to implement a phased approach to launching the program, addressing the immediate needs of 

the relevant Federal agent population before expanding 

to other law enforcement populations.’’. 

(b) REPORT.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after implementing the national registered armed law enforcement program required by section 44903(h)(6) of title 49, United States 

Code, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 

of Representatives a report. If the Secretary has not implemstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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mented the program within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the 

Committees within 180 days explaining the reasons for the failure to implement the program within the time required by that 

section and a further report within each successive 90-day period until the program is implemented explaining the reasons 

for such further delays in implementation until the program is 

functioning. 

(2) CLASSIFIED FORMAT.—The Secretary may submit each 

report required by this subsection in classified format. 

SEC. 1616. REPAIR STATION SECURITY. 

(a) CERTIFICATION OF FOREIGN REPAIR STATIONS SUSPENSION.—If the regulations required by section 44924(f) of title 49, 

United States Code, are not issued within one year after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 

Administration may not certify any foreign repair station under 

part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, after such date unless the station was previously certified, or is in the process of certification by the Administration under that part. 

(b) 6-MONTH DEADLINE FOR SECURITY REVIEW AND AUDIT.—

Subsections (a) and (d) of section 44924 of title 49, United States 

Code, is amended—

(1) in each of subsections (a) and (b) by striking ‘‘18 

months’’ and inserting ‘‘6 months’’; and 

(2) in subsection (d) by inserting ‘‘(other than a station that 

was previously certified, or is in the process of certification, by 

the Administration under this part)’’ before ‘‘until’’. 

SEC. 1617. GENERAL AVIATION SECURITY. 

Section 44901 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by 

sections 1602 and 1609, is further amended by adding at the end 

the following: 

‘‘(k) GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT SECURITY PROGRAM.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date of 

enactment of this subsection, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall—

‘‘(A) develop a standardized threat and vulnerability 

assessment program for general aviation airports (as defined in section 47134(m)); and 

‘‘(B) implement a program to perform such assessments 

on a risk-managed basis at general aviation airports. 

‘‘(2) GRANT PROGRAM.—Not later than 6 months after the 

date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall 

initiate and complete a study of the feasibility of a program, 

based on a risk-managed approach, to provide grants to operators of general aviation airports (as defined in section 

47134(m)) for projects to upgrade security at such airports. If 

the Administrator determines that such a program is feasible, 

the Administrator shall establish such a program. ‘‘(3) APPLICATION TO GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT.—Not 

later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall develop a risk-based system 

under which—

‘‘(A) general aviation aircraft, as identified by the Administrator, in coordination with the Administrator of the 

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Federal Aviation Administration, are required to submit 

passenger information and advance notification requirements for United States Customs and Border Protection before entering United States airspace; and 

‘‘(B) such information is checked against appropriate 

databases. 

‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration such sums as may be necessary to carry out paragraphs (2) and (3).’’. 

SEC. 1618. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF AVIATION SECURITY 

FUNDING. 

Section 48301(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 

striking ‘‘and 2006’’ and inserting ‘‘2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 

2011’’. 

TITLE XVII—MARITIME CARGO 

SEC. 1701. CONTAINER SCANNING AND SEALS. 

(a) CONTAINER SCANNING.—Section 232(b) of the SAFE Ports 

Act (6 U.S.C. 982(b)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(b) FULL-SCALE IMPLEMENTATION.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A container that was loaded on a vessel 

in a foreign port shall not enter the United States (either directly or via a foreign port) unless the container was scanned 

by nonintrusive imaging equipment and radiation detection 

equipment at a foreign port before it was loaded on a vessel. 

‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—Paragraph (1) shall apply with respect 

to containers loaded on a vessel in a foreign country on or after 

the earlier of—

‘‘(A) July 1, 2012; or 

‘‘(B) such other date as may be established by the Secretary under paragraph (3). 

‘‘(3) ESTABLISHMENT OF EARLIER DEADLINE.—The Secretary 

shall establish a date under (2)(B) pursuant to the lessons 

learned through the pilot integrated scanning systems established under section 231. 

‘‘(4) EXTENSIONS.—The Secretary may extend the date specified in paragraph (2)(A) or (2)(B) for 2 years, and may renew 

the extension in additional 2-year increments, for containers 

loaded in a port or ports, if the Secretary certifies to Congress 

that at least two of the following conditions exist: 

‘‘(A) Systems to scan containers in accordance with 

paragraph (1) are not available for purchase and installation. 

‘‘(B) Systems to scan containers in accordance with 

paragraph (1) do not have a sufficiently low false alarm 

rate for use in the supply chain. 

‘‘(C) Systems to scan containers in accordance with 

paragraph (1) cannot be purchased, deployed, or operated 

at ports overseas, including, if applicable, because a port 

does not have the physical characteristics to install such a 

system. 

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‘‘(D) Systems to scan containers in accordance with 

paragraph (1) cannot be integrated, as necessary, with existing systems. 

‘‘(E) Use of systems that are available to scan containers in accordance with paragraph (1) will significantly 

impact trade capacity and the flow of cargo. 

‘‘(F) Systems to scan containers in accordance with 

paragraph (1) do not adequately provide an automated notification of questionable or high-risk cargo as a trigger for 

further inspection by appropriately trained personnel. 

‘‘(5) EXEMPTION FOR MILITARY CARGO.—Notwithstanding 

any other provision in the section, supplies bought by the Secretary of Defense and transported in compliance section 2631 of 

title 10, United States Code, and military cargo of foreign countries are exempt from the requirements of this section. 

‘‘(6) REPORT ON EXTENSIONS.—An extension under paragraph (4) for a port or ports shall take effect upon the expiration of the 60-day period beginning on the date the Secretary 

provides a report to Congress that—

‘‘(A) states what container traffic will be affected by the 

extension; 

‘‘(B) provides supporting evidence to support the Secretary’s certification of the basis for the extension; and 

‘‘(C) explains what measures the Secretary is taking to 

ensure that scanning can be implemented as early as possible at the port or ports that are the subject of the report. 

‘‘(7) REPORT ON RENEWAL OF EXTENSION.—If an extension 

under paragraph (4) takes effect, the Secretary shall, after one 

year, submit a report to Congress on whether the Secretary expects to seek to renew the extension. 

‘‘(8) SCANNING TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS.—In implementing 

paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

‘‘(A) establish technological and operational standards 

for systems to scan containers; 

‘‘(B) ensure that the standards are consistent with the 

global nuclear detection architecture developed under the 

Homeland Security Act of 2002; and 

‘‘(C) coordinate with other Federal agencies that administer scanning or detection programs at foreign ports. 

‘‘(9) INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS.—In 

carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with 

appropriate Federal departments and agencies and private sector stakeholders, and ensure that actions under this section do 

not violate international trade obligations, and are consistent 

with the World Customs Organization framework, or other 

international obligations of the United States.’’. 

(b) DEADLINE FOR CONTAINER SECURITY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES.—Section 204(a)(4) of the SAFE Port Act (6 U.S.C. 

944(a)(4)) is amended by—

(1) striking ‘‘(1) DEADLINE FOR ENFORCEMENT.—’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(1) DEADLINE FOR ENFORCEMENT.—

‘‘(A) ENFORCEMENT OF RULE.—’’; and 

(2) adding at the end the following: 

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‘‘(B) INTERIM REQUIREMENT.—If the interim final rule 

described in paragraph (2) is not issued by April 1, 2008, 

then—

‘‘(i) effective not later than October 15, 2008, all 

containers in transit to the United States shall be required to meet the requirements of International Organization for Standardization Publicly Available Specification 17712 standard for sealing containers; and 

‘‘(ii) the requirements of this subparagraph shall 

cease to be effective upon the effective date of the interim final rule issued pursuant to this subsection.’’. 

TITLE XVIII—PREVENTING WEAPONS OF MASS 

DESTRUCTION PROLIFERATION AND TERRORISM 

SEC. 1801. FINDINGS. 

The 9/11 Commission has made the following recommendations: 

(1) STRENGTHEN ‘‘COUNTER-PROLIFERATION’’ EFFORTS.—The 

United States should work with the international community to 

develop laws and an international legal regime with universal 

jurisdiction to enable any state in the world to capture, interdict, and prosecute smugglers of nuclear material. 

(2) EXPAND THE PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE.—In 

carrying out the Proliferation Security Initiative, the United 

States should—

(A) use intelligence and planning resources of the 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance; 

(B) make participation open to non-NATO countries; 

and 

(C) encourage Russia and the People’s Republic of 

China to participate. 

(3) SUPPORT THE COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION PROGRAM.—The United States should expand, improve, increase resources for, and otherwise fully support the Cooperative Threat 

Reduction program. 

SEC. 1802. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title: 

(1) The terms ‘‘prevention of weapons of mass destruction 

proliferation and terrorism’’ and ‘‘prevention of WMD proliferation and terrorism’’ include activities under—

(A) the programs specified in section 1501(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 (Public Law 104–201; 110 Stat. 2731; 50 U.S.C. 2362 note); 

(B) the programs for which appropriations are authorized by section 3101(a)(2) of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 

107–314; 116 Stat. 2729); 

(C) programs authorized by section 504 of the Freedom 

for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open 

Markets Support Act of 1992 (the FREEDOM Support Act) 

(22 U.S.C. 5854) and programs authorized by section 1412 

of the Former Soviet Union Demilitarization Act of 1992 

(22 U.S.C. 5902); and 

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(D) a program of any agency of the Federal Government having a purpose similar to that of any of the programs identified in subparagraphs (A) through (C), as designated by the United States Coordinator for the Prevention 

of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism and the head of the agency. 

(2) The terms ‘‘weapons of mass destruction’’ and ‘‘WMD’’ mean chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, and chemical, 

biological, and nuclear materials used in the manufacture of 

such weapons. 

(3) The term ‘‘items of proliferation concern’’ means—

(A) equipment, materials, or technology listed in—

(i) the Trigger List of the Guidelines for Nuclear 

Transfers of the Nuclear Suppliers Group; 

(ii) the Annex of the Guidelines for Transfers of 

Nuclear-Related Dual-Use Equipment, Materials, Software, and Related Technology of the Nuclear Suppliers 

Group; or 

(iii) any of the Common Control Lists of the Australia Group; and 

(B) any other sensitive items. 

Subtitle A—Repeal and Modification of Limitations on Assistance for Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism 

SEC. 1811. REPEAL AND MODIFICATION OF LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE FOR PREVENTION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROLIFERATION AND TERRORISM. 

Consistent with the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, 

Congress repeals or modifies the limitations on assistance for prevention of weapons of mass destruction proliferation and terrorism 

as follows: 

(1) SOVIET NUCLEAR THREAT REDUCTION ACT OF 1991.—Subsections (b) and (c) of section 211 of the Soviet Nuclear Threat 

Reduction Act of 1991 (title II of Public Law 102–228; 22 

U.S.C. 2551 note) are repealed. 

(2) COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION ACT OF 1993.—Section 

1203(d) of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Act of 1993 (title 

XII of Public Law 103–160; 22 U.S.C. 5952(d)) is repealed. 

(3) RUSSIAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS DESTRUCTION FACILITIES.—Section 1305 of the National Defense Authorization Act 

for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106–65; 22 U.S.C. 5952 note) 

is repealed. 

(4) AUTHORITY TO USE COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION

FUNDS OUTSIDE THE FORMER SOVIET UNION—MODIFICATION OF

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT; CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE REQUIREMENT.—Section 1308 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108–136; 22 U.S.C. 

5963) is amended—

(A) in subsection (a)—

(i) by striking ‘‘the President may’’ and inserting 

‘‘the Secretary of Defense may’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘if the President’’ and inserting ‘‘if 

the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the 

Secretary of State,’’; 

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(B) in subsection (d)(1)— (i) by striking ‘‘The President may not’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary of Defense may not’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘until the President’’ and inserting ‘‘until the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of 

the Secretary of State,’’; 

(C) in subsection (d)(2)— (i) by striking ‘‘Not later than 10 days after’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Not later than 15 days prior to’’; 

(ii) by striking ‘‘the President shall’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary of Defense shall’’; and 

(iii) by striking ‘‘Congress’’ and inserting ‘‘the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 

Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 

Foreign Relations of the Senate’’; and 

(D) in subsection (d) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(3) In the case of a situation that threatens human life or safety or where a delay would severely undermine the national security 

of the United States, notification under paragraph (2) shall be made 

not later than 10 days after obligating funds under the authority in 

subsection (a) for a project or activity.’’. 

Subtitle B—Proliferation Security Initiative 

SEC. 1821. PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE IMPROVEMENTS 

AND AUTHORITIES. 

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress, consistent 

with the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, that the President 

should strive to expand and strengthen the Proliferation Security 

Initiative (in this subtitle referred to as ‘‘PSI’’) announced by the 

President on May 31, 2003, with a particular emphasis on the following: 

(1) Issuing a presidential directive to the relevant United 

States Government agencies and departments that directs such 

agencies and departments to—

(A) establish clear PSI authorities, responsibilities, and 

structures; 

(B) include in the budget request for each such agency 

or department for each fiscal year, a request for funds necessary for United States PSI-related activities; and 

(C) provide other necessary resources to achieve more 

efficient and effective performance of United States PSI-related activities. 

(2) Increasing PSI cooperation with all countries. 

(3) Implementing the recommendations of the Government 

Accountability Office (GAO) in the September 2006 report titled 

‘‘Better Controls Needed to Plan and Manage Proliferation Security Initiative Activities’’ (GAO–06–937C) regarding the following: 

(A) The Department of Defense and the Department of 

State should establish clear PSI roles and responsibilities, 

policies and procedures, interagency communication mechanisms, documentation requirements, and indicators to 

measure program results. 

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(B) The Department of Defense and the Department of 

State should develop a strategy to work with PSI-participating countries to resolve issues that are impediments to 

conducting successful PSI interdictions. 

(4) Establishing a multilateral mechanism to increase coordination, cooperation, and compliance among PSI-participating countries. 

(b) BUDGET SUBMISSION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Each fiscal year in which activities are 

planned to be carried out under the PSI, the President shall include in the budget request for each participating United States 

Government agency or department for that fiscal year, a description of the funding and the activities for which the funding 

is requested for each such agency or department. 

(2) REPORT.—Not later than the first Monday in February 

of each year in which the President submits a budget request 

described in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense and the 

Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a comprehensive 

joint report setting forth the following: 

(A) A three-year plan, beginning with the fiscal year for 

the budget request, that specifies the amount of funding 

and other resources to be provided by the United States for 

PSI-related activities over the term of the plan, including 

the purposes for which such funding and resources will be 

used. 

(B) For the report submitted in 2008, a description of 

the PSI-related activities carried out during the three fiscal 

years preceding the year of the report, and for the report 

submitted in 2009 and each year thereafter, a description 

of the PSI-related activities carried out during the fiscal 

year preceding the year of the report. The description shall 

include, for each fiscal year covered by the report—

(i) the amounts obligated and expended for such 

activities and the purposes for which such amounts 

were obligated and expended; 

(ii) a description of the participation of each department or agency of the United States Government in 

such activities; 

(iii) a description of the participation of each foreign country or entity in such activities; 

(iv) a description of any assistance provided to a 

foreign country or entity participating in such activities 

in order to secure such participation, in response to 

such participation, or in order to improve the quality 

of such participation; and 

(v) such other information as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State determine should be 

included to keep Congress fully informed of the operation and activities of the PSI. 

(3) CLASSIFICATION.—The report required by paragraph (2) 

shall be in an unclassified form but may include a classified 

annex as necessary. 

(c) IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 

the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit 

to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign 

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Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on the implementation of this section. The report shall 

include—

(1) the steps taken to implement the recommendations described in paragraph (3) of subsection (a); and 

(2) the progress made toward implementing the matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of subsection (a). 

(d) GAO REPORTS.—The Government Accountability Office 

shall submit to Congress, for each of fiscal years 2007, 2009, and 

2011, a report with its assessment of the progress and effectiveness 

of the PSI, which shall include an assessment of the measures referred to in subsection (a). 

SEC. 1822. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO COOPERATIVE 

COUNTRIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The President is authorized to provide assistance under subsection (b) to any country that cooperates with the 

United States and with other countries allied with the United 

States to prevent the transport and transshipment of items of proliferation concern in its national territory or airspace or in vessels 

under its control or registry. 

(b) TYPES OF ASSISTANCE.—The assistance authorized under 

subsection (a) consists of the following: 

(1) Assistance under section 23 of the Arms Export Control 

Act (22 U.S.C. 2763). 

(2) Assistance under chapters 4 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.) 

and 5 (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.) of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. 

(3) Drawdown of defense excess defense articles and services under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 

U.S.C. 2321j). 

(c) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—Assistance authorized 

under this section may not be provided until at least 30 days after 

the date on which the President has provided notice thereof to the 

Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 

and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, 

in accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under section 634A(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 

1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394–1(a)), and has certified to such committees 

that such assistance will be used in accordance with the requirement of subsection (e) of this section. 

(d) LIMITATION.—Assistance may be provided to a country 

under section (a) in no more than three fiscal years. 

(e) USE OF ASSISTANCE.—Assistance provided under this section 

shall be used to enhance the capability of the recipient country to 

prevent the transport and transshipment of items of proliferation 

concern in its national territory or airspace, or in vessels under its 

control or registry, including through the development of a legal 

framework in that country to enhance such capability by criminalizing proliferation, enacting strict export controls, and securing sensitive materials within its borders, and to enhance the ability of the 

recipient country to cooperate in PSI operations. 

(f) LIMITATION ON SHIP OR AIRCRAFT TRANSFERS.—

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(1) LIMITATION.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 

President may not transfer any excess defense article that is a 

vessel or an aircraft to a country that has not agreed, in connection with such transfer, that it will support and assist efforts 

by the United States, consistent with international law, to interdict items of proliferation concern until thirty days after the 

date on which the President has provided notice of the proposed 

transfer to the committees described in subsection (c) in accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under section 634A(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 

1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394–1(a)), in addition to any other requirement of law. 

(2) EXCEPTION.—The limitation in paragraph (1) shall not 

apply to any transfer, not involving significant military equipment, in which the primary use of the aircraft or vessel will be 

for counternarcotics, counterterrorism, or counterproliferation 

purposes. 

Subtitle C—Assistance to Accelerate Programs to Prevent 

Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism 

SEC. 1831. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

It shall be the policy of the United States, consistent with the 

9/11 Commission’s recommendations, to eliminate any obstacles to 

timely obligating and executing the full amount of any appropriated 

funds for threat reduction and nonproliferation programs in order 

to accelerate and strengthen progress on preventing weapons of 

mass destruction (WMD) proliferation and terrorism. Such policy 

shall be implemented with concrete measures, such as those described in this title, including the removal and modification of statutory limits to executing funds, the expansion and strengthening of 

the Proliferation Security Initiative, the establishment of the Office 

of the United States Coordinator for the Prevention of Weapons of 

Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism under subtitle D, and 

the establishment of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons 

of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism under subtitle E. 

As a result, Congress intends that any funds authorized to be appropriated to programs for preventing WMD proliferation and terrorism under this subtitle will be executed in a timely manner. 

SEC. 1832. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION 

PROGRAM. 

(a) FISCAL YEAR 2008.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008 for the following purposes: 

(A) Chemical weapons destruction at Shchuch’ye, Russia. 

(B) Biological weapons proliferation prevention. 

(C) Acceleration, expansion, and strengthening of Cooperative Threat Reduction Program activities. 

(2) LIMITATION.—The sums appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may not exceed the amounts authorized to be appropriated by any national defense authorization Act for fiscal year 

2008 (whether enacted before or after the date of the enactment 

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of this Act) to the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program for such purposes. 

(b) FUTURE YEARS.—It is the sense of Congress that in fiscal 

year 2008 and future fiscal years, the President should accelerate 

and expand funding for Cooperative Threat Reduction programs administered by the Department of Defense and such efforts should include, beginning upon enactment of this Act, encouraging additional 

commitments by the Russian Federation and other partner nations, 

as recommended by the 9/11 Commission. 

SEC. 1833. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROGRAMS TO PREVENT WEAPONS OF 

MASS DESTRUCTION PROLIFERATION AND TERRORISM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), there are authorized 

to be appropriated to Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation such sums as 

may be necessary for fiscal year 2008 to accelerate, expand, and 

strengthen the following programs to prevent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation and terrorism: 

(1) The Global Threat Reduction Initiative. 

(2) The Nonproliferation and International Security program. 

(3) The International Materials Protection, Control and Accounting program. 

(4) The Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development program. 

(b) LIMITATION.—The sums appropriated pursuant to subsection 

(a) may not exceed the amounts authorized to be appropriated by 

any national defense authorization Act for fiscal year 2008 (whether 

enacted before or after the date of the enactment of this Act) to Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation for such purposes. 

Subtitle D—Office of the United States Coordinator for the 

Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation 

and Terrorism 

SEC. 1841. OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COORDINATOR FOR THE 

PREVENTION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROLIFERATION AND TERRORISM. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within the Executive 

Office of the President an office to be known as the ‘‘Office of the 

United States Coordinator for the Prevention of Weapons of Mass 

Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism’’ (in this section referred to 

as the ‘‘Office’’). 

(b) OFFICERS.—

(1) UNITED STATES COORDINATOR.—The head of the Office 

shall be the United States Coordinator for the Prevention of 

Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (in 

this section referred to as the ‘‘Coordinator’’). 

(2) DEPUTY UNITED STATES COORDINATOR.—There shall be 

a Deputy United States Coordinator for the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (in this 

section referred to as the ‘‘Deputy Coordinator’’), who shall—

(A) assist the Coordinator in carrying out the responsibilities of the Coordinator under this subtitle; and 

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(B) serve as Acting Coordinator in the absence of the 

Coordinator and during any vacancy in the office of Coordinator. 

(3) APPOINTMENT.—The Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall be responsible on a 

full-time basis for the duties and responsibilities described in 

this section. 

(4) LIMITATION.—No person shall serve as Coordinator or 

Deputy Coordinator while serving in any other position in the 

Federal Government. 

(5) ACCESS BY CONGRESS.—The establishment of the Office 

of the Coordinator within the Executive Office of the President 

shall not be construed as affecting access by the Congress or 

committees of either House to—

(A) information, documents, and studies in the possession of, or conducted by or at the direction of, the Coordinator; or 

(B) personnel of the Office of the Coordinator. 

(c) DUTIES.—The responsibilities of the Coordinator shall include the following: 

(1) Serving as the principal advisor to the President on all 

matters relating to the prevention of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation and terrorism. 

(2) Formulating a comprehensive and well-coordinated 

United States strategy and policies for preventing WMD proliferation and terrorism, including—

(A) measurable milestones and targets to which departments and agencies can be held accountable; 

(B) identification of gaps, duplication, and other inefficiencies in existing activities, initiatives, and programs and 

the steps necessary to overcome these obstacles; 

(C) plans for preserving the nuclear security investment 

the United States has made in Russia, the former Soviet 

Union, and other countries; 

(D) prioritized plans to accelerate, strengthen, and expand the scope of existing initiatives and programs, which 

include identification of vulnerable sites and material and 

the corresponding actions necessary to eliminate such 

vulnerabilities; 

(E) new and innovative initiatives and programs to address emerging challenges and strengthen United States capabilities, including programs to attract and retain top scientists and engineers and strengthen the capabilities of 

United States national laboratories; 

(F) plans to coordinate United States activities, initiatives, and programs relating to the prevention of WMD proliferation and terrorism, including those of the Department 

of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of 

State, and the Department of Homeland Security, and including the Proliferation Security Initiative, the G–8 Global 

Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials 

of Mass Destruction, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear 

Terrorism; 

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(G) plans to strengthen United States commitments to 

international regimes and significantly improve cooperation 

with other countries relating to the prevention of WMD proliferation and terrorism, with particular emphasis on work 

with the international community to develop laws and an 

international legal regime with universal jurisdiction to enable any state in the world to interdict and prosecute smugglers of WMD material, as recommended by the 9/11 Commission; and 

(H) identification of actions necessary to implement the 

recommendations of the Commission on the Prevention of 

Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism 

established under subtitle E of this title. 

(3) Leading inter-agency coordination of United States efforts to implement the strategy and policies described in this 

section. 

(4) Conducting oversight and evaluation of accelerated and 

strengthened implementation of initiatives and programs to prevent WMD proliferation and terrorism by relevant government 

departments and agencies. 

(5) Overseeing the development of a comprehensive and coordinated budget for programs and initiatives to prevent WMD 

proliferation and terrorism, ensuring that such budget adequately reflects the priority of the challenges and is effectively 

executed, and carrying out other appropriate budgetary authorities. 

(d) STAFF.—The Coordinator may— (1) appoint, employ, fix compensation, and terminate such 

personnel as may be necessary to enable the Coordinator to perform his or her duties under this title; 

(2) direct, with the concurrence of the Secretary of a department or head of an agency, the temporary reassignment within 

the Federal Government of personnel employed by such department or agency, in order to implement United States policy with 

regard to the prevention of WMD proliferation and terrorism; 

(3) use for administrative purposes, on a reimbursable 

basis, the available services, equipment, personnel, and facilities of Federal, State, and local agencies; 

(4) procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, relating to appointments in the Federal Service, at rates of compensation for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of 

the rate of pay payable for a position at level IV of the Executive 

Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code; and 

(5) use the mails in the same manner as any other department or agency of the executive branch. 

(e) CONSULTATION WITH COMMISSION.—The Office and the Coordinator shall regularly consult with and strive to implement the 

recommendations of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons 

of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, established under 

subtitle E of this title. 

(f) ANNUAL REPORT ON STRATEGIC PLAN.—For fiscal year 2009 

and each fiscal year thereafter, the Coordinator shall submit to 

Congress, at the same time as the submission of the budget for that 

fiscal year under title 31, United States Code, a report on the stratmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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egy and policies developed pursuant to subsection (c)(2), together 

with any recommendations of the Coordinator for legislative 

changes that the Coordinator considers appropriate with respect to 

such strategy and policies and their implementation or the Office of 

the Coordinator. 

(g) PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AND HOMELAND SECURITY COUNCIL.—Section 101 of the National Security Act 

of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 402) is amended—

(1) by redesignating the last subsection (added as ‘‘(i)’’ by 

section 301 of Public Law 105–292) as subsection (k); and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(l) PARTICIPATION OF COORDINATOR FOR THE PREVENTION OF

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROLIFERATION AND TERRORISM.—The United States Coordinator for the Prevention of 

Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (or, in the 

Coordinator’s absence, the Deputy United States Coordinator) may, 

in the performance of the Coordinator’s duty as principal advisor to 

the President on all matters relating to the prevention of weapons 

of mass destruction proliferation and terrorism, and, subject to the 

direction of the President, attend and participate in meetings of the 

National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council.’’. 

SEC. 1842. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON UNITED STATES-RUSSIA COOPERATION AND COORDINATION ON THE PREVENTION 

OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROLIFERATION 

AND TERRORISM. 

It is the sense of the Congress that, as soon as practical, the 

President should engage the President of the Russian Federation in 

a discussion of the purposes and goals for the establishment of the 

Office of the United States Coordinator for the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (in this section 

referred to as the ‘‘Office’’), the authorities and responsibilities of the 

United States Coordinator for the Prevention of Weapons of Mass 

Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (in this section referred to 

as the ‘‘United States Coordinator’’), and the importance of strong 

cooperation between the United States Coordinator and a senior official of the Russian Federation having authorities and responsibilities for preventing weapons of mass destruction proliferation and 

terrorism commensurate with those of the United States Coordinator, and with whom the United States Coordinator should coordinate planning and implementation of activities within and outside 

of the Russian Federation having the purpose of preventing weapons 

of mass destruction proliferation and terrorism. 

Subtitle E—Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of 

Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism 

SEC. 1851. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION ON THE PREVENTION OF 

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROLIFERATION AND 

TERRORISM. 

There is established the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (in this subtitle referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

SEC. 1852. PURPOSES OF COMMISSION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The purposes of the Commission are to—

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(1) assess current activities, initiatives, and programs to 

prevent weapons of mass destruction proliferation and terrorism; and 

(2) provide a clear and comprehensive strategy and concrete 

recommendations for such activities, initiatives, and programs. 

(b) IN PARTICULAR.—The Commission shall give particular attention to activities, initiatives, and programs to secure all nuclear 

weapons-usable material around the world and to significantly accelerate, expand, and strengthen, on an urgent basis, United States 

and international efforts to prevent, stop, and counter the spread of 

nuclear weapons capabilities and related equipment, material, and 

technology to terrorists and states of concern. 

SEC. 1853. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. 

(a) MEMBERS.—The Commission shall be composed of 9 members, of whom—

(1) 1 member shall be appointed by the leader of the Senate 

of the Democratic Party (majority or minority leader, as the 

case may be), with the concurrence of the leader of the House 

of Representatives of the Democratic party (majority or minority 

leader as the case may be), who shall serve as chairman of the 

Commission; 

(2) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior member of 

the Senate leadership of the Democratic party; 

(3) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior member of 

the Senate leadership of the Republican party; 

(4) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior member of 

the leadership of the House of Representatives of the Democratic 

party; and 

(5) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior member of 

the leadership of the House of Representatives of the Republican 

party. 

(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—It is the sense of Congress that individuals appointed to the Commission should be prominent United 

States citizens, with significant depth of experience in the nonproliferation or arms control fields. 

(c) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—All members of the Commission shall be appointed within 90 days of the date of the enactment 

of this Act. 

(d) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall meet and begin 

the operations of the Commission as soon as practicable. 

(e) QUORUM; VACANCIES.—After its initial meeting, the Commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman or a majority of its 

members. Six members of the Commission shall constitute a 

quorum. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, 

but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. 

SEC. 1854. RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMISSION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall address— (1) the roles, missions, and structure of all relevant government departments, agencies, and other actors, including the Office of the United States Coordinator for the Prevention of 

Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism established under subtitle D of this title; 

(2) inter-agency coordination; 

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(3) United States commitments to international regimes 

and cooperation with other countries; and 

(4) the threat of weapons of mass destruction proliferation 

and terrorism to the United States and its interests and allies, 

including the threat posed by black-market networks, and the 

effectiveness of the responses by the United States and the international community to such threats. 

(b) FOLLOW-ON BAKER-CUTLER REPORT.—The Commission shall 

also reassess, and where necessary update and expand on, the conclusions and recommendations of the report titled ‘‘A Report Card 

on the Department of Energy’s Nonproliferation Programs with Russia’’ of January 2001 (also known as the ‘‘Baker-Cutler Report’’) and 

implementation of such recommendations. 

SEC. 1855. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 

(a) HEARINGS AND EVIDENCE.—The Commission or, on the authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, 

may, for the purpose of carrying out this subtitle, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, 

receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission 

or such designate subcommittee or designated member may determine advisable. 

(b) CONTRACTING.—The Commission may, to such extent and in 

such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts, enter into 

contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under 

this subtitle. 

(c) STAFF OF COMMISSION.— (1) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION.—The chairman of 

the Commission, in accordance with rules agreed upon by the 

Commission, may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff 

director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable 

the Commission to carry out its functions, without regard to the 

provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such 

title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, 

except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of 

the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United 

States Code. 

(2) PERSONNEL AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The executive director and any employees of the Commission shall be employees under section 

2105 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of chapters 

63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of that title. 

(B) MEMBERS OF COMMISSION.—Subparagraph (A) 

shall not be construed to apply to members of the Commission. 

(3) DETAILEES.—Any Federal Government employee may be 

detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the 

Commission, and such detailee shall retain the rights, status, 

and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption. 

(4) CONSULTANT SERVICES.—The Commission may procure 

the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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ceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position at level 

IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 

United States Code. 

(5) EMPHASIS ON SECURITY CLEARANCES.—Emphasis shall 

be made to hire employees and retain contractors and detailees 

with active security clearances. 

(d) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission is authorized to secure 

directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, 

commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Government, information, suggestions, estimates, 

and statistics for the purposes of this subtitle. Each department, 

bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by 

law, furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Commission, upon request made by the 

chairman, the chairman of any subcommittee created by a majority of the Commission, or any member designated by a majority of the Commission. 

(2) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, AND DISSEMINATION.—Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff consistent 

with all applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders. 

(e) ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—

(1) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.—The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission on 

a reimbursable basis administrative support and other services 

for the performance of the Commission’s functions. 

(2) OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—In addition to 

the assistance prescribed in paragraph (1), departments and 

agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission 

such services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support services 

as they may determine advisable and as may be authorized by 

law. 

(f) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of 

gifts or donations of services or property. 

(g) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use the United 

States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as 

departments and agencies of the United States. 

SEC. 1856. NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

ACT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 

U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission. 

(b) PUBLIC MEETINGS AND RELEASE OF PUBLIC VERSIONS OF

REPORTS.—The Commission shall—

(1) hold public hearings and meetings to the extent appropriate; and 

(2) release public versions of the report required under section 1857. 

(c) PUBLIC HEARINGS.—Any public hearings of the Commission 

shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the protection of information provided to or developed for or by the Commission as required by any applicable statute, regulation, or Executive order. 

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SEC. 1857. REPORT. 

Not later than 180 days after the appointment of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a 

final report containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations for corrective measures as have been agreed to by a 

majority of Commission members. 

SEC. 1858. TERMINATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, and all the authorities of 

this subtitle, shall terminate 60 days after the date on which the 

final report is submitted under section 1857. 

(b) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES BEFORE TERMINATION.—The 

Commission may use the 60-day period referred to in subsection (a) 

for the purpose of concluding its activities, including providing testimony to committees of Congress concerning its report and disseminating the final report. 

SEC. 1859. FUNDING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated such 

sums as may be necessary for the purposes of the activities of the 

Commission under this title. 

(b) DURATION OF AVAILABILITY.—Amounts made available to 

the Commission under subsection (a) shall remain available until 

the termination of the Commission. 

TITLE XIX—INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON 

ANTITERRORISM TECHNOLOGIES 

SEC. 1901. PROMOTING ANTITERRORISM CAPABILITIES THROUGH 

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

(1) The development and implementation of technology is 

critical to combating terrorism and other high consequence 

events and implementing a comprehensive homeland security 

strategy. 

(2) The United States and its allies in the global war on 

terrorism share a common interest in facilitating research, development, testing, and evaluation of equipment, capabilities, 

technologies, and services that will aid in detecting, preventing, 

responding to, recovering from, and mitigating against acts of 

terrorism. 

(3) Certain United States allies in the global war on terrorism, including Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Singapore have extensive experience with, and technological expertise in, homeland security. 

(4) The United States and certain of its allies in the global 

war on terrorism have a history of successful collaboration in 

developing mutually beneficial equipment, capabilities, technologies, and services in the areas of defense, agriculture, and 

telecommunications. 

(5) The United States and its allies in the global war on 

terrorism will mutually benefit from the sharing of technological expertise to combat domestic and international terrorism. 

(6) The establishment of an office to facilitate and support 

cooperative endeavors between and among government agencies, 

for-profit business entities, academic institutions, and nonprofit 

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entities of the United States and its allies will safeguard lives 

and property worldwide against acts of terrorism and other 

high consequence events. 

(b) PROMOTING ANTITERRORISM THROUGH INTERNATIONAL CO- OPERATION ACT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 

316, as added by section 1101 of this Act, the following: 

‘‘SEC. 317. PROMOTING ANTITERRORISM THROUGH INTERNATIONAL 

COOPERATION PROGRAM. 

‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: ‘‘(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘Director’ means the Director selected under subsection (b)(2). ‘‘(2) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE ACTIVITY.—The term ‘international cooperative activity’ includes— ‘‘(A) coordinated research projects, joint research 

projects, or joint ventures; ‘‘(B) joint studies or technical demonstrations; 

‘‘(C) coordinated field exercises, scientific seminars, 

conferences, symposia, and workshops; ‘‘(D) training of scientists and engineers; 

‘‘(E) visits and exchanges of scientists, engineers, or 

other appropriate personnel; ‘‘(F) exchanges or sharing of scientific and technological information; and ‘‘(G) joint use of laboratory facilities and equipment. ‘‘(b) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HOMELAND SECURITY INTER- NATIONAL COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS OFFICE.— ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Under Secretary shall establish 

the Science and Technology Homeland Security International 

Cooperative Programs Office. ‘‘(2) DIRECTOR.—The Office shall be headed by a Director, 

who— ‘‘(A) shall be selected, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, by and shall report 

to the Under Secretary; and 

‘‘(B) may be an officer of the Department serving in another position. 

‘‘(3) RESPONSIBILITIES.—

‘‘(A) DEVELOPMENT OF MECHANISMS.—The Director 

shall be responsible for developing, in coordination with the 

Department of State and, as appropriate, the Department of 

Defense, the Department of Energy, and other Federal 

agencies, understandings and agreements to allow and to 

support international cooperative activity in support of 

homeland security. 

‘‘(B) PRIORITIES.—The Director shall be responsible for 

developing, in coordination with the Office of International 

Affairs and other Federal agencies, strategic priorities for 

international cooperative activity for the Department in 

support of homeland security. 

‘‘(C) ACTIVITIES.—The Director shall facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of international cooperative activity to address the strategic priorities developed under subparagraph (B) through mechanisms the 

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Under Secretary considers appropriate, including grants, 

cooperative agreements, or contracts to or with foreign public or private entities, governmental organizations, businesses (including small businesses and socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses (as those terms 

are defined in sections 3 and 8 of the Small Business Act 

(15 U.S.C. 632 and 637), respectively)), federally funded research and development centers, and universities. ‘‘(D) IDENTIFICATION OF PARTNERS.—The Director shall 

facilitate the matching of United States entities engaged in 

homeland security research with non-United States entities 

engaged in homeland security research so that they may 

partner in homeland security research activities. 

‘‘(4) COORDINATION.—The Director shall ensure that the activities under this subsection are coordinated with the Office of 

International Affairs and the Department of State and, as appropriate, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and other relevant Federal agencies or interagency bodies. 

The Director may enter into joint activities with other Federal 

agencies. 

‘‘(c) MATCHING FUNDING.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— ‘‘(A) EQUITABILITY.—The Director shall ensure that 

funding and resources expended in international cooperative activity will be equitably matched by the foreign partner government or other entity through direct funding, 

funding of complementary activities, or the provision of 

staff, facilities, material, or equipment. ‘‘(B) GRANT MATCHING AND REPAYMENT.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may require a recipient of a grant under this section—

‘‘(I) to make a matching contribution of not 

more than 50 percent of the total cost of the proposed project for which the grant is awarded; and ‘‘(II) to repay to the Secretary the amount of 

the grant (or a portion thereof), interest on such 

amount at an appropriate rate, and such charges 

for administration of the grant as the Secretary determines appropriate. 

‘‘(ii) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The Secretary may not 

require that repayment under clause (i)(II) be more 

than 150 percent of the amount of the grant, adjusted 

for inflation on the basis of the Consumer Price Index. 

‘‘(2) FOREIGN PARTNERS.—Partners may include Israel, the 

United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and other allies in the global war on terrorism as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary 

of State. 

‘‘(3) LOANS OF EQUIPMENT.—The Director may make or accept loans of equipment for research and development and comparative testing purposes. 

‘‘(d) FOREIGN REIMBURSEMENTS.—If the Science and Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Office participates in an international cooperative activity with a foreign partner on a cost-sharing basis, any reimbursements or conmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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tributions received from that foreign partner to meet its share of the 

project may be credited to appropriate current appropriations accounts of the Directorate of Science and Technology. 

‘‘(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE

ACTIVITIES.—Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 

this section, and every 5 years thereafter, the Under Secretary, acting through the Director, shall submit to Congress a report containing—

‘‘(1) a brief description of each grant, cooperative agreement, or contract made or entered into under subsection 

(b)(3)(C), including the participants, goals, and amount and 

sources of funding; and 

‘‘(2) a list of international cooperative activities underway, 

including the participants, goals, expected duration, and 

amount and sources of funding, including resources provided to 

support the activities in lieu of direct funding. 

‘‘(f) ANIMAL AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES.—As part of the international cooperative activities authorized in this section, the Under 

Secretary, in coordination with the Chief Medical Officer, the Department of State, and appropriate officials of the Department of 

Agriculture, the Department of Defense, and the Department of 

Health and Human Services, may enter into cooperative activities 

with foreign countries, including African nations, to strengthen 

American preparedness against foreign animal and zoonotic diseases overseas that could harm the Nation’s agricultural and public 

health sectors if they were to reach the United States. 

‘‘(g) CONSTRUCTION; AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY OF

STATE.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or affect 

the following provisions of law: 

‘‘(1) Title V of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1979 (22 U.S.C. 2656a et seq.). 

‘‘(2) Section 112b(c) of title 1, United States Code. 

‘‘(3) Section 1(e)(2) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(e)(2)). 

‘‘(4) Sections 2 and 27 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 

U.S.C. 2752 and 22 U.S.C. 2767). 

‘‘(5) Section 622(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 

U.S.C. 2382(c)). 

‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are 

necessary.’’. 

(2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table 

of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

(6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 316, as added by section 1101 of this Act, the 

following: 

‘‘Sec. 317. Promoting antiterrorism through international cooperation program.’’. 

SEC. 1902. TRANSPARENCY OF FUNDS. 

For each Federal award (as that term is defined in section 2 of 

the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 

(31 U.S.C. 6101 note)) under this title or an amendment made by 

this title, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall 

ensure full and timely compliance with the requirements of the Fedmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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eral Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 

U.S.C. 6101 note). 

TITLE XX—9/11 COMMISSION INTERNATIONAL 

IMPLEMENTATION 

SEC. 2001. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘9/11 Commission International 

Implementation Act of 2007’’. 

SEC. 2002. DEFINITION. 

In this title, except as otherwise provided, the term ‘‘appropriate 

congressional committees’’—

(1) means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; 

and 

(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and 

(2) includes, for purposes of subtitle D, the Committees on 

Armed Services of the House of Representatives and of the Senate. 

Subtitle A—Quality Educational Opportunities in 

Predominantly Muslim Countries. 

SEC. 2011. FINDINGS; POLICY. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 

(1) The report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States stated that ‘‘[e]ducation that 

teaches tolerance, the dignity and value of each individual, and 

respect for different beliefs is a key element in any global strategy to eliminate Islamist terrorism’’. (2) The report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States concluded that ensuring educational opportunity is essential to the efforts of the United 

States to defeat global terrorism and recommended that the 

United States Government ‘‘should offer to join with other nations in generously supporting [spending funds] . . . directly for 

building and operating primary and secondary schools in those 

Muslim states that commit to sensibly investing their own 

money in public education’’. (3) While Congress endorsed such a program in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public 

Law 108–458), such a program has not been established. 

(b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States—

(1) to work toward the goal of dramatically increasing the 

availability of modern basic education through public schools 

in predominantly Muslim countries, which will reduce the influence of radical madrassas and other institutions that promote religious extremism; 

(2) to join with other countries in generously supporting the 

International Muslim Youth Opportunity Fund authorized 

under section 7114 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 

Prevention Act of 2004, as amended by section 2012 of this Act, 

with the goal of building and supporting public primary and 

secondary schools in predominantly Muslim countries that commstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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mit to sensibly investing the resources of such countries in modern public education; 

(3) to offer additional incentives to increase the availability 

of modern basic education in predominantly Muslim countries; 

and 

(4) to work to prevent financing of educational institutions 

that support radical Islamic fundamentalism. 

SEC. 2012. INTERNATIONAL MUSLIM YOUTH OPPORTUNITY FUND. 

Section 7114 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 2228) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 7114. INTERNATIONAL MUSLIM YOUTH OPPORTUNITY FUND. 

‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to strengthen the 

public educational systems in predominantly Muslim countries by—

‘‘(1) authorizing the establishment of an International Muslim Youth Educational Fund through which the United States 

dedicates resources, either through a separate fund or through 

an international organization, to assist those countries that 

commit to education reform; and 

‘‘(2) providing resources for the Fund and to the President 

to help strengthen the public educational systems in those countries. 

‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND.—

‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The President is authorized to establish 

an International Muslim Youth Opportunity Fund and to carry 

out programs consistent with paragraph (4) under existing authorities, including the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (commonly referred to as the ‘FulbrightHays Act’). 

‘‘(2) LOCATION.—The Fund may be established—

‘‘(A) as a separate fund in the Treasury; or 

‘‘(B) through an international organization or international financial institution, such as the United Nations 

Educational, Science and Cultural Organization, the 

United Nations Development Program, or the International 

Bank for Reconstruction and Development. 

‘‘(3) TRANSFERS AND RECEIPTS.—The head of any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government may transfer any amount to the Fund, and the Fund may 

receive funds from private enterprises, foreign countries, or 

other entities. 

‘‘(4) ACTIVITIES OF THE FUND.—The Fund shall support 

programs described in this paragraph to improve the education 

environment in predominantly Muslim countries. 

‘‘(A) ASSISTANCE TO ENHANCE MODERN EDUCATIONAL

PROGRAMS.—

‘‘(i) The establishment in predominantly Muslim 

countries of a program of reform to create a modern 

education curriculum in the public educational systems 

in such countries. 

‘‘(ii) The establishment or modernization of educational materials to advance a modern educational 

curriculum in such systems. 

‘‘(iii) Teaching English to adults and children. 

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‘‘(iv) The enhancement in predominantly Muslim 

countries of community, family, and student participation in the formulation and implementation of education strategies and programs in such countries. 

‘‘(B) ASSISTANCE FOR TRAINING AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STUDENTS.—

‘‘(i) The establishment of training programs for 

teachers and educational administrators to enhance 

skills, including the establishment of regional centers 

to train individuals who can transfer such skills upon 

return to their countries. 

‘‘(ii) The establishment of exchange programs for 

teachers and administrators in predominantly Muslim 

countries and with other countries to stimulate additional ideas and reform throughout the world, including teacher training exchange programs focused on primary school teachers in such countries. 

‘‘(iii) The establishment of exchange programs for 

primary and secondary students in predominantly 

Muslim countries and with other countries to foster understanding and tolerance and to stimulate long-standing relationships. 

‘‘(C) ASSISTANCE TARGETING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY

STUDENTS.—

‘‘(i) The establishment in predominantly Muslim 

countries of after-school programs, civic education programs, and education programs focusing on life skills, 

such as interpersonal skills and social relations and 

skills for healthy living, such as nutrition and physical 

fitness. 

‘‘(ii) The establishment in predominantly Muslim 

countries of programs to improve the proficiency of primary and secondary students in information technology skills. 

‘‘(D) ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH PROFESSIONALS.—

‘‘(i) The establishment of programs in predominantly Muslim countries to improve vocational training 

in trades to help strengthen participation of Muslims 

and Arabs in the economic development of their countries. 

‘‘(ii) The establishment of programs in predominantly Muslim countries that target older Muslim 

youths not in school in such areas as entrepreneurial 

skills, accounting, micro-finance activities, work training, financial literacy, and information technology. 

‘‘(E) OTHER TYPES OF ASSISTANCE.—

‘‘(i) The translation of foreign books, newspapers, 

reference guides, and other reading materials into local 

languages. 

‘‘(ii) The construction and equipping of modern 

community and university libraries. 

‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry out this section such sums 

as may be necessary for fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010. ‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to 

the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are 

authorized to remain available until expended. ‘‘(C) ADDITIONAL FUNDS.—Amounts authorized to be 

appropriated under subsection (a) shall be in addition to 

amounts otherwise available for such purposes. 

‘‘(6) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after 

the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter 

until January 30, 2010, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on United States efforts to assist in the improvement of educational opportunities 

for predominantly Muslim children and youths, including the 

progress made toward establishing the International Muslim 

Youth Opportunity Fund. ‘‘(7) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.— In this subsection, the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and 

the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.’’. 

SEC. 2013. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than June 1 of each year until December 31, 2009, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the efforts of predominantly Muslim countries to increase the availability of modern basic 

education and to close educational institutions that promote religious extremism and terrorism. 

(b) CONTENTS.—Each report shall include— (1) a list of predominantly Muslim countries that are making serious and sustained efforts to improve the availability of 

modern basic education and to close educational institutions 

that promote religious extremism and terrorism; 

(2) a list of such countries that are making efforts to improve the availability of modern basic education and to close 

educational institutions that promote religious extremism and 

terrorism, but such efforts are not serious and sustained; 

(3) a list of such countries that are not making efforts to 

improve the availability of modern basic education and to close 

educational institutions that promote religious extremism and 

terrorism; and 

(4) an assessment for each country specified in each of 

paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of the role of United States assistance with respect to the efforts made or not made to improve 

the availability of modern basic education and close educational institutions that promote religious extremism and terrorism. 

SEC. 2014. EXTENSION OF PROGRAM TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO AMERICAN-SPONSORED SCHOOLS IN PREDOMINANTLY MUSLIM 

COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

(1) Section 7113 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 

Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–458; 22 U.S.C. 2452 

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note) authorized the establishment of a pilot program to provide 

grants to American-sponsored schools in predominantly Muslim 

countries so that such schools could provide scholarships to 

young people from lower-income and middle-income families in 

such countries to attend such schools, where they could improve 

their English and be exposed to a modern education. 

(2) Since the date of the enactment of that section, the Middle East Partnership Initiative has pursued implementation of 

that program. 

(b) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 7113 of the Intelligence Reform 

and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 is amended— (A) in the section heading by striking ‘‘PILOT’’; and 

(B) in subsection (c)— (i) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘PILOT’’; 

and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘pilot’’; 

(C) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘pilot’’ each place it 

appears; 

(D) in subsection (f) by striking ‘‘pilot’’; 

(E) in subsection (g), in the first sentence— (i) by inserting ‘‘and April 15, 2008,’’ after ‘‘April 

15, 2006,’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘pilot’’; and 

(F) in subsection (h)— (i) by striking ‘‘2005 and 2006’’ and inserting ‘‘2007 and 2008’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘pilot’’. (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1(b) of such Act is 

amended, in the table of contents, by striking the item relating 

to section 7113 and inserting after section 7112 the following 

new item: 

‘‘7113. Program to provide grants to American-sponsored schools in predominantly 

Muslim countries to provide scholarships.’’. 

Subtitle B—Democracy and Development in the Broader 

Middle East Region 

SEC. 2021. MIDDLE EAST FOUNDATION. 

(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are to support, 

through the provision of grants, technical assistance, training, and 

other programs, in the countries of the broader Middle East region, 

the expansion of— (1) civil society; 

(2) opportunities for political participation for all citizens; 

(3) protections for internationally recognized human rights, 

including the rights of women; 

(4) educational system reforms; 

(5) independent media; 

(6) policies that promote economic opportunities for citizens; 

(7) the rule of law; and 

(8) democratic processes of government. 

(b) MIDDLE EAST FOUNDATION.— (1) DESIGNATION.—The Secretary of State is authorized to 

designate an appropriate private, nonprofit organization that is 

organized or incorporated under the laws of the United States 

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or of a State as the Middle East Foundation (referred to in this 

section as the ‘‘Foundation’’). 

(2) FUNDING.— (A) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of State is authorized 

to provide funding to the Foundation through the Middle 

East Partnership Initiative of the Department of State. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Foundation 

shall use amounts provided under this paragraph to carry 

out the purposes specified in subsection (a), including 

through making grants, using such funds as an endowment, and providing other assistance to entities to carry out 

programs for such purposes. 

(B) FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES.—In determining 

the amount of funding to provide to the Foundation, the 

Secretary of State shall take into consideration the amount 

of funds that the Foundation has received from sources 

other than the United States Government. 

(3) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The 

Secretary of State shall notify the appropriate congressional 

committees of the designation of an appropriate organization as 

the Foundation. 

(c) GRANTS FOR PROJECTS.— (1) FOUNDATION TO MAKE GRANTS.—The Secretary of State 

shall enter into an agreement with the Foundation that requires 

the Foundation to use the funds provided under subsection 

(b)(2) to make grants to persons or entities (other than governments or government entities) located in the broader Middle 

East region or working with local partners based in the broader 

Middle East region to carry out projects that support the purposes specified in subsection (a). 

(2) CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY.—Under the agreement described in paragraph (1), the Foundation may make a grant to 

an institution of higher education located in the broader Middle 

East region to create a center for public policy for the purpose 

of permitting scholars and professionals from the countries of 

the broader Middle East region and from other countries, including the United States, to carry out research, training programs, and other activities to inform public policymaking in the 

broader Middle East region and to promote broad economic, social, and political reform for the people of the broader Middle 

East region. 

(3) APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS.—An entity seeking a grant 

from the Foundation under this section shall submit an application to the head of the Foundation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the head of the Foundation may reasonably require. 

(d) PRIVATE CHARACTER OF THE FOUNDATION.—Nothing in this 

section shall be construed to—

(1) make the Foundation an agency or establishment of the 

United States Government, or to make the officers or employees 

of the Foundation officers or employees of the United States for 

purposes of title 5, United States Code; or 

(2) impose any restriction on the Foundation’s acceptance of 

funds from private and public sources in support of its activities consistent with the purposes specified in subsection (a). 

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(e) LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS TO FOUNDATION PERSONNEL.—No 

part of the funds provided to the Foundation under this section 

shall inure to the benefit of any officer or employee of the Foundation, except as salary or reasonable compensation for services. 

(f) RETENTION OF INTEREST.—The Foundation may hold funds 

provided under this section in interest-bearing accounts prior to the 

disbursement of such funds to carry out the purposes specified in 

subsection (a), and may retain for such purposes any interest earned 

without returning such interest to the Treasury of the United States. 

The Foundation may retain and use such funds as an endowment 

to carry out the purposes specified in subsection (a). 

(g) FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY.—

(1) INDEPENDENT PRIVATE AUDITS OF THE FOUNDATION.—

The accounts of the Foundation shall be audited annually in 

accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by independent certified public accountants or independent licensed 

public accountants certified or licensed by a regulatory authority of a State or other political subdivision of the United States. 

The report of the independent audit shall be included in the annual report required by subsection (h). 

(2) GAO AUDITS.—The financial transactions undertaken 

pursuant to this section by the Foundation may be audited by 

the Government Accountability Office in accordance with such 

principles and procedures and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Comptroller General of the 

United States. 

(3) AUDITS OF GRANT RECIPIENTS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—A recipient of a grant from the Foundation shall agree to permit an audit of the books and 

records of such recipient related to the use of the grant 

funds. 

(B) RECORDKEEPING.—Such recipient shall maintain 

appropriate books and records to facilitate an audit referred to in subparagraph (A), including— (i) separate accounts with respect to the grant 

funds; 

(ii) records that fully disclose the use of the grant 

funds; 

(iii) records describing the total cost of any project 

carried out using grant funds; and 

(iv) the amount and nature of any funds received 

from other sources that were combined with the grant 

funds to carry out a project. 

(h) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than January 31, 2008, and 

annually thereafter, the Foundation shall submit to the appropriate 

congressional committees and make available to the public a report 

that includes, for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year in which the 

report is submitted, a comprehensive and detailed description of—

(1) the operations and activities of the Foundation that 

were carried out using funds provided under this section; 

(2) grants made by the Foundation to other entities with 

funds provided under this section; 

(3) other activities of the Foundation to further the purposes specified in subsection (a); and 

(4) the financial condition of the Foundation. 

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(i) BROADER MIDDLE EAST REGION DEFINED.—In this section, 

the term ‘‘broader Middle East region’’ means Afghanistan, Algeria, 

Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, 

United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. 

(j) REPEAL.—Section 534(k) of Public Law 109–102 is repealed. 

Subtitle C—Reaffirming United States Moral Leadership 

SEC. 2031. ADVANCING UNITED STATES INTERESTS THROUGH PUBLIC 

DIPLOMACY. 

(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that the report of the National 

Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States stated 

that, ‘‘Recognizing that Arab and Muslim audiences rely on satellite 

television and radio, the government has begun some promising initiatives in television and radio broadcasting to the Arab world, 

Iran, and Afghanistan. These efforts are beginning to reach large 

audiences. The Broadcasting Board of Governors has asked for 

much larger resources. It should get them.’’. 

(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the United States needs to improve its communication 

of information and ideas to people in foreign countries, particularly in countries with significant Muslim populations; and 

(2) public diplomacy should reaffirm the paramount commitment of the United States to democratic principles, including preserving the civil liberties of all the people of the United 

States, including Muslim-Americans. 

(c) SPECIAL AUTHORITY FOR SURGE CAPACITY.—The United 

States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6201 et 

seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

‘‘SEC. 316. SPECIAL AUTHORITY FOR SURGE CAPACITY. 

‘‘(a) EMERGENCY AUTHORITY.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Whenever the President determines it to 

be important to the national interests of the United States and 

so certifies to the appropriate congressional committees, the 

President, on such terms and conditions as the President may 

determine, is authorized to direct any department, agency, or 

other entity of the United States to furnish the Broadcasting 

Board of Governors with such assistance outside the United 

States as may be necessary to provide international broadcasting activities of the United States with a surge capacity to 

support United States foreign policy objectives during a crisis 

abroad. 

‘‘(2) SUPERSEDES EXISTING LAW.—The authority of paragraph (1) shall supersede any other provision of law. 

‘‘(3) SURGE CAPACITY DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term 

‘surge capacity’ means the financial and technical resources 

necessary to carry out broadcasting activities in a geographical 

area during a crisis abroad. 

‘‘(4) DURATION.—The President is authorized to exercise the 

authority provided in subsection (a)(1) for a period of up to six 

months, which may be renewed for one additional six month period. 

‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated 

to the President such sums as may be necessary for the President to carry out this section, except that no such amount may 

be appropriated which, when added to amounts previously appropriated for such purpose but not yet obligated, would cause 

such amounts to exceed $25,000,000. ‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in this subsection 

are authorized to remain available until expended. ‘‘(3) DESIGNATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in this 

subsection may be referred to as the ‘United States International Broadcasting Surge Capacity Fund’. ‘‘(c) REPORT.—The annual report submitted to the President 

and Congress by the Broadcasting Board of Governors under section 

305(a)(9) shall provide a detailed description of any activities carried out under this section.’’. 

SEC. 2032. OVERSIGHT OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING. 

(a) TRANSCRIPTION OF PERSIAN AND ARABIC LANGUAGE BROAD- CASTS.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall initiate a pilot 

project to transcribe into the English language news and information programming broadcast by Radio Farda, Radio Sawa, the Persian Service of the Voice of America, and Alhurra. 

(b) RANDOM SAMPLING; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The transcription required under subsection (a) shall consist of a random 

sampling of such programming. The transcripts shall be available 

to Congress and the public on the Internet site of the Board. 

(c) REPORT.—Not later than May 1, 2008, the Chairman of the 

Broadcasting Board of Governors shall submit to the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and Committee on 

Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on the feasibility and utility of continuing the pilot project required under subsection (a). 

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 

to be appropriated to the ‘‘International Broadcasting Operations’’ account of the Broadcasting Board of Governors $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 to carry out the pilot project required under subsection 

(a). 

SEC. 2033. EXPANSION OF UNITED STATES SCHOLARSHIP, EXCHANGE, 

AND LIBRARY PROGRAMS IN PREDOMINANTLY MUSLIM 

COUNTRIES. 

(a) REPORT; CERTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 days after the 

date of the enactment of this Act and every 180 days thereafter until 

December 31, 2009, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the recommendations of 

the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United 

States and the policy goals described in section 7112 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 

108–458) for expanding United States scholarship, exchange, and library programs in predominantly Muslim countries. Such report 

shall include—

(1) a certification by the Secretary of State that such recommendations have been implemented; or 

(2) if the Secretary of State is unable to make the certification described in paragraph (1), a description of—

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(A) the steps taken to implement such recommendations 

and achieve such policy goals; 

(B) when the Secretary of State expects such recommendations to be implemented and such policy goals to 

be achieved; and 

(C) any allocation of resources or other actions by Congress the Secretary of State considers necessary to implement such recommendations and achieve such policy goals. 

(b) TERMINATION OF DUTY TO REPORT.—The duty to submit a 

report under subsection (a) shall terminate when the Secretary of 

State submits a certification pursuant to paragraph (1) of such subsection. 

SEC. 2034. UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD DETAINEES. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

(1) The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon 

the United States (commonly referred to as the ‘‘9/11 Commission’’) declared that the United States ‘‘should work with 

friends to develop mutually agreed-on principles for the detention and humane treatment of captured international terrorists 

who are not being held under a particular country’s criminal 

laws’’ and recommended that the United States engage its allies 

‘‘to develop a common coalition approach toward the detention 

and humane treatment of captured terrorists’’. 

(2) A number of investigations remain ongoing by countries 

that are close United States allies in the war on terrorism regarding the conduct of officials, employees, and agents of the 

United States and of other countries related to conduct regarding detainees. 

(3) The Secretary of State has launched an initiative to try 

to address the differences between the United States and many 

of its allies regarding the treatment of detainees. 

(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that the 

Secretary, acting through the Legal Adviser of the Department of 

State, should continue to build on the Secretary’s efforts to engage 

United States allies to develop a common coalition approach, in 

compliance with Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and 

other applicable legal principles, toward the detention and humane 

treatment of individuals detained during Operation Iraqi Freedom, 

Operation Enduring Freedom, or in connection with United States 

counterterrorist operations. 

(c) REPORTING TO CONGRESS.—

(1) BRIEFINGS.—The Secretary of State shall keep the appropriate congressional committees fully and currently informed 

of the progress of any discussions between the United States 

and its allies regarding the development of the common coalition approach described in subsection (b). 

(2) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation 

with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense, shall 

submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 

any progress towards developing the common coalition approach described in subsection (b). 

(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means—

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(1) with respect to the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, 

the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Permanent Select 

Committee on Intelligence; and 

(2) with respect to the Senate, the Committee on Foreign 

Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 

the Judiciary, and the Select Committee on Intelligence. 

Subtitle D—Strategy for the United States Relationship With 

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia 

SEC. 2041. AFGHANISTAN. 

(a) CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

(1) A democratic, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan is 

vital to the national security of the United States and to combating international terrorism. 

(2) Following the ouster of the Taliban regime in 2001, the 

Government of Afghanistan, with assistance from the United 

States and the international community, has achieved some notable successes, including— (A) adopting a constitution; 

(B) holding presidential, parliamentary, and provincial 

council elections; 

(C) improving the protection of human rights, including women’s rights; and 

(D) expanding educational opportunities. 

(3) The following factors pose a serious and immediate 

threat to the stability of Afghanistan: 

(A) Taliban and anti-government forces, al Qaeda, and 

criminal networks. 

(B) Drug trafficking and corruption. 

(C) Weak institutions of administration, security, and 

justice, including pervasive lack of the rule of law. 

(D) Poverty, unemployment, and lack of provision of 

basic services. 

(4) The United States and the international community 

must significantly increase political, economic, and military 

support to Afghanistan to ensure its long-term stability and 

prosperity, and to deny violent extremist groups such as al 

Qaeda sanctuary in Afghanistan. 

(b) STATEMENTS OF POLICY.—The following shall be the policies 

of the United States: 

(1) The United States shall vigorously support the people 

and Government of Afghanistan as they continue to commit to 

the path toward a government representing and protecting the 

rights of all Afghans, and shall maintain its long-term commitment to the people of Afghanistan by increased assistance and 

the continued deployment of United States troops in Afghanistan as long as the Government of Afghanistan supports such 

United States involvement. 

(2) In order to reduce the ability of the Taliban and al 

Qaeda to finance their operations through the opium trade, the 

President shall engage aggressively with the Government of Afghanistan, countries in the region or otherwise influenced by 

the trade and transit of narcotics, as well as North Atlantic 

Treaty Organization (NATO) partners of the United States, and 

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in consultation with Congress, to assess the success of the current Afghan counter-narcotics strategy and to explore additional 

options for addressing the narcotics crisis in Afghanistan, including possible changes in rules of engagement for NATO and 

Coalition forces for participation in actions against narcotics 

trafficking and kingpins, and the provision of comprehensive 

assistance to farmers who rely on opium for their livelihood, including through the promotion of alternative crops and livelihoods. 

(3) The United States shall continue to work with and provide assistance to the Government of Afghanistan to strengthen 

local and national government institutions and the rule of law, 

including the training of judges and prosecutors, and to train 

and equip the Afghan National Security Forces. 

(4) The United States shall continue to call on NATO members participating in operations in Afghanistan to meet their 

commitments to provide forces and equipment, and to lift restrictions on how such forces can be deployed. 

(5) The United States shall continue to foster greater understanding and cooperation between the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan by taking the following actions: 

(A) Facilitating greater communication, including 

through official mechanisms such as the Tripartite Commission and the Joint Intelligence Operations Center, and 

by promoting other forms of exchange between the parliaments and civil society of the two countries. 

(B) Urging the Government of Afghanistan to enter into 

a political dialogue with Pakistan with respect to all issues 

relating to the border between the two countries, with the 

aim of establishing a mutually-recognized and monitored 

border, open to human and economic exchange, and with 

both countries fully responsible for border security. 

(c) STATEMENT OF CONGRESS.—Congress strongly urges that the 

Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) 

be reauthorized and updated to take into account new developments 

in Afghanistan and in the region so as to demonstrate the continued 

support by the United States for the people and Government of Afghanistan. 

(d) EMERGENCY INCREASE IN EFFECTIVE POLICE TRAINING AND

POLICING OPERATIONS.—

(1) CONGRESSIONAL FINDING.—Congress finds that police 

training programs in Afghanistan have achieved far less return 

on substantial investment to date and require a substantive review and justification of the means and purposes of such assistance, consequent to any provision of additional resources. 

(2) ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.—The President shall make 

increased efforts, on an urgent basis, to—

(A) dramatically improve the capability and effectiveness of United States and international police trainers, 

mentors, and police personnel for police training programs 

in Afghanistan, as well as develop a pretraining screening 

program; 

(B) increase the numbers of such trainers, mentors, and 

personnel only if such increase is determined to improve the 

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performance and capabilities of the Afghanistan civil security forces; and 

(C) assist the Government of Afghanistan, in conjunction with the Afghanistan civil security forces and their 

leadership, in addressing the corruption crisis that is 

threatening to undermine Afghanistan’s future. 

(3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, and every six months thereafter until 

September 30, 2010, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on United States efforts to fulfill the requirements of this subsection. The report required by this paragraph may be transmitted concurrently with 

any similar report required by the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002. 

SEC. 2042. PAKISTAN. 

(a) CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

(1) A democratic, stable, and prosperous Pakistan that is a 

full and reliable partner in the struggle against the Taliban, al 

Qaeda, and other terrorist groups, and is a responsible steward 

of its nuclear weapons and technology, is vital to the national 

security of the United States. 

(2) Since September 11, 2001, the Government of Pakistan 

has been a critical ally and an important partner in removing 

the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and combating al Qaeda. 

(3) Pakistan has made great sacrifices in the shared struggle against al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist groups, engaging in 

military operations that have led to the deaths of hundreds of 

Pakistani security personnel and enduring acts of terrorism 

that have killed hundreds of Pakistani civilians. 

(4) Publicly-stated goals of the Government of Pakistan and 

the national interests of the United States are in close agreement in many areas, including— (A) curbing the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology; 

(B) combating poverty and corruption; 

(C) enabling effective government institutions, including public education; 

(D) promoting democracy and the rule of law, particularly at the national level; 

(E) addressing the continued presence of Taliban and 

other violent extremist forces throughout the country; 

(F) maintaining the authority of the Government of 

Pakistan in all parts of its national territory; 

(G) securing the borders of Pakistan to prevent the 

movement of militants and terrorists into other countries 

and territories; and 

(H) effectively dealing with violent extremism. 

(5) The opportunity exists for shared effort in helping to 

achieve correlative goals with the Government of Pakistan, particularly—

(A) increased United States assistance to Pakistan, as 

appropriate, to achieve progress in meeting the goals of 

subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (4); 

(B) increased commitment on the part of the Government of Pakistan to achieve the goals of paragraph (4)(D), 

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particularly given continued concerns, based on the conduct 

of previous elections, regarding whether parliamentary elections scheduled for 2007 will be free, fair, and inclusive of 

all political parties and carried out in full accordance with 

internationally-recognized democratic norms; and 

(C) increased commitment on the part of the Government of Pakistan to take actions described in paragraph 

(4)(E), particularly given—

(i) the continued operation of the Taliban’s Quetta 

shura, as noted by then-North Atlantic Treaty Organization Supreme Allied Commander General James 

Jones in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations 

Committee on September 21, 2006; and 

(ii) the continued operation of al Qaeda affiliates 

Lashkar-e Taiba and Jaish-e Muhammad, sometimes 

under different names, as demonstrated by the lack of 

meaningful action taken against Hafiz Muhammad 

Saeed, Maulana Masood Azhar, and other known leaders and members of such terrorist organizations; and 

(D) increased commitment on the part of the Government of the United States in regard to working with all elements of Pakistan society in helping to achieve the correlative goals described in subparagraphs (A) through (H) of 

paragraph (4). 

(b) STATEMENTS OF POLICY.—The following shall be the policy 

of the United States: 

(1) To maintain and deepen its friendship and long-term 

strategic relationship with Pakistan. 

(2) To work with the Government of Pakistan to combat 

international terrorism, especially in the frontier provinces of 

Pakistan, and to end the use of Pakistan as a safe haven for 

terrorist groups, including those associated with al Qaeda or 

the Taliban. 

(3) To support robust funding for programs of the United 

States Agency for International Development and the Department of State that assist the Government of Pakistan in working toward the goals described in subsection (a)(4), as the Government of Pakistan demonstrates a clear commitment to building a moderate, democratic state. 

(4) To work with the international community to secure additional financial and political support to effectively implement 

the policies set forth in this subsection. 

(5) To facilitate a just resolution of the dispute over the territory of Kashmir, to the extent that such facilitation is invited 

and welcomed by the Governments of Pakistan and India and 

by the people of Kashmir. 

(6) To facilitate greater communication and cooperation between the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan for the improvement of bilateral relations and cooperation in combating 

terrorism in both countries. 

(7) To work with the Government of Pakistan to dismantle 

existing proliferation networks and prevent the proliferation of 

nuclear technology. 

(c) STRATEGY RELATING TO PAKISTAN.—

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(1) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON STRATEGY.—Not later 

than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that describes the long-term strategy of the 

United States to engage with the Government of Pakistan to 

achieve the goals described in subparagraphs (A) through (H) 

of subsection (a)(4) and to carry out the policies described in 

subsection (b). 

(2) FORM.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 

transmitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 

annex, if necessary. 

(d) LIMITATION ON UNITED STATES SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO

PAKISTAN.—

(1) LIMITATION.—For fiscal year 2008, United States assistance under chapter 2 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act 

of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2311 et seq.) or section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763) may not be provided to, and 

a license for any item controlled under the Arms Export Control 

Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) may not be approved for, Pakistan 

until the President transmits to the appropriate congressional 

committees a report that contains a determination of the President that the Government of Pakistan—

(A) is committed to eliminating from Pakistani territory any organization such as the Taliban, al Qaeda, or 

any successor, engaged in military, insurgent, or terrorist 

activities in Afghanistan; 

(B) is undertaking a comprehensive military, legal, economic, and political campaign to achieving the goal described in subparagraph (A); and 

(C) is currently making demonstrated, significant, and 

sustained progress toward eliminating support or safe 

haven for terrorists. 

(2) MEMORANDUM OF JUSTIFICATION.—The President shall 

include in the report required by paragraph (1) a memorandum 

of justification setting forth the basis for the President’s determination under paragraph (1). 

(3) FORM.—The report required by paragraph (1) and the 

memorandum of justification required by paragraph (2) shall 

be transmitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex, if necessary. 

(e) NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION.—

(1) CONGRESSIONAL FINDING.—Congress finds that the 

maintenance by any country of a procurement or supply network for the illicit proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies would be inconsistent with that country being considered an ally of the United States. 

(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 

the national security interest of the United States will best be 

served if the United States develops and implements a longterm strategy to improve the United States relationship with 

Pakistan and works with the Government of Pakistan to stop 

nuclear proliferation. 

(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to 

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ance described in subsection (d)(1) for Pakistan for fiscal year 

2008 in accordance with the requirements of subsection (d)(1). 

(2) OTHER FUNDS.—Amounts authorized to be appropriated 

under this subsection are in addition to amounts otherwise 

available for such purposes. 

(3) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—Congress declares that the 

amount of funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of 

appropriations under paragraph (1) and for subsequent fiscal 

years shall be determined by the extent to which the Government of Pakistan displays demonstrable progress in—

(A) preventing al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations from operating in the territory of Pakistan, including 

eliminating terrorist training camps or facilities, arresting 

members and leaders of terrorist organizations, and countering recruitment efforts; 

(B) preventing the Taliban from using the territory of 

Pakistan as a sanctuary from which to launch attacks 

within Afghanistan, including by arresting Taliban leaders, stopping cross-border incursions, and countering recruitment efforts; and 

(C) implementing democratic reforms, including allowing free, fair, and inclusive elections at all levels of government in accordance with internationally-recognized democratic norms, and respecting the independence of the press 

and judiciary. 

(4) BIANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall submit 

to the appropriate congressional committees a biannual report describing in detail the extent to which the Government of Pakistan has displayed demonstrable progress in 

meeting the goals described in subparagraphs (A) through 

(C) of paragraph (3). 

(B) SCHEDULE FOR SUBMISSION.—The report required 

by subparagraph (A) shall be submitted not later than 

April 15 and October 15 of each year until October 15, 

2009. 

(C) FORM.—The report required by subparagraph (A) 

shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a 

classified annex, if necessary. 

(g) EXTENSION OF WAIVERS.—

(1) AMENDMENTS.—The Act entitled ‘‘An Act to authorize 

the President to exercise waivers of foreign assistance restrictions with respect to Pakistan through September 30, 2003, and 

for other purposes’’, approved October 27, 2001 (Public Law 

107–57; 115 Stat. 403), is amended—

(A) in section 1(b)—

(i) in the heading, to read as follows: 

‘‘(b) FISCAL YEARS 2007 AND 2008—’’; and 

(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘any provision’’

and all that follows through ‘‘that prohibits’’ and inserting ‘‘any provision of an Act making appropriations 

for foreign operations, export financing, and related 

programs appropriations for fiscal year 2007 or 2008 

(or any other appropriations Act) that prohibits’’; 

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(B) in section 3(2), by striking ‘‘Such provision’’ and all 

that follows through ‘‘as are’’ and inserting ‘‘Such provision 

of an Act making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs appropriations for fiscal years 2002 through 2008 (or any other appropriations 

Act) as are’’; and 

(C) in section 6, by striking ‘‘the provisions’’ and all 

that follows and inserting ‘‘the provisions of this Act shall 

terminate on October 1, 2008.’’. 

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by paragraph (1) take effect on October 1, 2006. 

(3) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 

determinations to provide extensions of waivers of foreign assistance prohibitions with respect to Pakistan pursuant to Public Law 107–57 for fiscal years after the fiscal years specified 

in the amendments made by paragraph (1) to Public Law 107–

57 should be informed by demonstrable progress in achieving 

the goals described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (f)(3). 

SEC. 2043. SAUDI ARABIA. 

(a) CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.—Congress finds that: 

(1) The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon 

the United States concluded that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 

has ‘‘been a problematic ally in combating Islamic extremism. 

At the level of high policy, Saudi Arabia’s leaders cooperated 

with American diplomatic initiatives aimed at the Taliban or 

Pakistan before 9/11. At the same time, Saudi Arabia’s society 

was a place where al Qaeda raised money directly from individuals and through charities. It was the society that produced 15 

of the 19 hijackers.’’. 

(2) Saudi Arabia has an uneven record in the fight against 

terrorism, especially with respect to terrorist financing, support 

for radical madrassas, a lack of political outlets for its citizens, 

and restrictions on religious pluralism, that poses a threat to 

the security of the United States, the international community, 

and Saudi Arabia itself. 

(3) The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon 

the United States concluded that the ‘‘problems in the U.S.- 

Saudi relationship must be confronted, openly’’. It recommended that the two countries build a relationship that includes a ‘‘shared commitment to political and economic reform 

. . . and a shared interest in greater tolerance and cultural respect, translating into a commitment to fight the violent extremists who foment hatred’’. 

(4) The United States has a national security interest in 

working with the Government of Saudi Arabia to combat international terrorists that operate within that country or that operate outside Saudi Arabia with the support of citizens of Saudi 

Arabia. 

(5) The United States and Saudi Arabia established a Strategic Dialogue in 2005, which provides a framework for the two 

countries to discuss a range of bilateral issues at high levels, including counterterrorism policy and political and economic reforms. 

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(6) It is in the national security interest of the United 

States to support the Government of Saudi Arabia in undertaking a number of political and economic reforms, including 

increasing anti-terrorism operations conducted by law enforcement agencies, providing more political and religious rights to 

its citizens, increasing the rights of women, engaging in comprehensive educational reform, enhancing monitoring of charitable organizations, and promulgating and enforcing domestic 

laws and regulation on terrorist financing. 

(b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the United 

States—

(1) to engage with the Government of Saudi Arabia to openly confront the issue of terrorism, as well as other problematic 

issues such as the lack of political freedoms; 

(2) to enhance counterterrorism cooperation with the Government of Saudi Arabia; and 

(3) to support the efforts of the Government of Saudi Arabia 

to make political, economic, and social reforms, including greater religious freedom, throughout the country. 

(c) PROGRESS IN COUNTERTERRORISM AND OTHER COOPERATION.—

(1) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that—

(A) describes the long-term strategy of the United 

States—

(i) to engage with the Government of Saudi Arabia 

to facilitate political, economic, and social reforms, including greater religious freedom, that will enhance the 

ability of the Government of Saudi Arabia to combat 

international terrorism; and 

(ii) to work with the Government of Saudi Arabia 

to combat terrorism, including through effective measures to prevent and prohibit the financing of terrorists 

by Saudi institutions and citizens; and 

(B) provides an assessment of the progress made by 

Saudi Arabia since 2001 on the matters described in subparagraph (A), including—

(i) whether Saudi Arabia has become a party to 

the International Convention for the Suppression of the 

Financing of Terrorism; and 

(ii) the activities and authority of the Saudi Nongovernmental National Commission for Relief and 

Charity Work Abroad. 

(2) FORM.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 

transmitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 

annex, if necessary. 

TITLE XXI—ADVANCING DEMOCRATIC VALUES 

SEC. 2101. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Advance Democratic Values, Address Nondemocratic Countries, and Enhance Democracy Act of 

2007’’ or the ‘‘ADVANCE Democracy Act of 2007’’. 

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SEC. 2102. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds the following: 

(1) The United States Declaration of Independence, the 

United States Constitution, and the United Nations Universal 

Declaration of Human Rights declare that all human beings 

are created equal and possess certain rights and freedoms, including the fundamental right to participate in the political life 

and government of their respective countries. 

(2) The development of democracy constitutes a long-term 

challenge that goes through unique phases and paces in individual countries as such countries develop democratic institutions such as a thriving civil society, a free media, and an independent judiciary, and must be led from within such countries, 

including by nongovernmental and governmental reformers. 

(3) Individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and movements that support democratic principles, practices, and values 

are under increasing pressure from some governments of nondemocratic countries (as well as, in some cases, from governments of democratic transition countries), including by using 

administrative and regulatory mechanisms to undermine the 

activities of such individuals, organizations, and movements. 

(4) Democratic countries have a number of instruments 

available for supporting democratic reformers who are committed to promoting effective, nonviolent change in nondemocratic countries and who are committed to keeping their countries on the path to democracy. 

(5) United States efforts to promote democracy and protect 

human rights can be strengthened to improve assistance for 

such reformers, including through an enhanced role for United 

States diplomats when properly trained and given the right incentives. 

(6) The promotion of democracy requires a broad-based effort with cooperation between all democratic countries, including through the Community of Democracies. 

SEC. 2103. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

It is the policy of the United States—

(1) to promote freedom and democracy in foreign countries 

as a fundamental component of United States foreign policy, 

along with other key foreign policy goals; 

(2) to affirm fundamental freedoms and internationally recognized human rights in foreign countries, as reflected in the 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International 

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to condemn offenses against those freedoms and rights as a fundamental component of United States foreign policy, along with other key foreign policy goals; 

(3) to protect and promote such fundamental freedoms and 

rights, including the freedoms of association, of expression, of 

the press, and of religion, and the right to own private property; 

(4) to commit to the long-term challenge of promoting universal democracy by promoting democratic institutions, including institutions that support the rule of law (such as an independent judiciary), an independent and professional media, 

strong legislatures, a thriving civil society, transparent and professional independent governmental auditing agencies, civilian 

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control of the military, and institutions that promote the rights 

of minorities and women; 

(5) to use instruments of United States influence to support, 

promote, and strengthen democratic principles, practices, and 

values, including the right to free, fair, and open elections, secret balloting, and universal suffrage, including by—

(A) providing appropriate support to individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and movements located in 

nondemocratic countries that aspire to live in freedom and 

establish full democracy in such countries; and 

(B) providing political, economic, and other support to 

foreign countries and individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and movements that are willingly undertaking a 

transition to democracy; and 

(6) to strengthen cooperation with other democratic countries in order to better promote and defend shared values and 

ideals. 

SEC. 2104. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title: 

(1) ANNUAL REPORT ON ADVANCING FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.—The term ‘‘Annual Report on Advancing Freedom and 

Democracy’’ refers to the annual report submitted to Congress 

by the Department of State pursuant to section 665(c) of the 

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public 

Law 107–228; 22 U.S.C. 2151n note), in which the Department 

reports on actions taken by the United States Government to encourage respect for human rights and democracy. 

(2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 

‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means the Committee 

on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 

Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. 

(3) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assistant Secretary’’

means the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human 

Rights, and Labor. 

(4) COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES AND COMMUNITY.—The 

terms ‘‘Community of Democracies’’ and ‘‘Community’’ mean the 

association of democratic countries committed to the global promotion of democratic principles, practices, and values, which 

held its First Ministerial Conference in Warsaw, Poland, in 

June 2000. 

(5) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ means the Department of State. 

(6) NONDEMOCRATIC COUNTRY OR DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION

COUNTRY.—The term ‘‘nondemocratic country’’ or ‘‘democratic 

transition country’’ shall include any country which is not governed by a fully functioning democratic form of government, as 

determined by the Secretary, taking into account the general 

consensus regarding the status of civil and political rights in a 

country by major nongovernmental organizations that conduct 

assessments of such conditions in countries and whether the 

country exhibits the following characteristics: 

(A) All citizens of such country have the right to, and 

are not restricted in practice from, fully and freely participating in the political life of such country. 

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(B) The national legislative body of such country and, 

if directly elected, the head of government of such country, 

are chosen by free, fair, open, and periodic elections, by universal and equal suffrage, and by secret ballot. 

(C) More than one political party in such country has 

candidates who seek elected office at the national level and 

such parties are not restricted in their political activities or 

their process for selecting such candidates, except for reasonable administrative requirements commonly applied in 

countries categorized as fully democratic. 

(D) All citizens in such country have a right to, and are 

not restricted in practice from, fully exercising such fundamental freedoms as the freedom of expression, conscience, 

and peaceful assembly and association, and such country 

has a free, independent, and pluralistic media. 

(E) The current government of such country did not 

come to power in a manner contrary to the rule of law. 

(F) Such country possesses an independent judiciary 

and the government of such country generally respects the 

rule of law. 

(G) Such country does not violate other core principles 

enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the Universal 

Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant 

on Civil and Political Rights, United Nations Commission 

on Human Rights Resolution 1499/57 (entitled ‘‘Promotion 

of the Right to Democracy’’), and the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/96 (entitled ‘‘Promoting and 

consolidating democracy’’). 

(H) As applicable, whether the country has scored favorably on the political, civil liberties, corruption, and rule 

of law indicators used to determine eligibility for financial 

assistance disbursed from the Millennium Challenge Account. 

(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of State. 

Subtitle A—Activities to Enhance the Promotion of 

Democracy 

SEC. 2111. DEMOCRACY PROMOTION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 

(a) DEMOCRACY LIAISON OFFICERS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall establish and 

staff Democracy Liaison Officer positions. Democracy Liaison 

Officers shall serve under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary. Democracy Liaison Officers may be assigned to the following posts: 

(A) United States missions to, or liaisons with, regional 

and multilateral organizations, including the United States 

missions to the European Union, African Union, Organization of American States, and any other appropriate regional organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations and its relevant 

specialized agencies, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 

(B) Regional public diplomacy centers of the Department of State. 

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(C) United States combatant commands. 

(D) Other posts as designated by the Secretary. 

(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—Each Democracy Liaison Officer 

should—

(A) provide expertise on effective approaches to promote 

and build democracy; 

(B) assist in formulating and implementing strategies 

for transitions to democracy; and 

(C) carry out such other responsibilities as the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary may assign. 

(3) NEW POSITIONS.—To the fullest extent practicable, taking into consideration amounts appropriated to carry out this 

subsection and personnel available for assignment to the positions described in paragraph (1), the Democracy Liaison Officer 

positions established under subsection (a) shall be new positions 

that are in addition to existing positions with responsibility for 

other human rights and democracy related issues and programs, including positions with responsibility for labor issues. 

(4) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this 

subsection may be construed as altering any authority or responsibility of a chief of mission or other employee of a diplomatic mission of the United States provided under any other 

provision of law, including any authority or responsibility for 

the development or implementation of strategies to promote democracy. 

(b) OFFICE RELATED TO DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENTS AND TRANSI- TIONS.—(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be identified within the 

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the Department at least one office that shall be responsible for working 

with democratic movements and facilitating the transition to 

full democracy of nondemocratic countries and democratic transition countries. 

(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Assistant Secretary shall, including by acting through the office or offices identified pursuant to paragraph (1)—

(A) provide support for Democratic Liaison Officers established under subsection (a); 

(B) develop relations with, consult with, and provide 

assistance to nongovernmental organizations, individuals, 

and movements that are committed to the peaceful promotion of democracy and fundamental rights and freedoms, including fostering relationships with the United 

States Government and the governments of other democratic countries; and 

(C) assist officers and employees of regional bureaus of 

the Department to develop strategies and programs to promote peaceful change in nondemocratic countries and 

democratic transition countries. 

(3) LIAISON.—Within the Bureau of Democracy, Human 

Rights, and Labor, the Assistant Secretary shall identify officers or employees who have expertise in and shall be responsible 

for working with nongovernmental organizations, individuals, 

and movements that develop relations with, consult with, and 

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uals, and movements in foreign countries that are committed to 

the peaceful promotion of democracy and fundamental rights 

and freedoms. 

(c) ACTIONS BY CHIEFS OF MISSION.—Each chief of mission in 

each nondemocratic country or democratic transition country 

should—

(1) develop, as part of annual program planning, a strategy 

to promote democratic principles, practices, and values in each 

such foreign country and to provide support, as appropriate, to 

nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements in 

each such country that are committed to democratic principles, 

practices, and values, such as by—

(A) consulting and coordinating with and providing 

support to such nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements regarding the promotion of democracy; 

(B) issuing public condemnations of violations of internationally recognized human rights, including violations of 

religious freedom, and visiting local landmarks and other 

local sites associated with nonviolent protest in support of 

democracy and freedom from oppression; and 

(C) holding periodic meetings with such nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements to discuss democracy and political, social, and economic freedoms; 

(2) hold ongoing discussions with the leaders of each such 

nondemocratic country or democratic transition country regarding progress toward a democratic system of governance and the 

development of political, social, and economic freedoms and respect for human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, 

in such country; and 

(3) conduct meetings with civil society, interviews with 

media that can directly reach citizens of each such country, and 

discussions with students and young people of each such country regarding progress toward a democratic system of governance and the development of political, social, and economic freedoms in each such country. 

(d) RECRUITMENT.—The Secretary should seek to increase the 

proportion of members of the Foreign Service who serve in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 

(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 

to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary 

to carry out this section. 

SEC. 2112. DEMOCRACY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 

(a) REQUIREMENT FOR PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall establish 

a Democracy Fellowship Program to enable officers of the Department to gain an additional perspective on democracy promotion in 

foreign countries by working on democracy issues in appropriate 

congressional offices or congressional committees with oversight over 

the subject matter of this title, including the Committee on Foreign 

Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and international or nongovernmental organizations involved in democracy promotion. 

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(b) SELECTION AND PLACEMENT.—The Assistant Secretary shall 

play a central role in the selection of Democracy Fellows and facilitate their placement in appropriate congressional offices, congressional committees, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations. 

SEC. 2113. INVESTIGATIONS OF VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, with the assistance of the Secretary, the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, and the Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, shall 

collect information regarding incidents that may constitute crimes 

against humanity, genocide, slavery, or other violations of international humanitarian law. 

(b) ACCOUNTABILITY.—The President shall consider what actions can be taken to ensure that any government of a country or 

the leaders or senior officials of such government who are responsible for crimes against humanity, genocide, slavery, or other violations of international humanitarian law identified under subsection 

(a) are brought to account for such crimes in an appropriately constituted tribunal. 

Subtitle B—Strategies and Reports on Human Rights and the 

Promotion of Democracy 

SEC. 2121. STRATEGIES, PRIORITIES, AND ANNUAL REPORT. 

(a) EXPANSION OF COUNTRY-SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE

DEMOCRACY.—

(1) COMMENDATION.—Congress commends the Secretary for 

the ongoing work by the Department to develop country-specific 

strategies for promoting democracy. 

(2) EXPANSION.—The Secretary shall expand the development of such strategies to all nondemocratic countries and 

democratic transition countries. 

(3) BRIEFINGS.—The Secretary shall keep the appropriate 

congressional committees fully and currently informed as such 

strategies are developed. 

(b) REPORT TITLE.—Section 665(c) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107–228; 22 U.S.C. 

2151n note) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting ‘‘entitled 

the Annual Report on Advancing Freedom and Democracy’’ before 

the period at the end. 

(c) ENHANCED REPORT.—The Annual Report on Advancing 

Freedom and Democracy shall include, as appropriate—

(1) United States priorities for the promotion of democracy 

and the protection of human rights for each nondemocratic 

country and democratic transition country, developed in consultation with relevant parties in such countries; and 

(2) specific actions and activities of chiefs of missions and 

other United States officials to promote democracy and protect 

human rights in each such country. 

(d) SCHEDULE OF SUBMISSION.—Section 665(c) of the Foreign 

Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107–228; 

22 U.S.C. 2151n note) is amended, in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘30 days’’ and inserting ‘‘90 days’’. 

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SEC. 2122. TRANSLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall continue to expand the 

timely translation of the applicable parts of the Country Reports on 

Human Rights Practices required under sections 116(d) and 

502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) 

and 2304(b)), the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom required under section 102(b) of the International Religious 

Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)), the Trafficking in Persons 

Report required under section 110(b) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7107(b)), and any separate report on 

democracy and human rights policy submitted in accordance with 

section 665(c) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal 

Year 2003 (Public Law 107–228; 22 U.S.C. 2151n note) into the 

principal languages of as many countries as possible, with particular emphasis on nondemocratic countries, democratic transition 

countries, and countries in which extrajudicial killings, torture, or 

other serious violations of human rights have occurred. 

(b) REPORT.—

(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than April 1, 2008, and annually thereafter through 2010, the Secretary shall submit to 

the appropriate congressional committees a report describing 

any translations of the reports specified in subsection (a) for the 

preceding year, including which of such reports have been 

translated into which principal languages and the countries in 

which such translations have been distributed by posting on a 

relevant website or elsewhere. 

(2) FORM.—The report required under paragraph (1) may 

be included in any separate report on democracy and human 

rights policy submitted in accordance with section 665(c) of the 

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003. 

Subtitle C—Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion 

and the Internet Website of the Department of State 

SEC. 2131. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DEMOCRACY PROMOTION. 

Congress commends the Secretary for creating an Advisory 

Committee on Democracy Promotion, and it is the sense of Congress 

that the Committee should play a significant role in the Department’s transformational diplomacy by advising the Secretary regarding United States efforts to promote democracy and democratic 

transition in connection with the formulation and implementation 

of United States foreign policy and foreign assistance, including reviewing and making recommendations on—

(1) how to improve the capacity of the Department to promote democracy and human rights; and 

(2) how to improve foreign assistance programs related to 

the promotion of democracy. 

SEC. 2132. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE INTERNET WEBSITE 

OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 

It is the sense of Congress that in order to facilitate access by 

individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and movements in foreign countries to documents, streaming video and audio, and other 

media regarding democratic principles, practices, and values, and 

the promotion and strengthening of democracy, the Secretary should 

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racy and human rights of the Department, which should include, 

where practicable, the following: 

(1) Narratives and histories, published by the United States 

Government, of significant democratic movements in foreign 

countries, particularly regarding successful nonviolent campaigns to promote democracy in non-democratic countries and 

democratic transition countries. 

(2) Narratives, published by the United States Government, 

relating to the importance of the establishment of and respect 

for internationally recognized human rights, democratic principles, practices, and values, and other fundamental freedoms. 

(3) Major human rights reports by the United States Government, including translations of such materials, as appropriate. 

(4) Any other documents, references, or links to appropriate 

external Internet websites (such as websites of international or 

nongovernmental organizations), including references or links 

to training materials, narratives, and histories regarding successful democratic movements. 

Subtitle D—Training in Democracy and Human Rights; 

Incentives 

SEC. 2141. TRAINING IN DEMOCRACY PROMOTION AND THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall continue to enhance 

training for members of the Foreign Service and civil service responsible for the promotion of democracy and the protection of human 

rights. Such training shall include appropriate instruction and 

training materials regarding: 

(1) International documents and United States policy regarding the promotion of democracy and respect for human 

rights. 

(2) United States policy regarding the promotion and 

strengthening of democracy around the world, with particular 

emphasis on the transition to democracy in nondemocratic 

countries and democratic transition countries. 

(3) For any member, chief of mission, or deputy chief of 

mission who is to be assigned to a nondemocratic country or 

democratic transition country, ways to promote democracy in 

such country and to assist individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and movements in such country that support democratic principles, practices, and values. 

(4) The protection of internationally recognized human 

rights (including the protection of religious freedom) and standards related to such rights, provisions of United States law related to such rights, diplomatic tools to promote respect for such 

rights, and the protection of individuals who have fled their 

countries due to violations of such rights. 

(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary, acting through the Director 

of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center of the Foreign Service Institute of the Department, shall consult, as appropriate, with 

nongovernmental organizations involved in the protection and promotion of such rights and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom with respect to the training required by 

this subsection. 

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(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 

congressional committees a report containing a description of the 

current and planned training provided to Foreign Service officers in 

human rights and democracy promotion, including such training 

provided to chiefs of mission serving or preparing to serve in nondemocratic countries or democratic transition countries. 

SEC. 2142. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ADVANCE DEMOCRACY 

AWARD. 

It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the Secretary should further strengthen the capacity of 

the Department to carry out results-based democracy promotion 

efforts through the establishment of an annual award to be 

known as the ‘‘Outstanding Achievements in Advancing Democracy Award’’, or the ‘‘ADVANCE Democracy Award’’, that 

would be awarded to officers or employees of the Department; 

and 

(2) the Secretary should establish procedures for selecting 

recipients of such award, including any financial terms associated with such award. 

SEC. 2143. PERSONNEL POLICIES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 

In addition to the awards and other incentives already implemented, the Secretary should increase incentives for members of the 

Foreign Service and other employees of the Department who take assignments relating to the promotion of democracy and the protection 

of human rights, including the following: 

(1) Providing performance pay under section 405 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3965) to such members and 

employees who carry out their assignment in an outstanding 

manner. 

(2) Considering such an assignment as a basis for promotion into the Senior Foreign Service. 

(3) Providing Foreign Service Awards under section 614 of 

the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4013) to such members and employees who provide distinguished or meritorious 

service in the promotion of democracy or the protection of 

human rights. 

Subtitle E—Cooperation With Democratic Countries 

SEC. 2151. COOPERATION WITH DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES. 

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that the 

United States should cooperate with other democratic countries to—

(1) promote and protect democratic principles, practices, 

and values; 

(2) promote and protect shared political, social, and economic freedoms, including the freedoms of association, of expression, of the press, of religion, and to own private property; 

(3) promote and protect respect for the rule of law; 

(4) develop, adopt, and pursue strategies to advance common interests in international organizations and multilateral 

institutions to which members of cooperating democratic countries belong; and 

(5) provide political, economic, and other necessary support 

to countries that are undergoing a transition to democracy. 

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(b) COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES.—

(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that—

(A) the Community of Democracies should develop a 

more formal mechanism for carrying out work between 

ministerial meetings, such as through the creation of a permanent secretariat with appropriate staff to carry out such 

work, and should establish a headquarters; and 

(B) nondemocratic countries should not participate in 

any association or group of democratic countries aimed at 

working together to promote democracy. 

(2) DETAIL OF PERSONNEL.—The Secretary is authorized to 

detail on a nonreimbursable basis any employee of the Department to any permanent secretariat of the Community of Democracies or to the government of any country that is a member of 

the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies. 

(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICE FOR MULTILATERAL DEMOCRACY PROMOTION.—The Secretary should establish an office of multilateral democracy promotion with the mission to further develop 

and strengthen the institutional structure of the Community of Democracies, develop interministerial projects, enhance the United Nations Democracy Caucus, manage policy development of the United 

Nations Democracy Fund, and enhance coordination with other regional and multilateral bodies with jurisdiction over democracy 

issues. 

(d) INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION.—

(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 

the International Center for Democratic Transition, an initiative of the Government of Hungary, serves to promote practical 

projects and the sharing of best practices in the area of democracy promotion and should be supported by, in particular, the 

United States, other European countries with experiences in 

democratic transitions, and private individuals. 

(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008, 

2009, and 2010 to the Secretary for a grant to the International 

Center for Democratic Transition. Amounts appropriated under 

this paragraph are authorized to remain available until expended. 

Subtitle F—Funding for Promotion of Democracy 

SEC. 2161. THE UNITED NATIONS DEMOCRACY FUND. 

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that the 

United States should work with other countries to enhance the goals 

and work of the United Nations Democracy Fund, an essential tool 

to promote democracy, and in particular support civil society in foreign countries in their efforts to help consolidate democracy and 

bring about transformational change. 

(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 

to be appropriated $14,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 

2009 to the Secretary for a United States contribution to the United 

Nations Democracy Fund. 

SEC. 2162. UNITED STATES DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. 

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING USE OF INSTRUMENTS OF

DEMOCRACY PROMOTION.—It is the sense of Congress that—

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(1) United States support for democracy is strengthened by 

using a variety of different instrumentalities, such as the National Endowment for Democracy, the United States Agency for 

International Development, and the Department; and 

(2) the purpose of the Department’s Human Rights and Democracy Fund should be to support innovative programming, 

media, and materials designed to uphold democratic principles, 

practices, and values, support and strengthen democratic institutions, promote human rights and the rule of law, and build 

civil societies in countries around the world. 

(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING MECHANISMS FOR DELIVERING ASSISTANCE.—

(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

(A) Democracy assistance has many different forms, including assistance to promote the rule of law, build the capacity of civil society, political parties, and legislatures, improve the independence of the media and the judiciary, enhance independent auditing functions, and advance security sector reform. 

(B) There is a need for greater clarity on the coordination and delivery mechanisms for United States democracy 

assistance. 

(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 

the Secretary and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development should develop guidelines, in 

consultation with the appropriate congressional committees, 

building on the existing framework for grants, cooperative 

agreements, contracts, and other acquisition mechanisms to 

guide United States missions in foreign countries in coordinating United States democracy assistance and selecting the appropriate combination of such mechanisms for such assistance. 

TITLE XXII—INTEROPERABLE EMERGENCY 

COMMUNICATIONS 

SEC. 2201. INTEROPERABLE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3006 of Public Law 109–171 (47 

U.S.C. 309 note) is amended—

(1) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘(1) may take such administrative action as is necessary to 

establish and implement—

‘‘(A) a grant program to assist public safety agencies in 

the planning and coordination associated with, the acquisition of, deployment of, or training for the use of interoperable communications equipment, software and systems 

that—

‘‘(i) utilize reallocated public safety spectrum for 

radio communication; 

‘‘(ii) enable interoperability with communications 

systems that can utilize reallocated public safety spectrum for radio communication; or 

‘‘(iii) otherwise improve or advance the interoperability of public safety communications systems that 

utilize other public safety spectrum bands; and 

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‘‘(B) are used to establish and implement a strategic 

technology reserve to pre-position or secure interoperable 

communications in advance for immediate deployment in 

an emergency or major disaster; 

‘‘(2) shall make payments of not to exceed $1,000,000,000, 

in the aggregate, through fiscal year 2010 from the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund established under 

section 309(j)(8)(E) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 

U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(E)) to carry out the grant program established 

under paragraph (1), of which at least $75,000,000, in the aggregate, shall be used for purposes described in paragraph 

(1)(B); and ‘‘(3) shall permit any funds allocated for use under paragraph (1)(B) to be used for purposes identified under paragraph 

(1)(A), if the public safety agency demonstrates that it has already implemented such a strategic technology reserve or demonstrates higher priority public safety communications needs.’’; 

(2) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as subsections (h), (i), and (j), respectively, and inserting after subsection (a) the following: 

‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for assistance under the grant 

program established under subsection (a)(1)(A), an applicant shall 

submit an application, at such time, in such form, and containing 

such information as the Assistant Secretary may require, including 

a detailed explanation of how assistance received under the program would be used to improve communications interoperability 

and ensure interoperability with other public safety agencies in an 

emergency or a major disaster. ‘‘(c) CRITERIA FOR STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY RESERVES.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In evaluating permitted uses under subsection (a)(1)(B), the Assistant Secretary shall consider the continuing technological evolution of communications technologies 

and devices, with its implicit risk of obsolescence, and shall ensure, to the maximum extent feasible, that a substantial part of 

the reserve involves prenegotiated contracts and other arrangements for rapid deployment of equipment, supplies, and systems 

(and communications service related to such equipment, supplies, and systems), rather than the warehousing or storage of 

equipment and supplies currently available at the time the reserve is established. ‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS.—Funds provided to meet uses described in paragraph (1) shall be used in 

support of reserves that—

‘‘(A) are capable of re-establishing communications 

when existing critical infrastructure is damaged or destroyed in an emergency or a major disaster; 

‘‘(B) include appropriate current, widely-used equipment, such as Land Mobile Radio Systems, cellular telephones and satellite- enabled equipment (and related communications service), Cells-On-Wheels, Cells-On-LightTrucks, or other self-contained mobile cell sites that can be 

towed, backup batteries, generators, fuel, and computers; ‘‘(C) include equipment on hand for the Governor of 

each State, key emergency response officials, and appropriate State or local personnel; 

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‘‘(D) include contracts (including prenegotiated contracts) for rapid delivery of the most current technology 

available from commercial sources; and ‘‘(E) include arrangements for training to ensure that 

personnel are familiar with the operation of the equipment 

and devices to be delivered pursuant to such contracts. 

‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS.—Portions of the reserve 

may be virtual and may include items donated on an in-kind 

contribution basis. ‘‘(4) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—In evaluating permitted uses 

under section (a)(1)(B), the Assistant Secretary shall take into 

account barriers to immediate deployment, including time and 

distance, that may slow the rapid deployment of equipment, 

supplies, and systems (and communications service related to 

such equipment, supplies, and systems) in the event of an emergency in any State. 

‘‘(d) VOLUNTARY CONSENSUS STANDARDS.—In carrying out this 

section, the Assistant Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, shall identify and, if necessary, encourage the 

development and implementation of, voluntary consensus standards 

for interoperable communications systems to the greatest extent 

practicable, but shall not require any such standard. 

‘‘(e) INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT AND AUDITS.— ‘‘(1) REPORT.—Beginning with the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce shall conduct an 

annual assessment of the management of the grant program 

implemented under subsection (a)(1) and transmit a report containing the findings of that assessment and any recommendations related thereto to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives 

Committee on Energy and Commerce. ‘‘(2) AUDITS.—Beginning with the first fiscal year beginning 

after the date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce shall conduct financial audits of entities receiving grants from the program implemented 

under subsection (a)(1), and shall ensure that, over the course 

of 4 years, such audits cover recipients in a representative sample of not fewer than 25 States or territories. The results of any 

such audits shall be made publicly available via web site, subject to redaction as the Inspector General determines necessary 

to protect classified and other sensitive information. 

‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

construed or interpreted to preclude the use of funds under this section by any public safety agency for interim or long-term Internet 

Protocol-based interoperable solutions.’’; and 

(3) by striking paragraph (3) of subsection (j), as so redesignated. 

(b) FCC VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT AND REPORT ON EMER- GENCY COMMUNICATIONS BACK-UP SYSTEM.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission 

shall conduct a vulnerability assessment of the Nation’s critical 

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communications and information systems infrastructure and 

shall evaluate the technical feasibility of creating a back-up 

emergency communications system that complements existing 

communications resources and takes into account next generation and advanced communications technologies. The overriding objective for the evaluation shall be providing a framework for the development of a resilient interoperable communications system for emergency responders in an emergency. 

The Commission shall consult with the National Communications System and shall evaluate all reasonable options, including satellites, wireless, and terrestrial-based communications 

systems and other alternative transport mechanisms that can be 

used in tandem with existing technologies. 

(2) FACTORS TO BE EVALUATED.—The evaluation under 

paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) a survey of all Federal agencies that use terrestrial 

or satellite technology for communications security and an 

evaluation of the feasibility of using existing systems for the 

purpose of creating such an emergency back-up public safety communications system; 

(B) the feasibility of using private satellite, wireless, or 

terrestrial networks for emergency communications; 

(C) the technical options, cost, and deployment methods 

of software, equipment, handsets or desktop communications devices for public safety entities in major urban areas, 

and nationwide; and 

(D) the feasibility and cost of necessary changes to the 

network operations center of terrestrial-based or satellite 

systems to enable the centers to serve as emergency back-up 

communications systems. 

(3) REPORT.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Upon the completion of the evaluation under subsection (a), the Commission shall submit a 

report to Congress that details the findings of the evaluation, including a full inventory of existing public and private resources most efficiently capable of providing emergency communications. 

(B) CLASSIFIED INDEX.—The report on critical infrastructure under this subsection may contain a classified 

annex. 

(C) RETENTION OF CLASSIFICATION.—The classification 

of information required to be provided to Congress or any 

other department or agency under this section by the Federal Communications Commission, including the assignment of a level of classification of such information, shall 

be binding on Congress and any other department or agency. 

(c) JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FA- CILITIES.—

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Assistant Secretary of Commerce 

for Communications and Information and the Chairman of 

Federal Communications Commission, in consultation with the 

Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health 

and Human Services, shall establish a joint advisory committee 

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to examine the communications capabilities and needs of emergency medical and public health care facilities. The joint advisory committee shall be composed of individuals with expertise 

in communications technologies and emergency medical and 

public health care, including representatives of Federal, State 

and local governments, industry and non-profit health organizations, and academia and educational institutions. 

(2) DUTIES.—The joint advisory committee shall— (A) assess specific communications capabilities and 

needs of emergency medical and public health care facilities, including the including improvement of basic voice, 

data, and broadband capabilities; 

(B) assess options to accommodate growth of basic and 

emerging communications services used by emergency medical and public health care facilities; 

(C) assess options to improve integration of communications systems used by emergency medical and public 

health care facilities with existing or future emergency communications networks; and 

(D) report its findings to the Senate Committee on 

Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of 

Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, within 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act. 

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND PUBLIC

HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS PILOT PROJECTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 

Communications and Information may establish not more than 

10 geographically dispersed project grants to emergency medical 

and public health care facilities to improve the capabilities of 

emergency communications systems in emergency medical care 

facilities. 

(2) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The Assistant Secretary may not provide more than $2,000,000 in Federal assistance under the 

pilot program to any applicant. 

(3) COST SHARING.—The Assistant Secretary may not provide more than 20 percent of the cost, incurred during the period of the grant, of any project under the pilot program. 

(4) MAXIMUM PERIOD OF GRANTS.—The Assistant Secretary 

may not fund any applicant under the pilot program for more 

than 3 years. 

(5) DEPLOYMENT AND DISTRIBUTION.—The Assistant Secretary shall seek to the maximum extent practicable to ensure 

a broad geographic distribution of project sites. 

(6) TRANSFER OF INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE.—The Assistant Secretary shall establish mechanisms to ensure that the 

information and knowledge gained by participants in the pilot 

program are transferred among the pilot program participants 

and to other interested parties, including other applicants that 

submitted applications. 

SEC. 2202. CLARIFICATION OF CONGRESSIONAL INTENT. 

The Federal departments and agencies (including independent 

agencies) identified under the provisions of this title and title III of 

this Act and title VI of Public Law 109–295 shall carry out their 

respective duties and responsibilities in a manner that does not impede the implementation of requirements specified under this title 

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and title III of this Act and title VI of Public Law 109–295. Notwithstanding the obligations under section 1806 of Public Law 109–

295, the provisions of this title and title III of this Act and title VI 

of Public Law 109–295 shall not preclude or obstruct any such department or agency from exercising its other authorities related to 

emergency communications matters. 

SEC. 2203. CROSS BORDER INTEROPERABILITY REPORTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission, in 

consultation with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of 

Emergency Communications, the Office of Management of Budget, 

and the Department of State shall report to the Senate Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on—

(1) the status of the mechanism established by the President under section 7303(c) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(c)) for coordinating 

cross border interoperability issues between—

(A) the United States and Canada; and 

(B) the United States and Mexico; 

(2) the status of treaty negotiations with Canada and Mexico regarding the coordination of the re-banding of 800 megahertz radios, as required under the final rule of the Federal 

Communication Commission in the ‘‘Private Land Mobile Services; 800 MHz Public Safety Interface Proceeding’’ (WT Docket 

No. 02–55; ET Docket No. 00–258; ET Docket No. 95–18, RM–

9498; RM–10024; FCC 04–168,) including the status of any outstanding issues in the negotiations between—

(A) the United States and Canada; and 

(B) the United States and Mexico; 

(3) communications between the Commission and the Department of State over possible amendments to the bilateral 

legal agreements and protocols that govern the coordination 

process for license applications seeking to use channels and frequencies above Line A; 

(4) the annual rejection rate for the last 5 years by the 

United States of applications for new channels and frequencies 

by Canadian private and public entities; and 

(5) any additional procedures and mechanisms that can be 

taken by the Commission to decrease the rejection rate for applications by United States private and public entities seeking licenses to use channels and frequencies above Line A. 

(b) UPDATED REPORTS TO BE FILED ON THE STATUS OF TREATY

OF NEGOTIATIONS.—The Federal Communications Commission, in 

conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, the Office 

of Management of Budget, and the Department of State shall continually provide updated reports to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 

Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives on the status 

of treaty negotiations under subsection (a)(2) until the appropriate 

United States treaty has been revised with each of—

(1) Canada; and 

(2) Mexico. 

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(c) INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS TO REMEDY SITUATION.—Not 

later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of State shall report to Congress on—

(1) the current process for considering applications by Canada for frequencies and channels by United States communities 

above Line A; 

(2) the status of current negotiations to reform and revise 

such process; 

(3) the estimated date of conclusion for such negotiations; 

(4) whether the current process allows for automatic denials or dismissals of initial applications by the Government of 

Canada, and whether such denials or dismissals are currently 

occurring; and 

(5) communications between the Department of State and 

the Federal Communications Commission pursuant to subsection (a)(3). 

SEC. 2204. EXTENSION OF SHORT QUORUM. 

Notwithstanding section 4(d) of the Consumer Product Safety 

Act (15 U.S.C. 2053(d)), 2 members of the Consumer Product Safety 

Commission, if they are not affiliated with the same political party, 

shall constitute a quorum for the 6-month period beginning on the 

date of enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 2205. REQUIRING REPORTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO CERTAIN COMMITTEES. 

In addition to the committees specifically enumerated to receive 

reports under this title, any report transmitted under the provisions 

of this title shall also be transmitted to the appropriate congressional committees (as defined in section 2(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(2))). 

TITLE XXIII—EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS 

MODERNIZATION 

SEC. 2301. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Emergency Communications Act of 2007’’. 

SEC. 2302. FUNDING FOR PROGRAM. 

Section 3011 of the Digital Television Transition and Public 

Safety Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–171; 47 U.S.C. 309 note) is 

amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘The’’ and inserting: 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(b) CREDIT.—The Assistant Secretary may borrow from the 

Treasury, upon enactment of the 911 Modernization Act, such sums 

as necessary, but not to exceed $43,500,000, to implement this section. The Assistant Secretary shall reimburse the Treasury, without 

interest, as funds are deposited into the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund.’’. 

SEC. 2303. NTIA COORDINATION OF E–911 IMPLEMENTATION. 

Section 158(b)(4) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 942(b)(4)) is 

amended by adding at the end thereof the following: ‘‘Within 180 

days after the date of enactment of the 911 Modernization Act, the 

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Assistant Secretary and the Administrator shall jointly issue regulations updating the criteria to allow a portion of the funds to be used 

to give priority to grants that are requested by public safety answering points that were not capable of receiving 911 calls as of the date 

of enactment of that Act, for the incremental cost of upgrading from 

Phase I to Phase II compliance. Such grants shall be subject to all 

other requirements of this section.’’. 

TITLE XXIV—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 

SEC. 2401. QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW. 

(a) REVIEW REQUIRED.—Title VII of the Homeland Security Act 

of 2002 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 707. QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW. 

‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—

‘‘(1) QUADRENNIAL REVIEWS REQUIRED.—In fiscal year 

2009, and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct 

a review of the homeland security of the Nation (in this section 

referred to as a ‘quadrennial homeland security review’). 

‘‘(2) SCOPE OF REVIEWS.—Each quadrennial homeland security review shall be a comprehensive examination of the 

homeland security strategy of the Nation, including recommendations regarding the long-term strategy and priorities 

of the Nation for homeland security and guidance on the programs, assets, capabilities, budget, policies, and authorities of 

the Department. 

‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall conduct each 

quadrennial homeland security review under this subsection in 

consultation with—

‘‘(A) the heads of other Federal agencies, including the 

Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of 

Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 

Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Agriculture, and 

the Director of National Intelligence; 

‘‘(B) key officials of the Department; and 

‘‘(C) other relevant governmental and nongovernmental 

entities, including State, local, and tribal government officials, members of Congress, private sector representatives, 

academics, and other policy experts. 

‘‘(4) RELATIONSHIP WITH FUTURE YEARS HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall ensure that each review 

conducted under this section is coordinated with the Future 

Years Homeland Security Program required under section 874. 

‘‘(b) CONTENTS OF REVIEW.—In each quadrennial homeland security review, the Secretary shall—

‘‘(1) delineate and update, as appropriate, the national 

homeland security strategy, consistent with appropriate national and Department strategies, strategic plans, and Homeland Security Presidential Directives, including the National 

Strategy for Homeland Security, the National Response Plan, 

and the Department Security Strategic Plan; 

‘‘(2) outline and prioritize the full range of the critical 

homeland security mission areas of the Nation; 

‘‘(3) describe the interagency cooperation, preparedness of 

Federal response assets, infrastructure, budget plan, and other 

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elements of the homeland security program and policies of the 

Nation associated with the national homeland security strategy, 

required to execute successfully the full range of missions called 

for in the national homeland security strategy described in 

paragraph (1) and the homeland security mission areas outlined under paragraph (2); ‘‘(4) identify the budget plan required to provide sufficient 

resources to successfully execute the full range of missions 

called for in the national homeland security strategy described 

in paragraph (1) and the homeland security mission areas outlined under paragraph (2); ‘‘(5) include an assessment of the organizational alignment 

of the Department with the national homeland security strategy 

referred to in paragraph (1) and the homeland security mission 

areas outlined under paragraph (2); and ‘‘(6) review and assess the effectiveness of the mechanisms 

of the Department for executing the process of turning the requirements developed in the quadrennial homeland security review into an acquisition strategy and expenditure plan within 

the Department. 

‘‘(c) REPORTING.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31 of the year 

in which a quadrennial homeland security review is conducted, 

the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding that 

quadrennial homeland security review. ‘‘(2) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Each report submitted under 

paragraph (1) shall include— ‘‘(A) the results of the quadrennial homeland security 

review; ‘‘(B) a description of the threats to the assumed or defined national homeland security interests of the Nation 

that were examined for the purposes of that review; ‘‘(C) the national homeland security strategy, including 

a prioritized list of the critical homeland security missions 

of the Nation; 

‘‘(D) a description of the interagency cooperation, preparedness of Federal response assets, infrastructure, budget 

plan, and other elements of the homeland security program 

and policies of the Nation associated with the national 

homeland security strategy, required to execute successfully 

the full range of missions called for in the applicable national homeland security strategy referred to in subsection 

(b)(1) and the homeland security mission areas outlined 

under subsection (b)(2); 

‘‘(E) an assessment of the organizational alignment of 

the Department with the applicable national homeland security strategy referred to in subsection (b)(1) and the 

homeland security mission areas outlined under subsection 

(b)(2), including the Department’s organizational structure, 

management systems, budget and accounting systems, 

human resources systems, procurement systems, and physical and technical infrastructure; 

‘‘(F) a discussion of the status of cooperation among 

Federal agencies in the effort to promote national homeland 

security; 

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‘‘(G) a discussion of the status of cooperation between 

the Federal Government and State, local, and tribal governments in preventing terrorist attacks and preparing for 

emergency response to threats to national homeland security; 

‘‘(H) an explanation of any underlying assumptions 

used in conducting the review; and 

‘‘(I) any other matter the Secretary considers appropriate. 

‘‘(3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall, consistent 

with the protection of national security and other sensitive matters, make each report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly 

available on the Internet website of the Department. 

‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 

this section.’’. 

(b) PREPARATION FOR QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—During fiscal years 2007 and 2008, the 

Secretary of Homeland Security shall make preparations to conduct the first quadrennial homeland security review under section 707 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by 

subsection (a), in fiscal year 2009, including—

(A) determining the tasks to be performed; 

(B) estimating the human, financial, and other resources required to perform each task; 

(C) establishing the schedule for the execution of all 

project tasks; 

(D) ensuring that these resources will be available as 

needed; and 

(E) all other preparations considered necessary by the 

Secretary. 

(2) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress and 

make publicly available on the Internet website of the Department of Homeland Security a detailed resource plan specifying 

the estimated budget and number of staff members that will be 

required for preparation of the first quadrennial homeland security review. 

(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections in section 1(b) 

of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 

706 the following new item: 

‘‘Sec. 707. Quadrennial Homeland Security Review.’’. 

SEC. 2402. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE PREVENTION 

OF RADICALIZATION LEADING TO IDEOLOGICALLY-BASED 

VIOLENCE. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

(1) The United States is engaged in a struggle against a 

transnational terrorist movement of radical extremists that 

plans, prepares for, and engages in acts of ideologically-based 

violence worldwide. 

(2) The threat of radicalization that leads to ideologicallybased violence transcends borders and has been identified as a 

potential threat within the United States. 

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(3) Radicalization has been identified as a precursor to terrorism caused by ideologically-based groups. 

(4) Countering the threat of violent extremists domestically, 

as well as internationally, is a critical element of the plan of 

the United States for success in the fight against terrorism. 

(5) United States law enforcement agencies have identified 

radicalization that leads to ideologically-based violence as an 

emerging threat and have in recent years identified cases of extremists operating inside the United States, known as ‘‘homegrown’’ extremists, with the intent to provide support for, or directly commit, terrorist attacks. 

(6) Alienation of Muslim populations in the Western world 

has been identified as a factor in the spread of radicalization 

that could lead to ideologically-based violence. 

(7) Many other factors have been identified as contributing 

to the spread of radicalization and resulting acts of ideologically-based violence. Among these is the appeal of left-wing and 

right-wing hate groups, and other hate groups, including 

groups operating in prisons. Other such factors must be examined and countered as well in order to protect the homeland 

from violent extremists of every kind. 

(8) Radicalization leading to ideologically-based violence 

cannot be prevented solely through law enforcement and intelligence measures. 

(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that the 

Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with other relevant 

Federal agencies, should make a priority of countering domestic 

radicalization that leads to ideologically-based violence by—

(1) using intelligence analysts and other experts to better 

understand the process of radicalization from sympathizer to 

activist to terrorist; 

(2) recruiting employees with diverse worldviews, skills, 

languages, and cultural backgrounds, and expertise; 

(3) consulting with experts to ensure that the lexicon used 

within public statements is precise and appropriate and does 

not aid extremists by offending religious, ethnic, and minority 

communities; 

(4) addressing prisoner radicalization and post-sentence reintegration, in concert with the Attorney General and State and 

local corrections officials; 

(5) pursuing broader avenues of dialogue with minority 

communities, including the American Muslim community, to 

foster mutual respect, understanding, and trust; and 

(6) working directly with State, local, and community leaders to—

(A) educate such leaders about the threat of 

radicalization that leads to ideologically-based violence and 

the necessity of taking preventative action at the local level; 

and 

(B) facilitate the sharing of best practices from other 

countries and communities to encourage outreach to minority communities, including the American Muslim community, and develop partnerships among and between all religious faiths and ethnic groups. 

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SEC. 2403. REQUIRING REPORTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO CERTAIN COMMITTEES. 

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

the Senate shall receive the reports required by the following provisions of law in the same manner and to the same extent that the 

reports are to be received by the Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs of the Senate: 

(1) Section 1016(j)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485(j)(1)). 

(2) Section 511(d) of this Act. 

(3) Subsection (a)(3)(D) of section 2022 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 101 of this Act. 

(4) Section 7215(d) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 123(d)). 

(5) Section 7209(b)(1)(C) of the Intelligence Reform and 

Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1185 note). 

(6) Section 804(c) of this Act. 

(7) Section 901(b) of this Act. 

(8) Section 1002(a) of this Act. 

(9) Title III of this Act. 

SEC. 2404. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. 

(a) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT REQUIRED.—Not later than 120 

days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall— (1) establish a demonstration project to conduct demonstrations of security management systems that— (A) shall use a management system standards approach; and 

(B) may be integrated into quality, safety, environmental and other internationally adopted management systems; and 

(2) enter into one or more agreements with a private sector 

entity to conduct such demonstrations of security management 

systems. 

(b) SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DEFINED.—In this section, 

the term ‘security management system’ means a set of guidelines 

that address the security assessment needs of critical infrastructure 

and key resources that are consistent with a set of generally accepted management standards ratified and adopted by a standards 

making body. 

SEC. 2405. UNDER SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT OF DEPARTMENT 

OF HOMELAND SECURITY. 

(a) RESPONSIBILITIES.—Section 701(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 341) is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘The Under Secretary for Management 

shall serve as the Chief Management Officer and principal advisor to the Secretary on matters related to the management of 

the Department, including management integration and transformation in support of homeland security operations and programs.’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’; 

(2) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(7) Strategic management planning and annual performance planning and identification and tracking of performance 

measures relating to the responsibilities of the Department.’’; 

and 

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(3) by striking paragraph (9), and inserting the following: 

‘‘(9) The management integration and transformation process, as well as the transition process, to ensure an efficient and 

orderly consolidation of functions and personnel in the Department and transition, including— ‘‘(A) the development of a management integration 

strategy for the Department, and ‘‘(B) before December 1 of any year in which a Presidential election is held, the development of a transition and 

succession plan, to be made available to the incoming Secretary and Under Secretary for Management, to guide the 

transition of management functions to a new Administration.’’. (b) APPOINTMENT AND EVALUATION.—Section 701 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 341), as amended by subsection 

(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(c) APPOINTMENT AND EVALUATION.—The Under Secretary for 

Management shall—

‘‘(1) be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 

and consent of the Senate, from among persons who have—

‘‘(A) extensive executive level leadership and management experience in the public or private sector; 

‘‘(B) strong leadership skills; 

‘‘(C) a demonstrated ability to manage large and complex organizations; and 

‘‘(D) a proven record in achieving positive operational 

results; 

‘‘(2) enter into an annual performance agreement with the 

Secretary that shall set forth measurable individual and organizational goals; and 

‘‘(3) be subject to an annual performance evaluation by the 

Secretary, who shall determine as part of each such evaluation 

whether the Under Secretary for Management has made satisfactory progress toward achieving the goals set out in the performance agreement required under paragraph (2).’’. (c) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT; INCUMBENT.— (1) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—Not later than 90 days 

after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

Homeland Security shall name an individual who meets the 

qualifications of section 701 of the Homeland Security Act (6 

U.S.C. 341), as amended by subsections (a) and (b), to serve as 

the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management. 

The Secretary may submit the name of the individual who 

serves in the position of Under Secretary of Homeland Security 

for Management on the date of enactment of this Act together 

with a statement that informs the Congress that the individual 

meets the qualifications of such section as so amended. 

(2) INCUMBENT.—The incumbent serving as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management on November 4, 

2008, is authorized to continue serving in that position until a 

successor is confirmed, to ensure continuity in the management 

functions of the Department. 

(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO SERVICE OF INCUMBENTS.—It is the sense of the Congress that the person serving as 

Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management on the date 

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on which a Presidential election is held should be encouraged by the 

newly-elected President to remain in office in a new Administration 

until such time as a successor is confirmed by Congress. 

(e) EXECUTIVE SCHEDULE.—Section 5313 of title 5, United 

States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to the 

Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security the following: 

‘‘Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management.’’. 

And the Senate agree to the same. 

BENNIE G. THOMPSON, 

LORETTA SANCHEZ, 

NORMAN DICKS, 

JANE HARMAN, 

NITA M. LOWEY, 

SHEILA JACKSON-LEE, 

DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN, 

BOB ETHERIDGE, 

JAMES R. LANGEVIN, 

HENRY CUELLAR, 

AL GREEN, 

ED PERLMUTTER, 

PETER T. KING, 

MARK SOUDER, 

TOM DAVIS, 

DANIEL E. LUNGREN, 

MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, 

CHARLES W. DENT, 

IKE SKELTON, 

JOHN M. SPRATT, Jr., 

JIM SAXTON, 

JOHN D. DINGELL, 

EDWARD J. MARKEY, 

TOM LANTOS, 

GARY ACKERMAN, 

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, 

JOHN CONYERS, 

ZOE LOFGREN, 

HENRY A. WAXMAN, 

WM. LACY CLAY, 

SILVESTRE REYES, 

BUD CRAMER, 

BART GORDON, 

DAVID WU, 

PETER A. DEFAZIO, 

JOHN B. LARSON, 

Managers on the Part of the House. 

JOE LIEBERMAN, 

CARL LEVIN, 

DANIEL K. AKAKA, TOM CARPER, 

MARK PRYOR, CHRIS DODD, DANIEL K. INOUYE, JOE BIDEN, Managers on the Part of the Senate. 

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JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF 

CONFERENCE 

The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at the 

conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 

amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 1), to provide for the implementation of the recommendations of the National Commission 

on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, submit the following 

joint statement to the House and the Senate in explanation of the 

effect of the action agreed upon by the managers and recommended 

in the accompanying conference report: 

The Senate amendment struck all of the House bill after the 

enacting clause and inserted a substitute text. 

The House recedes from its disagreement to the amendment of 

the Senate with an amendment that is a substitute for the House 

bill and the Senate amendment. The differences between the House 

bill, the Senate amendment, and the substitute agreed to in conference are noted below, except for clerical corrections, conforming 

changes made necessary by agreements reached by the conferees, 

and minor drafting and clarifying changes. 

JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

TITLE I—HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS 

Section 101. Homeland Security Grant Program 

Section 101 of the Conference Report amends the Homeland 

Security Act to add a new Title XX, comprised of two subtitles and 

including the following sections: 

Subtitle A—Grants to States and High-Risk Urban Areas 

Section 2001. Definitions 

Section 2001 of the House bill defines several terms that are 

used in the title relevant to homeland security grants, including 

‘‘Covered grant,’’ ‘‘Directly Eligible Tribe,’’ ‘‘Elevations in the 

Threat Alert Level,’’ ‘‘First Responder,’’ ‘‘Indian Tribe,’’ ‘‘Region,’’ ‘‘Terrorism Preparedness,’’ and ‘‘Capabilities.’’ Section 2001 of the Senate bill is a comparable provision, 

which defines ‘‘Administrator,’’ ‘‘Combined Statistical Area,’’ ‘‘Directly Eligible Tribe,’’ ‘‘Eligible Metropolitan Area,’’ ‘‘Indian Tribe,’’ ‘‘Metropolitan Statistical Area,’’ ‘‘National Special Security Event,’’ ‘‘Population,’’ ‘‘Population Density,’’ ‘‘Target Capabilities,’’ and ‘‘Tribal Government.’’ The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. The provision defines the terms ‘‘Administrator,’’ ‘‘Appropriate Committees of Congress,’’ ‘‘Critical Infrastructure Sectors,’’ ‘‘Directly Eligible Tribe,’’ ‘‘Eligible Metropolitan Area,’’ ‘‘High-Risk 

Urban Area,’’ ‘‘Indian Tribe,’’ ‘‘Metropolitan Statistical Area,’’ ‘‘Namstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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tional Special Security Event,’’ ‘‘Population,’’ ‘‘Population Density,’’ ‘‘Qualified Intelligence Analyst,’’ ‘‘Target Capabilities,’’ and ‘‘Tribal 

Government.’’

Section 2002. Homeland Security Grant Programs 

Section 2002 of the House bill sets forth the first responder 

grant programs at the Department that are covered by the provisions in the title. These programs are the State Homeland Security 

Grant Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative, and the Law 

Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program. It specifically excludes the Assistance to Firefighters Grant programs, the Emergency Management Performance Grant program, and the Urban 

Search and Rescue program. 

Section 2002 of the Senate bill authorizes the Secretary of 

Homeland Security (the Secretary), acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to 

award grants to State, local, and tribal governments. It clarifies 

that other grant programs, such as the Assistance to Firefighters 

Grant programs, the Metropolitan Medical Response System, critical infrastructure grant programs, including transportation security grants programs, the port security grant program, and grants 

administered by agencies other than the Department of Homeland 

Security (the Department or DHS), are not covered under the title. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. It specifically authorizes the Secretary, acting through 

the Administrator of FEMA (the Administrator), to make grants 

under the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban 

Area Security Initiative. It specifically provides that none of the 

provisions in subtitle A affect, or may be construed to affect, programs authorized under the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 

Act; grants authorized under the Stafford Act; Emergency Management Performance Grants under the amendments made by Title II 

of the Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission 

Act of 2007; grants to protect critical infrastructure, including port 

security grants authorized under 46 U.S.C. 70107 and grants authorized under titles XIV, XV, and XVI of the Implementing the 

Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007; Metropolitan Medical Response System grants authorized under section 635 

of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act; the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program authorized 

under title XVIII of the Homeland Security Act; and grants not administered by the Department. 

Section 1014 of the USA Patriot Act (42 U.S.C. 3714), which 

authorized grants to States to ‘‘enhance the capability of State and 

local jurisdictions to prepare for and respond to terrorist acts,’’ has, 

up until now, served as the authority for grant programs such as 

the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program. Section 1014 further provided 

that each State receive a minimum of 0.75 percent of such authorized grants. The Conference substitute clarifies that the grants authorized under sections 2003 and 2004 of the Homeland Security 

Act are to supersede all grant programs authorized by section 1014 

of the USA PATRIOT Act and that such grants shall be governed 

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ing with respect to the minimum guaranteed to each State under 

section 2004 and the fact that, where there is such a minimum, it 

is to be allocated as a ‘‘true minimum,’’ in the manner explained 

below. 

The Conferees remain concerned about the implementation of 

the provisions in the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform 

Act (PL 109–295), which placed the authority to conduct training 

and exercises and administer grants within FEMA, thus restoring 

the nexus between emergency preparedness and response. The 

Conferees continue to believe that the Administrator, in consultation with other relevant Departmental components with issue-area 

expertise, should have responsibility for administering all grant 

programs administered by the Department, which will ensure the 

coordination among those programs and consistency in the guidance issued to grant recipients. 

Section 2003. Urban Area Security Initiative 

Section 2003 of the House bill provides that areas determined 

by the Secretary to be high-threat urban areas may apply for 

Urban Area Security Initiative grants. 

Section 2003 of the Senate bill specifically establishes the 

Urban Area Security Initiative grant program, to assist high-risk 

urban areas in preventing, preparing for, and responding to acts of 

terrorism. It allows eligible metropolitan areas, defined primarily 

as self-defined areas within the 100 largest metropolitan statistical 

areas, to apply for the grants. This section requires that the grants 

be allocated based on the threat, vulnerability, and consequences 

of a terrorist attack, as well as the effectiveness of each urban 

area’s proposed spending plan in increasing the area’s preparedness for terrorism and reducing risk. The section further describes 

the allowable uses of the grant funding by urban areas. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. The Conference substitute provides for a two-stage process for designating high-risk urban areas eligible to apply for 

Urban Area Security Initiative grants. First, the Department is to 

conduct an initial assessment of the risks, threats, and 

vulnerabilities from acts of terrorism faced by eligible metropolitan 

areas, defined as the 100 most populous metropolitan statistical 

areas in the United States. During this initial assessment, these 

areas may submit relevant information to the Department for consideration. Second, once this initial assessment process is complete, 

the Department will designate which jurisdictions may apply for 

Urban Area Security Initiative grants based solely on the assessment of risk from acts of terrorism. 

Section 2004. State Homeland Security Grant Program 

Section 2003 of the House bill provides that States, regions, 

and directly eligible tribes shall be eligible to apply for grant funds 

under the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Law 

Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program. Section 2004 of the 

House bill sets forth minimum amounts each State shall receive 

(0.25 percent), providing for larger grant awards to applicants that 

have a significant international land border and/or adjoin a body 

of water within North America that contains an international 

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boundary line (0.45 percent). Under the House bill territories and 

directly eligible tribes would receive not less than 0.08 percent of 

the funds. 

Section 2004 of the Senate bill establishes the State Homeland 

Security Grant Program to assist State, local, and tribal governments in preventing, preparing for, protecting against, responding 

to, and recovering from acts of terrorism. The section requires that 

the grants be allocated to States based on the threat, vulnerability, 

and consequences of terrorism faced by a State, and lists factors to 

be considered in determining a State’s risk. The section further 

provides that, in allocating funds, no State shall receive less than 

0.45 percent of the overall appropriation for this program and that 

each State distribute a minimum of 80 percent of funding received 

under this program to local and tribal governments within that 

State, consistent with the State’s homeland security plan. Territories would receive not less than 0.08 percent of the funds. The 

section also describes the allowable uses for grant funding provided 

to States under this section. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. The Conference substitute requires that each State receive, from the funds appropriated for the State Homeland Security 

Grant Program, not less than 0.375 percent of the total funds appropriated for grants under sections 2003 and 2004 in Fiscal Year 

2008. This minimum decreases to 0.35 percent over five years. 

Each territory is to receive not less than 0.08 percent of the funds 

and tribes are to receive, collectively, not less than 0.1 percent of 

the funds. 

In all cases, the minimum is a ‘‘true minimum,’’ in which funding allocations are initially determined entirely on the basis of terrorism risk and the anticipated effectiveness of the proposed use of 

the grant. Any recipient that does not reach the minimum based 

on this risk allocation will receive additional funding from the 

amount appropriated for the State Homeland Security Grant Program to ensure the respective minimum is met. This distribution 

method is consistent with the Department’s practice for FY 2007 

for the formula grants in the Homeland Security Grant Program, 

and maximizes the share of funds distributed on the basis of risk. 

The Urban Area Security Initiative will continue to be allocated exclusively on the basis of the risk from acts of terrorism and the anticipated effectiveness of the proposed use of the grant. 

Section 2005. Grants to directly eligible tribes 

Section 2003 of the House bill authorizes the Secretary to 

award grants to directly eligible tribes under the State Homeland 

Security Grant Program, requires the designation of a specific individual to serve as the tribal liaison for each tribe, and allows an 

opportunity for each State to comment to the Secretary on the consistency of a tribe’s application with the State’s homeland security 

plan. 

Section 2004 of the Senate bill authorizes the Secretary to 

award grants to directly eligible tribes under the State Homeland 

Security Grant Program. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

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less of whether a tribe receives funds directly from the Department, the tribe remains eligible to receive a pass-through of section 

2004 funds for other purposes from any State within which it is located, and that States retain a responsibility for allocating funds 

received under section 2004 to assist tribal communities, including 

tribes that are not directly eligible tribes, achieve target capabilities not achieved through direct grants. 

Section 2006. Terrorism prevention 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 2005 of the Senate bill requires that the Department 

of Homeland Security designate a minimum of 25 percent of the 

funding to States and urban areas through the State Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security Initiative for law 

enforcement terrorism prevention activities. It provides a list of allowable uses for the funding. The section also establishes the Office 

for the Prevention of Terrorism within the Department to, among 

other things, coordinate policy and operations between Federal, 

State, local, and tribal governments related to the prevention of 

terrorism. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. 

The Conferees note the importance of law enforcement terrorism prevention activities and requires the Administrator to ensure that not less than 25 percent of the combined funds from the 

State Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security 

Initiative are dedicated to these vital activities. This will ensure 

that law enforcement terrorism prevention activities are appropriately coordinated with other State and high-risk urban area efforts to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts 

of terrorism using grant funds. 

The Conference substitute also includes a provision creating an 

Assistant Secretary in the DHS Policy Directorate to head an Office for State and Local Law Enforcement. This new Assistant Secretary will lead the coordination of Department-wide policies relating to State and local law enforcement’s role in preventing acts of 

terrorism and will also serve as a liaison between law enforcement 

agencies across the country and the Department. The Conferees believe this office gives the State and local law enforcement community a much needed voice and high-level point of contact in the Department and integrates prevention and other law enforcement activities across the Department, while avoiding the creation of further stovepipes. 

The Conference substitute creates the Assistant Secretary in 

the Department’s Policy Directorate because of that Directorate’s 

central role in coordinating policies across the Department. By such 

placement, however, the Conferees do not intend to preclude the 

Secretary from seeking advice directly from the Assistant Secretary, or from having the Assistant Secretary report directly to the 

Secretary, if the Secretary determines that arrangement would be 

most helpful and/or most beneficial to the Department. 

In addition, the Conference substitute includes language in 

this section to reflect the general purpose of the Fusion and Law 

Enforcement Education and Teaming (FLEET) Grant Program in 

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House Sections 701 and 702. Many local and tribal law enforcement and other emergency response providers that would like to 

participate in State, local, or regional fusion centers lack the resources—in terms of funding and staff—to do so. These providers 

are not usually in the headlines; instead, they typically serve under 

represented suburban and rural jurisdictions where terrorists may 

live, work, and plan attacks—even if they themselves are not likely 

targets of those attacks. 

The Conferees believe that such agencies and departments, 

based on an appropriate showing of risk, should qualify for grant 

funding so they can send representatives to State, local, or regional 

fusion centers. Such funding should be available for (1) backfilling 

positions for law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, and 

other emergency response staff detailed to fusion centers; and (2) 

appropriate training in the intelligence cycle, privacy and civil liberties, and other relevant matters, as determined by the Secretary. 

The Conference substitute also provides for the Assistant Secretary for State and Local Law Enforcement and the Administrator 

to jointly conduct a study to determine the efficacy and feasibility 

of establishing specialized law enforcement deployment teams to 

assist State, local and tribal governments in responding to natural 

disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters, and to report on the results of that study to the appropriate Committees of 

Congress. By requiring the study, the Conferees do not intend to 

authorize the creation, use or deployment of such teams, but instead intends that the Assistant Secretary and the Administrator 

report to Congress on the results of the study and, in the event 

they determine that such deployment teams are feasible and likely 

to be effective, that they seek further Congressional authorization 

before implementing any such program. The Conferees further intend that any such deployment teams, if implemented, would, like 

other specialized response teams, such as Urban Search and Rescue Teams, be subject to the direction of the Administrator and coordinated with the other activities of FEMA. 

Section 2007. Prioritization 

Section 2004 of the House bill requires the Secretary to evaluate and annually prioritize pending applications for covered grants 

based upon the degree to which they would lessen the threat to, 

vulnerability of, and consequences for persons and critical infrastructure from acts of terrorism. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. Instead the Senate 

bill individually lists the factors that the Administrator shall consider when allocating grants under sections 2003 and 2004. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. The Conference substitute requires that in allocating 

funds among States and high-risk urban areas the Administrator 

consider for each State and high-risk urban area, its relative 

threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts of terrorism, including consideration of several enumerated factors; and the anticipated effectiveness of the proposed use of the grant by the State 

or high-risk urban area. While the Conference substitute does not 

specify the particular weight to be given to any of the listed criteria, it nonetheless requires that each of the characteristics listed 

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in subparagraphs 2007(a)(1)(A) through (J) be considered as part of 

the assessment of threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts 

of terrorism faced by the State or high-risk urban area. The Conference substitute also provides that the Administrator may consider additional factors beyond those listed, as specified in writing, 

in assessing a State or high-risk urban area’s risk. 

Section 2008. Use of funds 

Section 2005 of the House bill lists authorized uses of covered 

grants and prohibits the use of grant funds to supplant State or 

local funds, to construct physical facilities, to acquire land, or for 

any State or local government cost sharing contribution. This section also requires each covered grant recipient to submit annual reports on homeland security spending and establishes penalties for 

States that fail to pass funds through to local governments within 

45 days of receipt of grant funds. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. Instead, the Senate 

bill authorizes eligible uses of funds for each grant program individually and provides for limitations on the use of grant funds 

under Section 2007 of the Senate bill. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with 

modifications. The Conference substitute authorizes grant funds 

under sections 2003 and 2004 to be used for a number of uses including planning, training, exercises, protecting critical infrastructure, purchasing equipment, and paying personnel costs associated 

with both straight time and overtime and backfill, in addition to 

any allowable use in the FY 2007 grant guidance for the State 

Homeland Security Grant Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative (including activities permitted under the full-time 

counterterrorism staffing pilot), or the Law Enforcement Terrorism 

Prevention Program. The Conference substitute authorizes grant 

recipients to use up to 50 percent of their grant funds for overtime 

and straight personnel costs because prevention and protection activities are personnel intensive. Nonetheless, the needs of communities vary considerably, and the Conferees anticipate that many, 

if not most, recipients will not need to devote the maximum allowable funding to personnel costs. The Conferees encourage grant recipients to also emphasize planning, training, and exercising in 

their spending plans. 

It is important to note that the Conferees are concerned about 

audits and news reports illustrating some inappropriate uses of 

grant funds since the programs’ inception. The Conferees, therefore, emphasize language in the Conference substitute that prohibits grant recipients from using their funding for social and recreational purposes. 

Finally, the Conferees note the provision permitting grant recipients to use their funding for multiple purposes. To be clear, the 

Conferees do not intend for grant recipients to use their funding 

solely to prepare for natural disasters. The programs authorized in 

this title are for counter-terrorism purposes. Nevertheless, the Conferees recognize that many of the planning, training, exercising, 

and equipment needs of jurisdictions are similar, if not identical, 

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quire unique plans and capabilities, many will be part of overall 

all-hazards preparedness. Therefore, although the use of grant 

funds under these programs must further a jurisdiction’s counterterrorism activities and programs, the Conferees expect and encourage such jurisdictions to engage in activities, such as evacuation exercises, that will contribute to preparedness for both terrorist and non-terrorist events and not to hesitate to use, for example, equipment purchased for counter-terrorism purposes to respond to a non-terrorist incident. 

Subtitle B—Grants Administration 

Section 2021. Administration and coordination 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 2007 of the Senate bill requires the Administrator to 

ensure that the recipients of grants administered by the Department coordinate their activities regionally, including across State 

boundaries where appropriate, and that State and urban recipients 

establish a planning committee including relevant stakeholders to 

assist in the preparation and revision of area homeland security 

plans. This section also requires that the Department coordinate 

with other relevant Federal agencies to develop a proposal to coordinate the reporting and other requirements for homeland security assistance programs across the Federal government to avoid 

duplication and undue burdens on State, local, and tribal governments. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. 

The Conference substitute includes a provision requiring 

States and high-risk urban areas receiving grants under the State 

Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative to establish a planning committee if they have not already 

done so. The Conferees are aware that many multi-jurisdictional 

councils of governments, regional planning commissions and organizations, development districts, and consortiums have responsibility for implementing emergency response plans and coordinating 

cross-jurisdictional response capabilities, and urges the Department to support the continued use of such entities. 

Because natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other manmade disasters do not respect political boundaries, and because 

such events have the potential to overwhelm the capabilities of a 

single jurisdiction, the Conferees believe that it is important that 

there be regional coordination in preparing for these events, and 

the Conference substitute requires that the Administrator ensure 

that grant recipients appropriately coordinate with neighboring 

State, local and tribal governments. The Conference does not intend, however, that this provide a license to the Administrator to 

impose burdensome requirements on local subgrantees or other 

small communities, and encourages the Administrator to ensure regional coordination primarily by working with States, high-risk 

urban areas, and other direct recipients of grants. 

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Section 2022. Accountability 

Section 2005 of the House bill requires recipients of grants 

under the State Homeland Security Grant Program, Urban Area 

Security Initiative, and Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention 

Program to submit an annual report to the Secretary concerning 

the use and allocation of those grant funds, and provides incentives 

for submission of quarterly reports. It also requires that the Secretary submit an annual report to Congress concerning the use of 

funds by grant recipients and describing progress made in enhancing capabilities as a result of the expenditure of grant funds. 

Section 2008 of the Senate bill requires the Administrator to 

submit annual reports to Congress evaluating the extent to which 

grants have contributed to the progress of State, local, and tribal 

governments in achieving target capabilities and providing an explanation of the Department’s risk methodology. In addition, Section 2009 of the Senate bill requires the Inspector General of the 

Department (the Inspector General) to audit all recipients of grants 

under the State Homeland Security Grant Program, Urban Area 

Security Initiative, and Emergency Management Performance 

Grant program. The audits are to be conducted within two years 

of enactment of the bill or receipt of such a grant, and be made 

publicly available on the website of the Inspector General. The Inspector General is also required to audit each entity that received 

a preparedness grant from the Department prior to enactment of 

this legislation. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. Among other things, the Conference substitute requires 

that at least every two years, the Administrator conduct a programmatic and financial review of each State and high-risk urban 

area receiving a grant administered by the Department to examine 

whether grant funds are being used properly and effectively. It requires further that the Inspector General follow up these agency 

reviews by conducting independent audits of a sample of States 

and high-risk urban areas each year. The Inspector General is to 

conduct an audit of all States at least once over the next seven 

years, report to Congress on any findings, and post the results of 

the audits on the Internet, taking steps to protect classified and 

other sensitive information. The Conference substitute authorizes 

additional funding to help ensure that the Administrator and the 

Office of the Inspector General are able to carry out these oversight 

and auditing functions. In addition, the Conference substitute requires the submission of quarterly and annual reports by grant recipients. 

While the Conference acknowledges the importance of transparency and therefore requires the public online posting of audits 

in this section, the Conference substitute exempts any audit information from being released publicly that contains ‘‘sensitive’’ information. The Conference emphasizes that the sensitive information 

referred to in this provision is information that, while it may not 

be classified, would be detrimental to national security if made 

public, such as information designated as Sensitive Security Information. The Conference emphasizes therefore that the term ‘‘sensitive information,’’ and the associated exemption from public disclosure, does not apply to information which a grantee or the Demstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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partment may simply find embarrassing, questionable, unlawful, or 

otherwise suggestive of poor management or judgment. That an 

audit contains sensitive information should not be cause to withhold the entire audit from public release, but rather the Conference 

expects that such information would merely be redacted from posted audits. 

Section 102. Other Amendments to the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 

Section 2004(a)(1) of the House bill includes a provision requiring the Secretary to coordinate with the National Advisory Council 

and other components of the Department when evaluating and 

prioritizing grant applications. 

Section 2007 of the Senate bill requires that the Administrator 

regularly consult and work with the National Advisory Council, an 

advisory panel of State, local, tribal, private and nonprofit officials 

established under Section 508 of the Homeland Security Act, on the 

administration and assessment of the Department’s grant programs, in order to ensure regular and continuing input from State, 

local and tribal governments and emergency response providers 

and better integration of these parties into the grants process. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. 

Section 103. Amendments to the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 

Section 2005(h)(5)(E) of the House bill requires that each recipient of a covered grant include in its annual report to the Secretary, information on the extent to which capabilities identified in 

the applicable State homeland security plan or plans remain 

unmet. 

Section 2008(a)(1) of the Senate bill requires that, as a component of the annual Federal Preparedness Report required under 

section 652 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform 

Act, the Administrator report to Congress on the extent to which 

grants administered by the Department have contributed to State, 

local and tribal governments achieving target capabilities and have 

led to the reduction of risk. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. Section 103 of the substitute amends section 652 of the 

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act to require that 

the Administrator conduct an evaluation of the efficacy of Department grants in helping States, localities, and tribes achieve target 

capabilities and in reducing risk and to require States to report on 

the extent to which their target capabilities remain unmet and assess the resources needed to meet preparedness priorities. 

Section 104. Technical and conforming amendments 

Section 104 makes technical and conforming amendments to 

the Homeland Security Act of 2002, consistent with those made in 

section 204 of the Senate bill and paragraphs (a)(1)–(4) of Section 

101 of the House bill. 

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TITLE II—EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE 

GRANTS 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Title IV of the Senate bill reauthorizes the Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) Program. In the Senate bill, 

the program provides grants to States to assist State, local and 

tribal governments in preparing for, responding to, recovering from, 

and mitigating against all hazards. The section codifies the existing 

allocation formula for EMPG grants in which each State receives 

0.75 percent of the total appropriation for this program, with the 

remainder of the appropriated funding distributed to States in proportion to their population. The Senate bill also specifies allowable 

uses for EMPG grants, and continues the existing cost-sharing requirement, whereby the Federal share of an activity’s cost may not 

exceed 50 percent. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

modifications. Section 201 of this title directs the Administrator to 

continue implementation of an Emergency Management Performance Grants program, the Nation’s principal grant program, to assist State, local, and tribal governments in preparing for all hazards. The Conference substitute continues this program, as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and authorizes appropriations for the program 

through FY 2012. Section 202 of this title amends section 614 of 

the Stafford Act, concerning the Federal share for construction of 

Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs). Section 202 allows the Federal Government to finance up to 75 percent of the costs of equipping, upgrading, and constructing State or local EOCs. While 

equipping, upgrading, and constructing EOCs are eligible activities 

under the EMPG program, these also remain eligible activities 

under other provisions of Title VI of the Stafford Act, and section 

202 applies the maximum 75 percent Federal cost share to the 

EMPG program and to any other program authorized under Title 

VI of the Stafford Act that provides grants for construction of 

EOCs. 

TITLE III—INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOR FIRST 

RESPONDERS 

Section 301. Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program 

Section 201 of the House bill amends Title V of the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002 by creating a stand-alone interoperability 

grant program at the Department of Homeland Security (the Department or DHS). This provision directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary), acting through the Office of Grants 

and Training, in coordination with the Director of Emergency Communications, to establish the Improved Communications for Emergency Response (ICER) grant program to improve emergency communications among State, regional, national, and, in some instances, international border communities. The provision provides 

that the ICER grant program would be established the first fiscal 

year after the Department met the following requirements: the 

completion of and delivery to Congress of the National Emergency 

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Communications Plan; the completion of the baseline interoperability assessment, and the determination by the Secretary that 

substantial progress has been made with regard to emergency communications equipment and technology standards. Further, the 

provision states that the ICER grants may be used for planning, 

design and engineering, training and exercises, technical assistance, and other emergency communications activities deemed integral to emergency interoperable communications by the Secretary. 

Section 301 of the Senate bill amends Title XVIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 by creating a grant program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 

dedicated to improving operable and interoperable emergency communications at local, regional, State, Federal and, where appropriate, international levels. In applying for the grants, States 

would have to demonstrate that the grants would be used in a 

manner consistent with their Statewide interoperability plans and 

the National Emergency Communications Plan. The States would 

be required to pass at least 80 percent of the total amount of the 

grants they receive, or the functional equivalent, to local and tribal 

governments. Section 301 requires that each State receive not less 

than 0.75 percent of the total funds appropriated for the grant program in any given year. Further, Section 301 authorizes $3.3 billion for the grant program for the first five years: $400 million in 

Fiscal Year 2008; $500 million in Fiscal Year 2009; $600 million in 

Fiscal Year 2010; $800 million in Fiscal Year 2011; and $1 billion 

in Fiscal Year 2012. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision by 

amending Title XVIII of the Homeland Security Act to require that 

the Secretary establish the Interoperable Communications Grant 

Program to make the grants to States. The Conference Report 

clarifies the Senate’s all-hazards approach for the use of the grants 

by stating that the grants should be used to carry out initiatives 

to improve ‘‘interoperable emergency communications, including 

the collective response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 

other man-made disasters.’’

The Conference substitute clarifies that the Office of Emergency Communications is responsible for ensuring that the grants 

awarded under this section are consistent with the policies established by the Office of Emergency Communications in accord with 

its statutory authority and that the activities funded by the grants 

must be consistent with the Statewide interoperable communications plans and comply with the National Emergency Communication Plan, when completed. The Conference substitute further 

makes clear that FEMA will administer the grant program pursuant to its responsibilities and authorities under law. It is the intent 

of the Conferees that FEMA administer the grant program in a 

manner that is consistent with the policies established by the Office of Emergency Communications. FEMA shall provide applicants 

a reasonable opportunity to correct defects in the application, if 

any, before making final awards. 

The Conference substitute modifies the House and Senate provisions to clarify that the grants administered under this section 

shall be used for activities determined by the Secretary of the Department to be integral to interoperable communications. Because 

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of a concern about the potential for fraud, waste, and abuse, the 

Conferees expect the Department to institute aggressive oversight 

and accountability measures to ensure that grantees under this 

section use the funds in a manner that advances the standards outlined in the SAFECOM interoperability continuum, including but 

not limited to governance, standard operating procedures, technology, training and exercises, and usage. Moreover, the Conference substitute states that recipients of grant funds under this 

program are prohibited from using grants for recreational or social 

purposes. Nor may grantees use these funds to supplant State or 

local funds, or to meet cost-sharing contributions. The Conference 

substitute gives the Secretary clear authority to take ‘‘such actions 

as necessary’’ to ensure that the grant funds are being used for 

their intended purpose. 

Grants awarded pursuant to the Interoperable Emergency 

Communications Grant Program may be used for operable communications—the ability of emergency response providers and relevant 

government officials to continue to communicate in the event of 

natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters—if the Director of Emergency Communications reports to the 

Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security that a national 

baseline level of interoperability has been achieved, or if the Director of Emergency Communications finds that an applicant’s specific 

request for grant funds for operability is critical and necessary to 

achieve interoperability. 

The Conference substitute requires that before a State may receive a grant under this section, the Director of the Office of Emergency Communications shall approve the State’s statewide interoperable communications plan required under section 7303(f) of the 

Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 

§ 194(f)). The Conferees intend it to be the responsibility of the Director of Emergency Communications to ensure that the State-wide 

interoperability plans are designed to advance interoperability at 

all levels of government, consider applicable local and regional 

plans, and comply with the National Emergency Communications 

Plan, when complete. The Conference substitute provides that each 

State that receives a grant under this section shall certify that the 

grant is used for the intended purposes of the grant program. 

The Conferees agreed to remove the Senate provision related 

to a review board to assist in reviewing the grant applications since 

the Department has entrusted that responsibility to peer review 

groups made of emergency communication experts. 

The Conference substitute reflects the agreed-upon authorization of $1.6 billion for the grant program under this section which 

shall be allocated over five fiscal years beginning in Fiscal Year 

2008, after the completion of the National Emergency Communications Plan and its submission to Congress. The Conference substitute authorizes such sums as necessary for each fiscal year following the initial five year period. The Conferees agree that to ensure that grants are spent on effective measures to improve interoperability, the Secretary may not award a grant under this section 

for the purchase of equipment that does not meet applicable voluntary consensus standards, to the extent that such standards 

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ference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with modifications, 

that States receiving a grant under this section shall pass through 

80 percent of the grant funds, or the functional equivalent, to local 

and tribal governments. The Conference substitute prohibits States 

from imposing unreasonable or unduly burdensome requirements 

on tribal governments as a condition of providing grant funds or resources. 

The Conference substitute outlines the funding formula for the 

distribution of grant dollars to ensure that each State receives a 

minimum of funds for each fiscal year as follows: 0.50 percent for 

Fiscal Year 2008; 0.50 percent for Fiscal Year 2009; 0.45 percent 

for Fiscal Year 2010; 0.40 percent for Fiscal Year 2011; and 0.35 

percent for Fiscal Year 2012 and each subsequent fiscal year. The 

territories of the United States are to receive no less than 0.08 percent of the total amount appropriated for grants under this title for 

each fiscal year. 

The Conference substitute modifies the Senate’s provision regarding the annual reporting requirement of States that receive 

grants. Reports to the Office of Emergency Communications shall 

be made publicly available, subject to redactions necessary to protect classified or other sensitive information. The Conference substitute requires that the Office of Emergency Communications submit to Congress an annual report detailing how the grants under 

this section facilitate the implementation of the Statewide interoperability plans and advance interoperability at all levels of government. 

Section 302. Border interoperability demonstration project 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 302 of the Senate bill establishes an international border demonstration project involving at least six pilot projects aimed 

at improving interoperability along the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

modifications. The Senate provision establishes in the Department 

the International Border Community Interoperable Communications Demonstration Project. The Conference has agreed that the 

demonstration project will be carried out by the Office of Emergency Communications at the Department in coordination with the 

Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Commerce. The Conference directs that the demonstration project may 

only proceed after the Federal Communications Commission and 

the Department of Commerce have agreed upon the availability of 

the necessary spectrum resulting from the 800 megahertz rebanding process in the affected border areas. 

The Conference substitute directs the Office of Emergency 

Communications to foster local and tribal, State and Federal interoperable communications in those communities selected for demonstration projects. The Office of Emergency Communications is 

also directed to identify solutions to facilitate interoperable communications across the national borders, provide technical assistance, 

and ensure the emergency responders can communicate in the 

event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made 

disasters. The Conference agrees that the Director of the Office of 

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Emergency Communications shall receive a report from each State 

receiving funds under this section within 90 days of receiving the 

funds. The Conference substitute specifies that the Director may 

not fund a demonstration project for more than three years. 

TITLE IV—INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM 

Section 401. Definitions 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1002 of the Senate bill includes several definitions relevant to credentialing and typing. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

minor modifications. 

Section 402. National exercise program design 

Section 301 of the House bill strengthens the design of the national exercise program to require the program to enhance the use 

and understanding of the Incident Command System (ICS). 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision. 

Section 403. National exercise program model exercises 

Section 302 of the House bill strengthens the national exercise 

program to enhance the use and understanding of ICS by requiring 

that the national exercise program include model exercises for use 

by State, local and tribal governments. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision with 

minor modifications. 

Section 404. Preidentifying and evaluating multijurisdictional facilities to strengthen incident command; private sector preparedness 

Section 1001 of the Senate bill and section 303 of the House 

bill both contain language making it a responsibility of the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regional directors to work 

with State and local governments to pre-identify sites where multijurisdictional incident command can be established. Additionally, 

section 1001 of the Senate bill creates a responsibility for FEMA 

regional directors to coordinate with the private sector to ensure 

private sector preparedness. 

The Conference substitute adopts these provisions. 

Section 405. Federal response capability inventory 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1002 of the Senate bill establishes a database of all 

Federal personnel and resources credentialed and typed that are 

likely needed to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or 

other man-made disaster. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

modifications integrating it into the Federal Response Capability 

Inventory established by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management 

Reform Act of 2006. 

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Section 406. Reporting requirements 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1002 of the Senate bill requires an annual report to the 

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 

Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 

Representatives detailing the number and qualifications of Federal 

personnel trained and ready to respond to a natural disaster, act 

of terrorism or other man-made disaster. This section also requires 

the Administrator to evaluate whether the list of credentialed 

FEMA personnel complies with the strategic human capital plan 

established by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform 

Act of 2006. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

modifications which integrate the provisions into the reporting requirements of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform 

Act of 2006. 

Section 407. Federal preparedness 

There is no comparable House provision. 

A critical component of any incident command system is the 

use of common terminology for disaster response resources to ensure the correct resources are deployed to and used in an incident. 

Credentialing and typing involves using a common naming system 

to classify the capabilities or attributes of personnel and equipment, and is a fundamental part of the ICS. In order to fully implement ICS, section 1002 of the Senate bill requires DHS to establish 

standards for credentialing and typing personnel and other assets 

likely to be used to respond to disasters. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

modifications, amending the Post-Katrina Emergency Management 

Act to clarify that the typing and credentialing provisions will be 

used to enhance our national preparedness system. The Conference 

agrees that the typing and credentialing provisions are an essential 

part of enhancing our national preparedness system and that once 

completed, such data must be regularly updated so that an inventory of available resources is available to the Administrator of 

FEMA to aid in preparing for and responding to disasters. 

Section 408. Credentialing and typing 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1002 of the Senate bill requires DHS to establish 

standards for credentialing and typing personnel and other assets 

likely to be used to respond to disasters. Once the standards have 

been developed, the language requires DHS and other Federal 

agencies with responsibilities under the National Response Plan to 

type, credential, and inventory personnel and resources likely to be 

used in disaster response, to allow FEMA to be able to effectively 

coordinate the deployment and use of Federal resources in disaster 

response. The Senate bill also directs FEMA to distribute standards to Federal agencies with responsibilities under the National 

Response Plan, and State and local governments. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provisions with 

some modifications, requiring Federal agencies to credential and 

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viders, and other personnel (including temporary personnel) and 

resources likely needed to respond to a disaster. The Conference 

substitute also requires the Administrator of FEMA to distribute 

standards and detailed written guidance to Federal, State, local, 

and tribal governments that may be used by such governments to 

credential and type incident management personnel, emergency response providers, and other personnel (including temporary personnel) and other resources likely needed to respond to disasters. 

Section 409. Model standards and guidelines for critical infrastructure workers 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1002 of the Senate bill requires FEMA, working with 

Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, and the private-sector to establish model standards and guidelines for credentialing 

critical infrastructure workers that may be used by a State to credential critical infrastructure workers that may respond to disasters. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate language with 

minor modifications. The Conference notes that responsibility and 

authority for access of critical infrastructure workers to disaster 

sites generally resides with State and local governments, except in 

limited circumstances, and that this section does not alter those responsibilities and authorities. 

Section 410. Authorization of appropriations 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1002 of the Senate bill authorizes the appropriation of 

such sums as necessary to carry out the section. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate language with 

minor modifications. 

TITLE V—IMPROVING INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION 

SHARING WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND 

WITH STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS 

Section 501. Homeland security information sharing 

Section 723 of the House bill includes several provisions to improve homeland security information sharing. Among other things, 

it directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary), acting through the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, to 

establish a comprehensive information technology network architecture for the Department of Homeland Security’s (the Department or DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis; requires the Secretary to submit an implementation plan and progress report to 

Congress in order to monitor the development of that architecture; 

and encourages its developers to adopt the functions, methods, policies, and network qualities recommended by the Markle Foundation. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with 

modifications. It deletes the reference to an implementation plan 

for the comprehensive information technology network architecture 

and instead includes new text to reflect the purpose of that archimstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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tecture: to connect the various databases and related information 

technology assets of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis and the 

intelligence components of the Department in order to promote internal information sharing within the Department. The Conference 

substitute likewise deletes references to the Markle Foundation. 

The Conference nevertheless concurs that the architecture in question should, to the extent possible, incorporate the approaches, features, and functions of the information sharing network proposed 

by the Markle Foundation in reports issued in October 2002 and 

December 2003, known as the System-wide Homeland Security 

Analysis and Resource Exchange (SHARE) Network. 

The Conference substitute also directs the Secretary to designate ‘‘Information Sharing and Knowledge Management Officers’’

within each intelligence component to coordinate information sharing efforts and assist the Secretary with the development of feedback mechanisms to State, local, tribal, and private sector entities. 

The Conference concurs that the Department’s outreach to State, 

local, and tribal intelligence and law enforcement officials has been 

haphazard and often accompanied by less than timely results. 

While it can point to many successful examples of coordination and 

collaboration with State, local, tribal, and private sector officials, 

the Office of Intelligence and Analysis must increase its involvement with them and appropriately incorporate their non-Federal 

information into the Department’s intelligence products. In addition, it is essential that the Department provide feedback to these 

non-Federal partners—both to encourage their contributions going 

forward and to provide helpful guidance for future contributions. 

The information sharing and knowledge management officers 

under this section should play a key role in helping to address 

these gaps. 

Section 502. Intelligence component defined 

Section 723 of the House bill defines ‘‘intelligence component 

of the Department’’ as ‘‘any directorate, agency, or element of the 

Department that gathers, receives, analyzes, produces, or disseminates homeland security information’’ except: (1) ‘‘a directorate, 

agency, or element of the Department that is required to be maintained as a distinct entity’’ under the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (6 U.S.C. 101); and (2) ‘‘any personnel security, physical security, document security, or communications security program within any directorate, agency, or element of the Department.’’

Although Section 111 of the Senate bill includes a similar definition for ‘‘intelligence component of the Department,’’ it does not 

include either of the two exceptions enumerated by the House provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with 

modifications. In order to capture all of the intelligence information 

being gathered, received, analyzed, produced, or disseminated that 

might qualify an element or entity of the Department as an ‘‘intelligence component,’’ the Conference has chosen to refer to that universe of information as ‘‘intelligence information within the scope 

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struction information, or national intelligence * * *’’ This phrase 

appears numerous times throughout the Conference substitute. 

The Conference is aware that the Conference substitute defines ‘‘terrorism information’’ to include ‘‘weapons of mass destruction information’’ in section 504 of the Conference substitute. The Conference, nevertheless, has included both terms when describing ‘‘intelligence information within the scope of the information sharing 

environment’’ for illustrative purposes. This phrase should not be 

interpreted to give the term ‘‘weapons of mass destruction information’’ any meaning other than the definition for it provided in section 504 of the Conference substitute. 

The Conference substitute establishes the position of Under 

Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis to replace the Assistant 

Secretary for Information Analysis, commonly known as the Department’s Chief Intelligence Officer. The Under Secretary shall 

also serve as the Department’s Chief Intelligence Officer. Through 

the Secretary, the Under Secretary shall be given new responsibilities, in addition to those of the Assistant Secretary for Information 

Analysis, in order to drive a common intelligence mission at the 

Department that involves the full participation of the Department’s 

intelligence components. 

The Conference substitute carves out the United States Secret 

Service from the definition of ‘‘intelligence component of the Department’’ entirely. Subsection (b) nevertheless would require that 

the Secret Service share all homeland security information, terrorism information, weapons of mass destruction information, national intelligence, or suspect information obtained in criminal investigations with the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis. In addition, the United States Secret Service will cooperate 

with the Under Secretary concerning information sharing and information technology activities outlined in sections 204 and 205 of 

the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The Conference also expects 

that the Secret Service will provide training and guidance to its 

employees, officials, and senior executives in a manner that is comparable to the training provided to intelligence component personnel under section 208 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. 

The Conference intends that the United States Secret Service 

should participate to the fullest extent in the integration and management of the intelligence enterprise of the Department. Given 

unique operational equities of the United States Secret Service, 

however, the Conference does not believe that it is appropriate to 

specifically identify the United States Secret Service as an ‘‘intelligence component’’ of the Department. The provision also clarifies 

that nothing in this Act interferes with the position of the United 

States Secret Service as a ‘‘distinct entity’’ within the Department. 

Subsection (b) carves out the Coast Guard from the definition 

of ‘‘intelligence component of the Department’’ when it is engaged 

in certain activities or acting under or pursuant to particular authorities. The Conference concurs that nothing in this section shall 

provide the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis with 

operational or other tasking authority over the Coast Guard. The 

Conference nevertheless believes that the Coast Guard should collaborate and participate in the intelligence enterprise of the Department of Homeland Security. 

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Section 503. Role of intelligence components, training, and information sharing 

Section 742 of the House bill delineates several key responsibilities for the head of each intelligence component of the Department regarding support for, and coordination and cooperation with, 

the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of 

acquisition, analysis, and dissemination of homeland security information; performance appraisals, bonus or award recommendations, 

pay adjustments, and other forms of commendation; recruitment 

and selection of intelligence officials of intelligence components detailed to the Office of Intelligence and Analysis; reorganization and 

restructuring of intelligence components; and program and policy 

compliance. 

Section 114 of the Senate bill, in turn, establishes information 

sharing incentives for employees and officers across the Federal 

Government by providing the President and agency heads with the 

discretion to consider, when making cash awards for outstanding 

performance, an employee’s or officer’s success in sharing information within the scope of the information sharing environment (ISE) 

described in Section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 

Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485). It also requires agency and 

department heads to adopt best practices to educate and motivate 

employees and officers to participate fully in that environment— through, among other things, promotions, other nonmonetary 

awards, and recognition for a job well done. 

The Conference substitute combines the House and Senate provisions, with modifications. 

The Conference concurs that creating these additional responsibilities for the heads of the intelligence components will institute 

a clearer relationship between the Under Secretary for Intelligence 

and Analysis and the intelligence components of the Department. 

Successful implementation of this section should result in a 

strengthened departmental intelligence capability allowing information and intelligence to be seamlessly fused into intelligence 

products that are truly National. It would integrate information obtained at America’s land and maritime borders; from State and 

local governments; and including intelligence on ports, mass transit 

facilities, chemical plants, and other critical infrastructure. While 

the Department has taken many solid steps in this direction since 

the completion of the Second Stage Review in July 2005, the Conference believes that the Secretary must redouble efforts to better 

integrate the intelligence components of the Department internally. 

The Conference notes that one of the greatest challenges to establishing the ISE is conveying its importance to employees and officers across the Federal Government who are being asked to do 

something new and—in many cases—foreign to them. Incentives 

will motivate many such employees and officers to educate themselves about the guidelines, instructions, policies, procedures, and 

standards that are applicable to the ISE and how their particular 

agency or department is incorporating them into its culture. The 

Conference observes, however, that nothing in this section should 

be construed to prohibit an agency or department head, in consultation with the program manager of the ISE under section 1016 

of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 

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U.S.C. 485) (‘‘ISE Program Manager’’), from prescribing appropriate penalties for failing to participate fully in the ISE. 

Section 504. Information sharing 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 112 of the Senate bill amends section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 by broadening the definition of ‘‘terrorism information’’ to include both 

homeland security information and weapons of mass destruction information and by defining ‘‘weapons of mass destruction information.’’ Senate Section 112 likewise eliminates the temporary terms 

of both the ISE Program Manager and the Information Sharing 

Council, set to expire in April 2007, and makes them permanent. 

Additionally, it enhances the ISE Program Manager’s governmentwide authority not only by clarifying the Program Manager’s existing authority over the information sharing activities of Federal 

agencies but also by establishing new authorities to (1) issue government-wide information sharing standards; (2) identify and resolve information sharing disputes; and (3) identify to the Director 

of National Intelligence appropriate personnel from agencies represented on the Information Sharing Council for detail assignments 

to the Program Manager to support staffing needs. Senate Section 

112 also authorizes up to 40 FTEs and $30,000,000 in each of the 

next two fiscal years to support the Program Manager. Finally, it 

requires the government to report on the feasibility of eliminating 

Originator Control markings, adopting an authorized use standard 

for information sharing, and using anonymized data to promote information sharing. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

modifications. Among other things, it excludes ‘‘homeland security 

information’’, as defined in Section 892(f) of the Homeland Security 

Act of 2002, from the definition of ‘‘terrorism information’’. The specialized missions of the Department create for it a unique role 

within the larger Intelligence Community that requires, among 

other things, specific information for preventing, interdicting, and 

disrupting terrorist activity and securing the homeland in the 

aftermath of a terrorist attack. Accordingly, the Conferees concur 

that ‘‘homeland security information’’ is sufficiently distinct from 

the more broadly defined ‘‘terrorism information’’ to merit keeping 

the definitions separate. 

Section 511. Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and 

Regional Fusion Center Initiative 

Section 732 of the House bill directs the Secretary to establish 

a DHS State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative to coordinate the Department’s intelligence efforts with State, local, and 

regional fusion centers; assist fusion centers with carrying out their 

homeland security duties; facilitate information sharing efforts between fusion centers and the Department; encourage nationwide 

and integrated information sharing among fusion centers themselves; and incorporate robust privacy and civil liberties safeguards 

and training into fusion center operations. 

Section 121 of the Senate bill contains comparable language. 

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The Conference concurs that the DHS State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative is key to Federal information sharing efforts and must succeed in order for the Department to remain 

relevant in the blossoming State and local intelligence community. 

State, local, and regional fusion centers are being successfully established across the country by State and local law enforcement 

and intelligence agencies. The Conference agrees that the Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, which has a primary responsibility for sharing information with State, local, and regional 

officials, needs to play a stronger, more constructive role in assisting these centers and are pleased to see that the Department has 

begun doing so. However, the Department must act quickly, thoroughly, and cooperatively in order to provide the maximum amount 

of support for these centers. 

The Conference applauds the State, local, and regional efforts 

to make fusion centers a reality and the dedication of those who 

staff those centers. The Conference notes, however, that although 

fusion centers are led, operated, and otherwise run by States and 

localities, there is a need for a common baseline of operations at 

fusion centers in order to attain not only their full potential but 

also the full potential of the various initiatives undertaken in the 

Conference agreement. The Conference expects that the grant process established in the Conference substitute, the qualifying criteria 

for fusion centers wishing to participate in the DHS State, Local, 

and Regional Fusion Center Initiative, and the guidelines for fusion 

centers included in the Conference substitute will all help create a 

common baseline of operations for fusion centers that will ensure 

their success into the future. 

The Conference substitute adopts Section 121 of the Senate 

bill, with modifications, to reflect the key functionalities and priorities of the Border Intelligence Fusion Center Program established 

in Section 712 of the House bill. That Program was designed to 

provide the Department with a more robust ‘‘border intelligence’’ capability—a capability essential to improving the Department’s 

ability to interdict terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, and related contraband at America’s land and maritime borders. The 

Conference concurs that the Department can make better use of its 

resources, and obtain better situational awareness of terrorist 

threats at or involving those borders, by partnering more effectively with State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers in relevant jurisdictions. With better information sharing, those officers 

can act as ‘‘force multipliers’’ that may very well help prevent the 

next terrorist attack from abroad. 

The Conference believes that by deploying officers and intelligence analysts from United States Customs and Border Protection 

(CBP), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement 

(ICE), and the Coast Guard to fusion centers participating in the 

Program, the Department can increase its capacity to create accurate, actionable, and timely border intelligence products aimed at 

this threat. In order to maximize their effectiveness, CBP, ICE, and 

Coast Guard officers and analysts creating border intelligence products should not only include the input of police and sheriffs’ officers 

as part of their process, but also should ensure that those products 

actually respond to the needs of officers in the field as expressed 

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by those officers. The Conference accordingly believes that the Department personnel assigned to fusion centers under this section 

should communicate with State, local, and tribal law enforcement 

officers not only at fusion centers but also in their actual communities where they are headquartered. 

While the Conference believes that the Department’s effort at 

State, local, and regional fusion centers is a critical one that should 

be encouraged, they note that it is not the only such effort. The 

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for example, has had longstanding relationships with State, local, and tribal law enforcement 

and other emergency response providers through Joint Terrorism 

Task Forces (JTTFs) across the country and has established Field 

Intelligence Groups (FIGs) that are, in many cases, colocated with 

the fusion centers. Those relationships have continued through the 

JTTFs, FIGs, and an established and growing FBI presence at 

many fusion centers. Nothing in this section should be construed 

to subordinate the role of the FBI to the Department’s own efforts 

with the JTTFs and at fusion centers. On the contrary, it is the 

Conferees hope that the Department, the FBI, and other Federal 

agencies will coordinate as equal players at State, local, and regional fusion centers in order to form a united Federal partnership 

with their State and local counterparts on the front lines of the nation’s homeland security efforts. 

Further, the Conference recognizes that the Coast Guard is establishing Interagency Operations Command Centers (IOCCs) pursuant to the SAFE Port Act and authorized under Section 70107A 

of title 46, United States Code. IOCCs are being developed as 

model Federal centers to improve interagency cooperation, unity of 

command, and the sharing of intelligence information in a common 

mission to provide greater protection for port and intermodal transportation systems against acts of terrorism in the maritime domain. Nothing in this section should be construed to subordinate 

the role of the Coast Guard’s efforts with the IOCCs. 

Finally, the Conference recognizes, consistent with the Fusion 

Center Guidelines produced jointly by the Department of Justice 

and DHS, the important role of the public safety component in the 

fusion process. Emergency response providers are able to provide 

valuable information to the overall intelligence picture; likewise, 

the fusion process may provide advance information that enables 

essential preparation measures to enable a more effective response. 

Therefore, while the Conference stresses that State and local governments must ultimately determine the mission, composition, operating procedures, and communication channels of fusion centers 

and the fusion process, they emphasize the inherent value in including emergency response providers within the governance structure making these determinations. Nothing in this section is intended to mandate that representatives of the emergency response 

provider community should be physically located in all fusion centers or that their mission should shift emphasis from the missions 

of the intelligence and law enforcement communities. Rather, the 

Conference intends that fusion center governing boards and the fusion process should be structured so as to enable the consideration 

of nontraditional information from emergency response providers in 

a collaborative environment. 

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Section 512. Homeland Security Information Sharing Fellows Program 

Section 733 of the House bill directs the Secretary, through the 

Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, to establish a fellowship program for State, local, and tribal officials to rotate into the 

Office of Intelligence and Analysis in order to identify for Department intelligence analysts the kinds of homeland security information that are of interest to State, local, and tribal law enforcement 

and other emergency response providers; assist Department intelligence analysts in writing intelligence reports in a shareable format that provides end users with accurate, actionable, and timely 

information without disclosing sensitive sources and methods; 

serve as a point of contact for State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers and other emergency response providers in the field 

who want to share information with the Department; and assist in 

the dissemination of homeland security information to appropriate 

end users. 

Section 122 of the Senate bill contains nearly identical language. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate’s provision, as 

modified. The Conference concurs that implementation of this section will help break down the cultural barriers to information sharing by teaming State, local, and tribal homeland security and law 

enforcement officers with the Department intelligence analysts 

tasked with creating intelligence products for them. The Conference notes that this section will complement the DHS State, 

Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative by providing State, 

local, and tribal officials with better insight and input into the Department’s information sharing operations and allowing them to 

play a greater role in the Department’s information sharing effort. 

Section 513. Rural Policing Institute 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 123 of the Senate bill creates a ‘‘Rural Policing Institute’’ that is to be administered by the Federal Law Enforcement 

Training Center. The Institute would provide training for local and 

tribal law enforcement officers located in rural areas—defined as 

those areas not located within metropolitan statistical areas, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget—and would be tailored to law enforcement requirements that are unique to those 

areas. Section 123 would require the inclusion of several law enforcement topics in the curriculum, including methamphetamine 

addiction and distribution, domestic violence, and law enforcement 

response to school shootings. It likewise requires an assessment of 

these and other requirements and the development of a curriculum 

to address those requirements. Section 123 authorizes $10 million 

for Fiscal Year 2008 for the administration of the program and $5 

million for each of Fiscal Years 2009 through 2013. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

modifications. It broadens the Institute’s focus to encompass not 

only law enforcement agencies but also other emergency response 

providers located in rural areas. Moreover, it deletes the references 

to training related to specific criminal offenses, and replaces them 

with training programs with a greater focus on homeland security 

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in the areas of intelligence-led policing and protections for privacy, 

civil right, and civil liberties. 

Section 521. Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination 

Group 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 131 of the Senate bill directs the Information Sharing 

Environment (ISE) Program Manager to oversee and coordinate the 

creation of an Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination 

Group (ITACG) that has as its primary mission the production of 

Federally coordinated products derived from information within the 

scope of the ISE for distribution to State, local, and tribal government officials and the private sector. Section 131 of the Senate bill 

locates the ITACG at the National Counterterrorism Center 

(NCTC) and directs the Secretary to assign a senior level officer to 

manage and direct the administration of the ITACG; to determine 

how specific products should be distributed to end users; and to establish standards for the admission of law enforcement and intelligence officials from State, local, or tribal governments into the 

ITACG. Section 131 of the Senate bill further prescribes the membership of the ITACG—including State, local, and tribal law enforcement and intelligence officials—and directs the ISE Program 

Manager to establish criteria for the selection of those officials and 

for the proper handling and safeguarding of information related to 

terrorism. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

modifications. The Conference notes that the ITACG has roots in, 

among other places, the ISE Implementation Plan (the Plan) prepared by the ISE Program Manager in November 2006 to ensure 

the timely and effective production, integration, vetting, sanitization, and communication of terrorism information to the Federal 

Government’s State, local, and tribal partners. The Plan explained 

that a ‘‘primary purpose of the ITACG will be to ensure that classified and unclassified intelligence produced by Federal organizations 

within the intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security 

communities is fused, validated, deconflicted, and approved for dissemination in a concise and, where possible, unclassified format’’ to 

State, local, and tribal officials. The ISE Program Manager envisioned having the ITACG based at the NCTC and managed on a 

day-to-day basis by a senior Department official. The ISE Program 

Manager likewise envisioned that the Department and the Department of Justice would share the decision-making authority regarding how to disseminate various types of information to State, local, 

and tribal officials and the private sector. 

The Conference substitute bifurcates the ITACG into two distinct entities. The first entity, an ITACG Advisory Council chaired 

by the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee, shall set policy and 

develop processes for the integration, analysis, and dissemination 

of Federally-coordinated information within the scope of the ISE, 

including homeland security information, terrorism information, 

and weapons of mass destruction information. The second entity, 

an ITACG Detail created by the Secretary and managed by a senior Department intelligence official, shall be comprised of State, 

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tailed to work in the NCTC with NCTC and other Federal intelligence analysts. Participants in the ITACG Detail shall integrate, 

analyze, and assist the dissemination of the aforementioned information to appropriate State, local, tribal, and private sector end 

users. 

The Conference strongly believes that the ITACG presents the 

Department with a unique opportunity to realize its mission as the 

primary source of accurate, actionable, and timely homeland security information for its State, local, tribal and private sector partners that Congress had originally envisioned in the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101). The Department should seize the 

moment. The ITACG will provide the Department and the wider 

Intelligence Community with an unmatched ability to identify information that is of interest and utility to those partners; produce 

reports which can be disseminated to them in an unclassified format or at the lowest possible classification level; and assist in the 

targeted dissemination of particular intelligence products to appropriate end users. By building upon the Department’s customer 

service approach to information sharing, Department leadership of 

the ITACG will help the Department and other Federal agencies 

co-located at the NCTC to leverage their existing ties with their 

State, local, tribal, and private sector counterparts and ultimately 

invigorate the two-way flow of information with them that the 9/ 

11 Commission identified as critical to making the homeland more 

secure. 

While the Secretary will play the primary role in establishing 

and maintaining the ITACG Detail and shall detail a senior intelligence official from the Department to manage its day-to-day activities, the Department is reminded that it is a guest in the 

NCTC. As direct reports to the Director of the NCTC, the senior 

intelligence official from the Department and the ITACG detailees 

themselves must comply with all policies, procedures, and rules applicable to other staff working in the NCTC—including any mandatory polygraph examination for NCTC staff. Neither the ITACG 

Advisory Council nor the ITACG Detail are in any way intended 

to impede, replicate, or supplant the analytic and/or production efforts of the NCTC, nor are they intended to duplicate, impede, or 

otherwise interfere with existing and established counterterrorism 

roles and responsibilities. 

With regard to the preparation, review, and dissemination of 

products from the ITACG Detail, it is the Conference’s intent that 

those products be subject to the same policies, procedures, and 

rules applicable to NCTC products. Pursuant to 102A(f)(1)(B)(iii) 

and 119(f)(E) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 402 

et seq.), it is the Conference’s further intent that the Director 

should act as a gatekeeper when providing products prepared by 

the ITACG Detail to the Department, the Department of Justice, 

and other appropriate agencies for dissemination to State, local, 

tribal, and private sector end users. Nothing in this section should 

be construed to mean that the Director may distribute products 

prepared by the ITACG Detail directly to those end users. 

Finally, the Conference agrees that the privacy and civil liberties impact assessment required under this section shall specifically address how the ITACG will incorporate the Guidelines to Immstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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plement Information Privacy Rights and other Legal Protections in 

the Development and Use of the Information Sharing Environment 

released by the President on November 22, 2006 (Presidential 

Guidelines) to protect privacy rights and civil liberties. 

Section 531. Office of Intelligence and Analysis and Office of Infrastructure Protection 

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101) created an 

Under Secretary for Information Analysis, assisted by an Assistant 

Secretary for Information and Analysis and an Assistant Secretary 

for Infrastructure Protection, and specified the Under Secretary’s 

primary responsibilities. These include: (1) receiving and analyzing 

law enforcement information, intelligence, and other lawfully obtained information in order to understand the nature and scope of 

the terrorist threat to the United States homeland; (2) integrating 

relevant information to produce and disseminate infrastructure 

vulnerabilities assessments; (3) analyzing that information to identify and prioritize the types of protective measures to be taken; (4) 

making recommendations for information sharing and developing a 

national plan that would outline recommendations to improve the 

security of key resources; (5) administering the Homeland Security 

Advisory System; (6) exercising primary responsibility for public 

threat advisory and providing specific warning information to State 

and local governments and the private sector, as well as advice 

about appropriate protective actions and countermeasures; (7) making recommendations for improvements in the policies and procedures governing the sharing of law enforcement, intelligence, and 

other information relating to homeland security within the Federal 

government and between the Federal government and State and 

local governments. 

Following the completion of the Department’s Second Stage Review in July of 2005, the Secretary renamed the Office of Information Analysis the ‘‘Office of Intelligence and Analysis’’ and gave it 

responsibilities in addition to those outlined in the Homeland Security Act. In addition to its statutory duties, one of the major responsibilities for the new Office of Intelligence and Analysis is to 

serve as the Chief Intelligence Officer of the Department—taking 

responsibility for leading the intelligence components of the Department. 

Sections 741 and 743 of the House bill reflect these changes by 

statutorily reorganizing the Directorate for Information Analysis 

and Infrastructure Protection by doing away with the Directorate 

and the Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection position and officially establishing in its place a 

separate Office of Intelligence and Analysis, elevating the Assistant 

Secretary for Information and Analysis to an Under Secretary for 

Intelligence and Analysis as its head; and a separate Office of Infrastructure Protection, headed by the Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection. Sections 741 and 743 of the House bill likewise divide the responsibilities of the former Under Secretary for 

Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection outlined in Section 201(d) of the Homeland Security Act between the new Under 

Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis and new Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection. Section 741 in the House bill 

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also adds several new responsibilities for the Under Secretary for 

Intelligence and Analysis. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provisions, with 

substantial modifications. While the Conference agrees with the 

Department’s consolidation of the duties of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, they also believe that the powers of the Department’s Chief Intelligence Officer can only be effectively wielded 

by an Under Secretary. Therefore, this section amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101) to restructure the Department to reflect the changes wrought by the Second Stage Review 

by elevating the Assistant Secretary for Information Analysis to 

Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis and by officially establishing an Office of Intelligence and Analysis and an Office of 

Infrastructure Protection. 

The Conference substitute retains those authorities from Section 201(d) of the Homeland Security Act in the Secretary for delegation to the appropriate officials. Those authorities include a new 

authority in the Conference agreement, to be carried out most likely by the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis: the provision of guidance to the heads of intelligence components on developing budgets, and the presentation of recommendations for a consolidated intelligence budget to the Secretary. 

Finally, the Conference substitute establishes an additional 

Under Secretary responsible for overseeing critical infrastructure 

protection, cybersecurity, and other related programs of the Department. 

TITLE VI—CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF INTELLIGENCE 

Section 601. Availability to public of certain intelligence funding information 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1201 of the Senate bill requires the President to disclose to the public the aggregate amount of funds requested for the 

National Intelligence Program for each fiscal year. It also would require Congress to disclose to the public the aggregate amount authorized to be appropriated and the aggregate amount appropriated 

for the National Intelligence Program. The 9/11 Commission recommended in 2004 that the aggregate amount of funding for national intelligence be declassified, and in 2004 the Senate-passed 

version of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act included a similar provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

modifications. The Conference substitute requires the Director of 

National Intelligence to disclose to the public the aggregate amount 

of funds appropriated by Congress for the National Intelligence 

Program, beginning with Fiscal Year 2007. Beginning with Fiscal 

Year 2009, it allows the President to waive or postpone this disclosure by submitting to the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 

Senate and Permanent Select Committee of the House of Representatives an unclassified statement that the disclosure would 

damage national security, and a statement detailing the reasons 

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for the waiver or postponement, which may be submitted in classified form. 

Section 602. Public Interest Declassification Board 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1203 of the Senate bill authorizes the Public Interest 

Declassification Board, upon receiving a Congressional request, to 

conduct a review and make recommendations regardless of whether 

the review is requested by the President. It further provides that 

any recommendations submitted by the Board to the President 

shall also be submitted to the Chairman and Ranking Minority 

Member of the requesting Committee and extends the authorization of the Board for four years until the end of 2012. 

As described in its report on activities in the 109th Congress 

(S. Rep. No. 110–57, at p. 26), in September 2006, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released two reports on prewar intelligence regarding Iraq. In the introduction to one, the Committee 

expressed disagreement with the Intelligence Community’s decision 

to classify portions of the report. Members of the Committee wrote 

to the then recently constituted Public Interest Declassification 

Board to request that it review the material and make recommendations about its classification. The Board responded that it 

might not be able to do so without White House authorization. In 

December 2006, the Board wrote to Congress to request that the 

statute establishing the Board be clarified to enable it to begin, 

without White House approval, a declassification review requested 

by Congress. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

minor technical and conforming changes to the Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000 (50 U.S.C. 435 note) to substitute the ‘‘Director of National Intelligence’’ for the ‘‘Director of Central Intelligence.’’

Section 603. Sense of the Senate regarding a report on the 9/11 

Commission recommendations with respect to intelligence reform and congressional intelligence oversight reform 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1204 of the Senate bill makes findings related to the 

9/11 Commission’s recommendation on Congressional oversight of 

intelligence. It expresses the Sense of the Senate that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the 

Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate should undertake a 

review of the recommendations made in the final report of the 

9/11 Commission with respect to intelligence reform and Congressional intelligence oversight reform, review and consider other suggestions, options, or recommendations for improving intelligence 

oversight, and not later than December 21, 2007, submit to the 

Senate a joint report or individual reports that include the recommendations of the Committees, if any, for carrying out such reforms. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

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Section 604. Availability of funds for the Public Interest Declassification Board 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1205 of the Senate bill allows the National Archives 

and Records Administration to obligate monies to carry out the activities of the Public Interest Declassification Board from the Continuing Appropriations Resolution of 2007, as amended. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

Section 605. Availability of the executive summary of the Report on 

Central Intelligence Agency Accountability Regarding the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1206 of the Senate bill provides that not later than 30 

days after the enactment of this Act, the CIA Director shall prepare and make available to the public a version of the Executive 

Summary of a report by the CIA Inspector General that is declassified to the maximum extent possible consistent with national security. 

The underlying document is the Office of Inspector General Report on Central Intelligence Agency Accountability Regarding Findings and Conclusions of the Joint Inquiry Into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After September 11, 2001. 

The CIA Director is to submit to Congress a classified annex 

that explains why any redacted material in the Executive Summary was withheld from the public. The Senate Select Committee 

on Intelligence includes a similar provision in its Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. The Committee’s efforts to obtain this measure of public accountability are detailed in its report 

on the Committee’s activities in the 109th Congress, S. Rep. No. 

110–57, at pp. 24–26 (2007). 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

TITLE VII—TERRORIST TRAVEL 

Section 701. Report on international collaboration to increase border security, enhance global document security, and exchange 

terrorist information 

Section 611 of the House bill requires the Department of 

Homeland Security (the Department or DHS), in conjunction with 

the Director of National Intelligence and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, to submit a report to Congress outlining 

the actions the U.S. government has taken to collaborate with 

international partners to increase border security, enhance document security, and exchange information about terrorists. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision. 

Section 711. Modernization of the Visa Waiver Program 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 501 of the Senate bill enhances the security requirements in the Visa Waiver Program and provides for the program’s 

limited expansion. This section authorizes the development and implementation of an electronic travel authorization system under 

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which each Visa Waiver Program traveler would electronically provide information, in advance of travel, necessary to determine 

whether the individual is eligible to travel to the United States. 

The Section also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (the 

Secretary) to establish an exit system that records the departure 

of every alien who entered under the Visa Waiver Program and departed the United States by air. In addition to existing program requirements, all Visa Waiver Program countries are required to 

enter into agreements with the United States to report information 

about the theft or loss of passports, accept repatriation of its citizens, and share information about whether a national of that country traveling to the United States represents a threat to U.S. security. 

Section 501 permits the Secretary of Homeland Security, in 

consultation with the Secretary of State, to waive the existing 3 

percent nonimmigrant visa refusal rate requirement, up to 10 percent, for admission into the Visa Waiver Program. Alternatively, 

the Secretary can waive the existing 3 percent nonimmigrant visa 

refusal rate if a country’s nationals do not exceed a rate, set by the 

Secretary, of overstaying their authorized admission in the United 

States. This waiver authority is only granted to countries meeting 

additional security criteria, including cooperating in 

counterterrorism initiatives, and only when the Secretary determines that security or law enforcement interests of the United 

States will not be compromised. Before exercising a waiver, the 

Secretary must also certify to Congress that an air exit system is 

in place that can verify the departure of not less than 97 percent 

of foreign nationals who exit by air. 

The Conference adopts the Senate provision, with modifications. 

The Conference recognizes that the Visa Waiver Program, 

which Congress established in 1986, has benefitted commerce and 

tourism between the United States and participating Visa Waiver 

Program countries. The Conference believes that a modernization 

of the program is long overdue and that a careful and controlled 

expansion to countries who have not quite met existing program 

entrance requirements but who have been partners with the U.S. 

in fighting terrorism is appropriate in order to promote greater 

international security cooperation. In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and subsequent foiled terror plots, the 

imperative for reform is greater than ever. 

The Conference agrees on the need for significant security enhancements to the entire Visa Waiver Program as set forth in the 

Senate bill and to the implementation of the electronic travel authorization system prior to permitting the Secretary to admit new 

countries under his new waiver authority. The Conference mandates that the Secretary develop such an electronic travel authorization system to collect biographical and such other information 

from each prospective Visa Waiver Program traveler necessary to 

determine whether the alien is eligible to travel under the program 

and whether a law enforcement or security risk exists in permitting the alien to travel to the United States. The Conference believes the Secretary should check the information collected in the 

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bases, including lost and stolen passport databases such as that 

maintained by Interpol. The Conference believes that checking 

travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries against all appropriate watch lists and databases will greatly enhance the overall 

security of the Visa Waiver Program. 

In addition, the Conference agrees to permit the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to 

waive the existing 3 percent nonimmigrant visa refusal rate requirement, up to 10 percent, and to allow the Secretary to establish 

an overstay rate in lieu of the 3 percent nonimmigrant visa refusal 

rate for admission into the Visa Waiver Program. The Conference 

believes this overstay rate should reflect a reasonable expectation 

that the country can continue to participate in the VWP under existing statutory criteria. 

The Conference further agrees to provide the Secretary this 

waiver authority upon certification by the Secretary to Congress 

that there is an air exit system in place to verify the departure of 

not less than 97 percent of foreign nationals who exit by air, which 

may or may not be fully biometric. The Conference also agrees that 

the ultimate goal is to achieve a fully biometric air exit system, as 

described in subsection (I) of the bill. Therefore, if such a biometric 

system is not implemented by June 30, 2009, the Secretary’s waiver authority that was based upon his certification of 97 percent accuracy of any non-biometric exit system shall be suspended until 

a biometric exit system is fully operational. Establishment of this 

biometric system will implement a 9/11 Commission recommendation and will enhance our border security and immigration enforcement by ensuring our ability to track the arrivals and departures 

of foreign nationals. 

Section 721. Strengthening the capabilities of the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center 

Section 601 of the House bill directs the Secretary, acting 

through the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to: provide administrative 

support and funding to the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center (the Center); ensure the Center is staffed with not fewer than 

30 full-time equivalent personnel; and seek reimbursement from 

the Attorney General and the Secretary of State for costs associated with the participation of their respective departments in the 

operation of the Center. The section also directs the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (renamed under section 741), in coordination 

with the Center, to submit to law enforcement and relevant agencies periodic reports regarding terrorist threats related to such 

smuggling, trafficking, and travel. 

Section 502 of the Senate bill is a comparable section but 

amends Section 7202 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1777) to direct the Secretary to nominate a U.S. government official to serve as the Director of the 

Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center, in accordance with the 

Center’s Memorandum of Understanding entitled ‘‘Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center Charter.’’ This section also clarifies 

the role of the Center as the focal point for interagency efforts to 

integrate and disseminate intelligence and information related to 

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terrorist travel. The section requires that the Center be staffed 

with at least 40 full time employees and directs the Secretary to 

work with various DHS agencies and other Federal Departments to 

provide detailees with appropriate areas of expertise. The section 

also authorizes $20 million to allow the Center to carry out its existing responsibilities, fund the administrative costs and management of the Center, increase staffing levels and reimburse other 

Federal Departments for personnel. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

modifications. The Conference agrees that the Center should be 

staffed with intelligence analysts or special agents with demonstrated experience related to human smuggling, trafficking in 

persons, or terrorist travel, in addition to individuals with other expertise including consular affairs, counterterrorism, and criminal 

law enforcement from throughout the government. 

The Conference also agrees that the Secretary and the heads 

of other relevant agencies should provide incentives for service at 

the Center, particularly for personnel who serve terms of at least 

two years. Staff detailed to the Center, except for those subject to 

the provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, shall be considered for promotion at rates equivalent to or better than similarly 

situated personnel not so assigned. 

The Conference agrees to adopt section 601(f) from the House 

provision, but delete the requirement that the Office of Intelligence 

and Analysis submit reports to ‘‘Federal’’ law enforcement agencies 

and ‘‘other relevant agencies,’’ as this would be a function performed by the Center. The Conference clarifies that subsection (d) 

in no way impedes the authority of the Secretary of State to participate in the selection of the Director of the Center, a role that 

is described in the Center’s memorandum of understanding entitled ‘‘Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center Charter,’’ as amended 

as of October 1, 2006. That Memorandum of Understanding establishes that the Director will be confirmed by the Department, the 

Department of Justice, and the State Department. Finally, the 

Conferees agree to fund 40 full-time equivalent staff and to authorize $20 million for the Center for Fiscal Year 2008. 

Section 722. Enhancements to the terrorist travel program 

There is no comparable House provision. 

The Department never created the terrorist travel program 

mandated by section 7215 of Public Law 108–458. Section 503 of 

the Senate bill requires the Secretary to establish the program 

within 90 days of enactment and to report to Congress within 180 

days on the implementation of the program. The section requires 

that the Assistant Secretary for Policy at the Department, or another official that reports directly to the Secretary, be designated 

as head of the terrorist travel program and outlines specific duties 

to be carried out by the head of the program. Those duties include: 

developing strategies and policies for the Department to combat 

terrorist travel; reviewing the effectiveness of existing programs to 

combat terrorist travel across DHS; making budget recommendations that will improve DHS’s ability to combat terrorist travel; and 

ensuring effective coordination among DHS agencies with missions 

related to intercepting and apprehending terrorists. This section 

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also designates the head of the program as the point of contact for 

DHS with the National Counterterrorism Center and requires that 

the Secretary submit a report to Congress on the implementation 

of the section. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

Section 723. Enhanced driver’s license 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 504 of the Senate bill would require the Secretary to 

enter into a memorandum of agreement with at least one State to 

pilot the use of enhanced driver’s licenses that would be valid for 

a U.S. citizen’s admission into the United States from Canada and 

require a report to Congress on the pilot. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified to permit a pilot of U.S. citizens entering the country from 

either Canada or Mexico. 

Section 724. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 505 of the Senate bill would require the Secretary to 

complete a cost-benefit analysis of the Western Hemisphere Travel 

Initiative (WHTI) and a study of ways to reduce the fees associated 

with passport cards prior to publishing a final rule for WHTI. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified to specify that the Secretary of State shall develop proposals for reducing passport card fees, including through mobile application teams who could accept applications for the passport card 

in communities particularly affected by WHTI. The Conference believes that the cost/benefit analysis should include the cost to the 

State Department and resources required to meet the increased 

volume of passports requests. 

Section 725. Model ports-of-entry 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 506 of the Senate bill would require the Secretary to 

establish a model ports of entry program aimed at improving security and streamlining the current arrival process for incoming travelers at the 20 busiest international airports in the United States. 

It requires the Department to hire at least 200 additional Customs 

and Border Protection officers to address staff shortages at these 

airports, and it would also require measures that would ensure a 

more efficient international arrival process. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. 

Section 731. Report regarding border security. 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1604 of the Senate bill directs the Secretary to report 

to Congress regarding ongoing DHS initiatives to improve security 

along the U.S. northern border. The section also requires the 

Comptroller General to report to Congress with a review and comments on that report and recommendations regarding any necessary additional actions to protect that border. 

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The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. 

TITLE VIII—PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES 

Section 801. Modification of authorities relating to privacy and civil 

liberties oversight board 

Sections 802, 803, 804, 805, and 806(a) of the House bill amend 

Section 1061 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention 

Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–458) by modifying the structure and 

operations of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (the 

Board). This section removes the Board from the Executive Office 

of the President and makes the Board an independent agency. It 

also requires each of the Board’s five members to be confirmed by 

the U.S. Senate. The House language also provides the Board with 

subpoena powers that will be enforced by the U.S. District Court 

in the judicial district where the subpoenaed person resides. The 

Board is required to submit not less than two reports each year to 

the appropriate Committees of Congress that shall include a description of the Board’s activities, information on its findings, conclusions, minority views, and recommendations resulting from its 

advice and oversight functions. 

Section 601 of the Senate bill is a comparable provision; however, it strengthens the Board’s authority without removing it from 

the Executive Office of the President. Additionally, the Senate provision also grants subpoena power to the Board; however, it differs 

from the House provision in that the subpoena must be issued by 

the Attorney General who shall either issue the subpoena as requested or provide the Board with an explanation if the subpoena 

request is modified or denied. If the request is modified or denied, 

Congress shall be notified of this action within thirty days. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision regarding the removal of the Board from the Executive Office of the President and adopts the Senate provision regarding the Board’s subpoena power. All other comparable provisions were integrated. 

Section 802. Department Privacy Officer 

Section 812 of the House bill adopts the language contained in 

the Privacy Officer with Enhanced Rights Act of 2007, as introduced. In particular, this section expands the Department of Homeland Security’s (the Department or DHS) Chief Privacy Officer’s 

(CPO) access to any and all material available to the Department 

that fall under the CPO’s purview. The CPO is also given authority 

to administer oaths and issue subpoenas to facilitate investigations 

and reporting requirements. The CPO’s term of office would last for 

a period of 5 years and the individual appointed would be required 

to submit reports to Congress, without any prior comment by the 

Secretary, Deputy Secretary or any other officer of the Department, 

regarding the performance and responsibilities of the Privacy Office. 

Section 603 of the Senate bill is a comparable provision, except 

that it does not include the 5-year term of office as mandated by 

the House provision, and it directs that the CPO’s subpoena aumstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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thority be exercised with the approval of the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary). 

The Conference substitute adopts the House language with 

changes, including the removal of the five year term of office and 

specifying that the subpoena authority be exercised through the 

Secretary. It also clarifies the relationship between the CPO and 

the Office of the Inspector General. 

Section 803. Privacy and Civil Liberties officers 

Section 602 of the Senate bill establishes a network of Privacy 

and Civil Liberties officers in Executive Branch Agencies, in some 

cases strengthening the powers of existing officers. It provides that 

the Departments of Justice, Defense, State, Treasury, Health and 

Human Services, and Homeland Security, the Director of National 

Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency, and other agencies designated by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, 

are required to designate at least one senior official to serve as an 

internal privacy and civil liberties officer, to function as a source 

of advice and oversight on privacy and civil liberties matters to the 

agency. Departments and agencies may designate an existing privacy or civil liberties officer for this role, and the legislation specifies that where a Department or agency has a statutory privacy or 

civil liberties officer, that officer shall perform the relevant functions required by this section. These officers are directed to make 

regular reports to their respective department or agency heads, 

Congress, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, and the 

public. 

Section 806(b) of the House bill is a comparable provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

Section 804. Federal Agency Data Mining Reporting Act of 2007 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 604 of the Senate bill requires all Federal agencies to 

report to Congress within 180 days and every year thereafter on 

data mining programs developed or used to find a pattern or anomaly indicating terrorist or other criminal activity on the part of individuals, and how these programs implicate the civil liberties and 

privacy of all Americans. If necessary, specific information in the 

various reports could be classified. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate language. 

TITLE IX—PRIVATE SECTOR PREPAREDNESS 

Section 901. Private sector preparedness 

Section 1101 of the House bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) to establish a program to enhance private sector preparedness for acts of terrorism and other emergencies and disasters. The language also requires the Secretary to 

support the development and promulgation of preparedness standards, including the National Fire Protection Association 1600 

Standard. 

Section 803 of the Senate bill establishes a voluntary certification program to assess whether a private sector entity meets voluntary preparedness standards. In consultation with private sector 

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organizations listed in the section, the Secretary would support the 

development of voluntary preparedness standards and develop 

guidelines for the accreditation and certification program. The accreditation and certification process would be implemented and 

managed by one or more qualified nongovernmental entities selected by the Secretary. Under the program, companies wishing to 

be certified would have their applications reviewed by third parties 

accredited by the entity or entities managing the program, which 

would determine if certification was warranted. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as well 

as aspects of section 1101 of the House bill, with modifications. The 

Conference substitute permits the development of guidance and 

recommendations, and identification of best practices, to assist or 

foster private sector preparedness. If such guidance and recommendations are developed, the Administrator of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Assistant Secretary for 

Infrastructure Protection will work to develop the guidance and 

recommendations, and the Administrator of FEMA will issue them. 

The Conference substitute requires the establishment of a voluntary certification program which will be developed by a designated officer within DHS, to be selected by the Secretary from 

among the Administrator of FEMA, the Assistant Secretary of Infrastructure Protection, and the Under Secretary for Science and 

Technology, in consultation with appropriate private sector parties 

designated in the legislation. 

As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, through this section, 

the Department of Homeland Security will be promoting privatesector preparedness of which the 9/11 Commission said: ‘‘Private 

sector preparedness is not a luxury; it is a cost of doing business 

in the post-9/11 world.’’

Section 902. Responsibilities of the private sector office of the department 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 802 of the Senate bill amends section 102(f) of the 

Homeland Security Act to add promoting to the private sector the 

adoption of voluntary national preparedness standards to the responsibilities of the Special Assistant to the Secretary. It also establishes a new responsibility for the private sector advisory councils: advising the Secretary on private sector preparedness issues. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

minor modifications. 

TITLE X—CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION 

Section 1001. National Asset Database 

Section 902 of the House bill requires the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (the Department or DHS) to maintain two databases addressing critical infrastructure: the National 

Asset Database and, as a subset, the National At-Risk Database. 

To develop the National Asset Database and the At-Risk Database, 

the Secretary will meet with a consortium of national laboratories 

and experts. The Secretary is required to annually update both 

databases and remove assets and resources that are not verifiable 

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or do not comply with the database requirements. The Secretary 

will also meet with the States and advise them as to the format 

for submitting assets for the lists and notifying them as to deficiencies before removing or omitting assets from the lists. This provision also requires the Secretary to consult the Databases for purposes of allocating various Department grant programs and to provide an annual report to Congress on the contents of the Databases. 

Section 1101 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary to establish a risk-based prioritized list of critical infrastructure and key 

resources that, if successfully destroyed or disrupted through a terrorist attack or natural catastrophe, would cause catastrophic national or regional impacts. The list must be reviewed and updated 

at least annually. The provision also requires an annual report 

summarizing the construction and contents of the list. The report 

may include a classified annex. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision with certain modifications. The Conferees determined that there is a uniform manner by which to compile the country’s vital assets and to 

prioritize those assets, as called for in Homeland Security Presidential Directive-7. This process will enable a more effective cooperation with State and local governments and provide a means 

by which the appropriate Congressional Committees may annually 

review the prioritized list as well as receive a report about the 

database and list. 

The Conference substitute modifies the House provision to require the Secretary to maintain a prioritized critical infrastructure 

list, as called for in the Senate bill, instead of the National At-Risk 

Database. Furthermore, the Conference substitute authorizes the 

Secretary to form an optional consortium to advise on the Database, but did not make the formation of such a consortium mandatory. 

Section 1002. Risk assessments and report 

Section 901 of the House bill requires the Secretary to prepare 

a vulnerability assessment of the critical infrastructure information 

available to the Secretary with respect to that fiscal year, unless 

a vulnerability assessment is required under another provision of 

law. The Secretary must provide annual comprehensive reports on 

vulnerability assessments for all critical infrastructure sectors established in Homeland Security Presidential Directive-7. This provision requires the Secretary to provide the appropriate Congressional Committees with a summary vulnerability report and a classified annex for each industry sector. This provision also requires 

the Department to provide a summary report from the preceding 

two years to compare with the current report to show any changes 

in vulnerabilities and provide explanations and comments on greatest risks to critical infrastructure for each sector and any recommendations for mitigating these risks. 

Section 1102 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary, for each 

fiscal year, to prepare a risk assessment of the critical infrastructure and key resources of the United States. It requires that the 

risk assessment be organized by sector and that it contain any actions or countermeasures proposed, recommended, or directed by 

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the Secretary to address security concerns covered in the assessment. It enables the Secretary to rely upon other assessments prepared by another Federal agency that the Department determines 

are prepared in coordination with other initiatives of the Department relating to critical infrastructure or key resource protection. 

It also requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to the relevant Congressional Committees that contains a summary and review of the risk assessments prepared by the Secretary for that 

year. The report will be organized by sector and will include the 

Secretary’s recommendations for mitigating risks identified by the 

assessments. 

The Conference substitute adopts a compromise provision by 

eliminating the requirement for the Secretary to conduct risk assessments under this section because those same assessments are 

required to be conducted under the Homeland Security Act. The 

Conference substitute requires the Secretary to provide a report on 

the comprehensive risk assessments on critical infrastructure that 

the Department is already required to conduct under the Homeland 

Security Act. 

Further, the Conference desires that, if appropriate, the report 

or reports be furnished in a public form with a classified annex. 

Furthermore, the Conference intends that the classification of information required to be provided to Congress or shared between 

the Department and any other sector-specific department or agency 

pursuant to this new paragraph, including the assignment of a 

level of classification of such information, shall be binding on Congress, the Department, and any other Federal Department or Agency. With regard to these assessments, the Homeland Security Act 

requires the Secretary to conduct the assessments with respect to 

the nation’s critical infrastructure and key resources. The Conference intends for the Secretary to exercise his responsibilities 

under the Homeland Security Act and make a timely report to Congress. Through this section, the Conference does not intend to 

make any changes to the Secretary’s authority under section 201 

of the Homeland Security Act. The section requires the Secretary 

to submit a set of reports to the Senate Committee on Homeland 

Security and Governmental Affairs and the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security as well as other appropriate Congressional Committees containing a summary and review of the assessments prepared by the Secretary, as already required by the Homeland Security Act. 

Section 1003. Sense of Congress regarding the inclusion of levees in 

the National Infrastructure Protection Plan 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1101 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary to include levees in the Department’s list of critical infrastructure sectors. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, while 

modifying it so that it is the sense of Congress that the Secretary 

should ensure that levees are included in one of the critical infrastructure and key resource sectors identified in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan. 

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TITLE XI—BIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR DETECTION 

Section 1101. National Biosurveillance Integration Center 

There is no comparable House provision. However, the House 

passed, on a bipartisan basis, a very similar provision as part of 

H.R. 1684, ‘‘the Department of Homeland Security Authorization 

Act for Fiscal Year 2008.’’ Section 701 of the Senate bill provides for the authorization of 

a National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC) within the 

Department of Homeland Security (the Department or DHS). The 

primary mission of the NBIC is to enhance the situational awareness of the Federal Government of intentional and naturally occurring biological incidents of national concern, and to rapidly alert 

Federal, State and local entities of such incidents. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

technical modifications. 

In order to best achieve its mission, the Conference directs that 

NBIC Member Agencies to send all information that could indicate 

a biological incident of national concern, including protected health 

information from member agencies which are Public Health Authorities as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104–191, to the NBIC. 

Section 1102. Biosurveillance efforts 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 702 of the Senate bill requires the Comptroller General 

of the United States to report to Congress on Federal, State, and 

local biosurveillance efforts, any duplication of such efforts, and 

recommendations on integration of systems and effective use of resources and professional expertise. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

technical modifications. 

Section 1103. Interagency coordination to enhance defenses against 

nuclear and radiological weapons of mass destruction 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 703 of the Senate bill requires the Secretaries of Homeland Security, State, Defense, Energy, the Attorney General and 

the Director of National Intelligence to jointly ensure interagency 

coordination on the development and implementation of the global 

nuclear detection architecture by completing a joint annual interagency review of matters relating to the global nuclear detection 

architecture, which shall be submitted to the President and the appropriate Congressional Committees. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

technical modifications. 

Section 1104. Integration of detection equipment and technologies 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1607 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that chemical, biological, radiological, and 

nuclear detection equipment and technologies are integrated as appropriate with other border security systems and detection technologies, and requires the Secretary to develop a departmental 

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technology assessment process and report the process to Congress 

within 6 months of enactment. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as engrossed by the Senate. 

TITLE XII—TRANSPORTATION SECURITY PLANNING AND 

INFORMATION SHARING 

Section 1201. Definitions 

The Conference substitute includes a provision which defines 

the terms ‘‘Department’’ and ‘‘Secretary’’ for the purposes of this 

title. 

Section 1202. Transportation security strategic planning 

Section 1002 of the House bill requires the Department of 

Homeland Security (the Department or DHS) to include additional 

information in subsequent submissions of the National Strategy for 

Transportation Security. It requires DHS to tie the risk-based priorities identified in the Strategy to the risk assessments conducted 

by DHS; to coordinate the development of the Strategy with Federal, State, regional, local and tribal authorities and transportation 

system employees; and to tie the budget and research and development to the priorities in the Strategy. It also requires DHS to build 

into the Strategy a more intermodal perspective for transportation 

security. 

Section 901 of the Senate bill is a comparable provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts modified language from both 

bills. The Conference would like to clarify that the information required by the periodic progress reports, on the turnover among senior staff of the Department (and any component agencies) working 

on transportation security issues, includes program managers responsible for transportation security programs, at the GS–13 level 

or its equivalent, as well as their immediate supervisors and other 

superiors, up to and including Assistant Secretaries or Under Secretaries. 

Section 1203. Transportation security information sharing 

Section 1001 of the House bill improves transportation security 

information between the public and private sectors by requiring the 

establishment of a Transportation Security Information Sharing 

Plan. It also requires the Department to provide a semiannual report to Congress identifying the persons who receive transportation 

security information. 

Section 902 of the Senate bill is a comparable provision, which 

also requires the plan be developed in consultation with the program manager of the Information Sharing Environment established 

under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 

2004. This section further requires that DHS establish a point or 

points of contact within the Department for distributing transportation security information to public and private stakeholders. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. 

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Section 1204. National Domestic Preparedness Consortium 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1429 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) to develop guidance for a rail worker 

security training program. Section 1505 of the Senate bill requires 

the Secretary to issue regulations for a public transportation worker training program. Section 202 of the Senate bill authorizes the 

Secretary to establish a State Homeland Security Grant Program 

and an Urban Area Security Initiative grant program which allows 

States and localities to apply for grants from DHS for the purpose 

of training first responders. 

The Conference substitute authorizes the establishment of the 

National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which has been responsible for identifying, developing, testing and delivering training to State, local, and tribal emergency response providers. The 

Conference substitute further authorizes an expansion of the Consortium to include the National Disaster Preparedness Training 

Center and the Transportation Technology Center, Incorporated, to 

assist with providing security training to emergency responders 

and transportation workers. 

In addition, the Conference substitute authorizes specific funding levels for the individual members of the Consortium that are 

intended to provide a baseline to determine future funding needs. 

However, the Conference does not believe that these authorized 

amounts should serve as artificial barriers to increased funding levels should greater increases be necessary and possible. The Conference recognizes the importance of the ongoing training at the 

National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, expects that the two 

new members will be able to provide unique training opportunities, 

and that by authorizing and expanding the Consortium the Department will be able to train even more of our Nation’s emergency responders and transportation workers. 

Section 1205. National Transportation Security Center of Excellence 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1425 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary to carry 

out a research and development program for the purpose of improving freight rail and intercity passenger rail security. Section 1507 

of the Senate bill requires the Secretary to award grants or contracts for research and development of technologies and methods to 

improve security for public transportation systems. Section 1467 of 

the Senate bill extends the authorization for the Secretary to carry 

out research and development for aviation security, until 2009. 

The Conference substitute authorizes the establishment of a 

National Transportation Security Center of Excellence to conduct 

research and development and education activities, and develop or 

provide training to transportation employees or professionals. 

Section 1206. Civil immunity for reporting suspicious activity 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference recognizes that the general public often provides critical assistance to law enforcement in its efforts to disrupt 

terrorist activity against the homeland. The Conference substitute 

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adopts this section to address the potential chilling effect of lawsuits filed against members of the public who reported what they 

reasonably considered to be suspicious activity to appropriate personnel. 

The Conference substitute adopts language granting civil immunity to those who, in good faith and based on objectively reasonable suspicion, report ‘‘covered activity’’ to an ‘‘authorized official.’’

The term ‘‘covered activity’’ is defined as suspicious activity indicating that a person is preparing to or may be violating the law in 

a way that threatens a passenger transportation system, passenger 

safety, or passenger security or that involves an act of terrorism. 

The suspicious activity must involve or be directed against a passenger transportation system. An authorized official is defined as 

any employee or agent of a passenger transportation system or 

other persons with responsibilities relating to the security of such 

systems. It also includes anyone working for or on behalf of the Departments of Homeland Security, Transportation or Justice who 

have responsibilities relating to the security of passenger transportation systems as well as any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer. Persons who make false reports or who make a report 

with reckless disregard for the truth are not entitled to civil immunity under this section. 

The Conference substitute also grants qualified civil immunity 

to any authorized official who takes reasonable action to respond 

to a report of covered activity. An authorized official not entitled 

to assert the defense of qualified immunity is nevertheless immune 

from civil liability under Federal, State or local law. The Conference intends to provide civil immunity to anyone within the 

chain of reporting who reasonably responds in good faith to the 

covered activity. However, the Conference does not intend to 

amend, limit, or reduce existing qualified immunity or other defenses pursuant to Federal, State, or local law that may otherwise 

be available to authorized officials as defined by this section. To address this concern the Conference substitute includes a savings 

clause that states that nothing in the section shall affect the ability 

of any authorized official to assert any defense, privilege, or immunity that would otherwise be available. The savings clause also reiterates that this section is not intended to affect any such defense, 

privilege or immunity. 

The Conference substitute also allows any person or authorized 

official who is found to be immune from civil liability under this 

section to recover reasonable costs and attorneys fees should they 

be named as a defendant in a civil suit. It defines a ‘‘passenger 

transportation system’’ as public transportation, over-the-road bus 

transportation, including school bus transportation, intercity rail 

transportation, passenger vessels, including passenger and automobile ferries, and air transportation. Finally, the Conference substitute states that this section takes effect as of October 1, 2006 

and shall apply to all activities and claims arising on or after that 

date. 

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TITLE XIII—TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS 

Section 1301. Definitions 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute defines several terms used within 

this title. 

Section 1302. Enforcement authority 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1432 of the Senate bill expands the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) existing administrative civil penalty 

authority to authorize civil penalties and enforcement of regulations and orders of the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) relating to non-aviation security. Under this section, the 

Secretary must give written notice of the finding of a violation and 

the penalty, and the penalized person has the opportunity to request a hearing on the matter. This section also provides that, in 

a civil action to collect such a penalty, the issues of liability and 

the amount of the penalty may not be reexamined; it places exclusive jurisdiction for these actions in the Federal district courts in 

certain instances; and it establishes ceilings for the penalty 

amounts the Secretary may administratively impose. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

minor changes, including a provision that requires the Secretary to 

make publicly available summaries of enforcement actions taken 

and a report on the Department’s enforcement process. The Conference substitute limits this administrative enforcement authority 

as it relates to fines and civil penalties against public transportation agencies and violations of administrative and procedural requirements related to the transportation security grant programs of 

this Act through section 1304 of the Conference substitute. 

Section 1303. Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response Teams 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute authorizes the existing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) practice of deploying security 

teams, known as Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response 

teams (VIPR), to augment the security of any mode of transportation. This provision authorizes the Secretary to determine, consistent with ongoing security threats, when a VIPR team should be 

deployed and for what duration, in coordination with local law enforcement. The provision also allows the Secretary to use any asset 

of the Department, including Federal Air Marshals, Surface Transportation Security Inspectors, canine detection teams, and advanced screening technology as part of VIPR teams. Under this section, the Secretary would be required to consult with local law enforcement and security officials and transportation entities directly 

affected by VIPR deployments, prior to and during deployments of 

VIPR teams to ensure coordination and operation protocols. This 

section authorizes such sums as necessary annually from FY 2008–

2011 to cover costs associated with the VIPR program. 

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Section 1304. Surface Transportation Security Inspectors 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute authorizes the existing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Surface Transportation Security Inspectors (STSIs) program and includes language addressing 

the mission and authorities of the inspectors, requiring coordination and consultation with the Department of Transportation 

(DOT) and affected entities, and providing limitations regarding 

the issuance of fines and civil penalties against public transportation agencies and for violations of administrative and procedural 

requirements of the Act. Additionally, the Conference substitute requires the Secretary to increase the number of STSIs employed by 

TSA, up to a level of 200 STSIs in FY 2010 and FY 2011, and requires the DHS Inspector General to issue a report to the appropriate Congressional Committees regarding the performance and 

effectiveness of STSIs, the need for additional inspectors, and other 

recommendations. The provision also authorizes the following 

amounts for the STSI program: $11.4 million for FY 2007, $17.1 

million for FY 2008, $19.95 million for FY 2009 and $22.8 million 

for FY 2010 and 2011, respectively. 

The Secretary and the STSIs should use fines and civil penalties as a last recourse to achieve public transportation agency 

compliance with DHS security regulations only when other reasonable methods of gaining compliance have not produced adequate results. If a public transportation agency fails to correct a violation 

or to propose an alternative means of compliance acceptable to the 

Secretary, then the Secretary may issue fines or civil penalties 

under section 1302 of the Conference substitute. Additionally, the 

provision restricts the Secretary or STSIs from issuing fines and 

civil penalties for violations of administrative and procedural requirements related to the application and use of funds awarded 

under the transportation security grant programs in this Act. However, the Conference does not consider fraud, gross misuse of grant 

funds, or any criminal conduct related to the application for or use 

of grant funds awarded under this Act to be administrative requirements and, therefore, those acts will not be shielded from 

fines or civil penalties issued by the Secretary. 

Section 1305. Surface transportation security technology information sharing 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a new provision that would 

require the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, to establish a program to provide appropriate information that the Department has gathered or developed on the performance, use, and testing of technologies that may be used to enhance railroad, public transportation, and surface transportation 

security to surface transportation entities and State, local, and tribal governments that provide security assistance to such entities. 

The purpose of the program is to assist eligible grant recipients 

under this Act and others, as appropriate, to purchase and use the 

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best technology and equipment available to meet the security needs 

of the Nation’s surface transportation system. 

The provisions allow the Secretary to include in such information whether the technology is designated as a qualified 

antiterrorism technology under the SAFETY Act, as appropriate, 

and requires the Secretary to ensure that the program established 

under this section makes use of and is consistent with other Department technology testing, information sharing, evaluation, and 

standards-setting programs, as appropriate. 

Section 1306. TSA personnel limitations 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1451 of the Senate bill provides that any statutory limitation on the number of Transportation Security Administration 

employees shall not apply to employees carrying out this title. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision as it applies to this title and titles XII, XIV, and XV of the Conference substitute. 

Section 1307. National Explosives Detection Canine Team Training 

Program 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1476 of the Senate bill directs the Secretary to enhance 

the National Explosive Detection Canine Team Program and maximize canine training capacity so that up to 200 additional dogs can 

be certified each year, starting at the end of calendar year 2008. 

The Secretary would be given flexibility across transportation 

modes to use as needed and deemed necessary. The provision encourages the Secretary to review potential benefits of establishing 

new canine training partnerships throughout the United States. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision as 

modified. The modified provision requires the Secretary to increase 

the number of explosives detection canine teams certified by the 

TSA for the purposes of transportation-related security by up to 

200 canine teams annually by the end of 2010 and encourage State, 

local, and tribal governments and private owners of high-risk 

transportation facilities to strengthen security through the use of 

highly trained explosives detection canine teams. 

To increase the number of explosives detection canine teams, 

the Secretary shall use a combination of methods including the use 

and expansion of TSA’s National Explosives Detection Canine 

Team Training Center; partnering with other Federal, State, or 

local agencies, nonprofit organizations, universities, or the private 

sector; and procuring explosives detection canines trained by nonprofit organizations, universities, or the private sector, provided 

they are trained in a manner consistent with the standards and requirements developed pursuant to this section or other criteria developed by the Secretary. 

The Secretary is also required to establish criteria that include 

canine training curricula, performance standards, and other requirements approved by TSA as necessary to ensure that explosives detection canine teams trained by nonprofit organizations, 

universities, and private sector entities are adequately trained and 

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formance standards, and other requirements, the Secretary would 

be required to coordinate with key stakeholders to develop best 

practice guidelines for such a standardized program; ensure that 

explosives detection canine teams trained by nonprofit organizations, universities, or private sector entities that are used or made 

available by the Secretary be trained consistent with specific training criteria developed by the Secretary; and review the status of 

the private sector programs on at least an annual basis to ensure 

compliance with training curricula, performance standards, and 

other requirements. 

The Conference substitute also requires the Secretary to use 

the additional explosives detection canine teams as part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen security across the Nation’s transportation network. The Secretary may use the canine teams on a 

more limited basis to support other homeland security missions, as 

determined appropriate. The Secretary is also required to make 

available explosives detection canine teams to all modes of transportation, for high-risk areas or to address specific threats, on an 

as-needed basis and as otherwise determined appropriate by the 

Secretary and shall encourage, but not require, transportation facilities or systems to deploy TSA-certified explosives detection canine teams. 

The Conference substitute requires the Secretary, acting 

through the TSA Administrator, to ensure that explosives detection 

canine teams are procured as efficiently as possible and at the best 

price using available procurement methods and increased domestic 

breeding, if appropriate. Additionally, the Comptroller General is 

required to report to the appropriate Congressional Committees on 

the utilization of explosives detection canine teams to strengthen 

security and the capacity of the national explosive detection canine 

team program. Finally, the Conference substitute authorizes such 

sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for Fiscal Years 

2007 through 2011. 

The Conferees note that the definition of ‘‘explosives detection 

canine team’’ as a ‘‘canine and a canine handler that are trained 

to detect explosives, radiological materials, chemical, nuclear or biological weapons, or other threats as defined by the Secretary’’ is 

intended to ensure that individual canine teams that are trained 

to detect any of these specific materials listed are eligible under 

this section. The Conferees recognize that explosives detection canines are not trained to additionally detect chemical, nuclear or biological weapons and that, at present, such teams cannot detect radiological materials. Further, the Conferees recognize that canines 

are trained to detect specific threats and cannot, at this time, effectively be crossed-trained to identify multiple threats. In requiring 

the TSA to develop canine training curriculum and performance 

standards under this section, the Conferees expect TSA to do so for 

those threats within the definition that are currently applicable to 

canine team detection. However, the Conferees trust that TSA will 

explore opportunities to train and/or acquire canines that are able 

to detect new and emerging threats, such as chemical, radiological, 

nuclear and biological weapons. To that end, the Conferees expect 

that prior to developing and distributing canine training curriculum and performance standards under this section, TSA will 

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fully vet any ongoing training, whether domestic or international, 

that has a proven method to successfully detect those additional 

threats that may not currently be applicable to TSA-trained canines. 

Section 1308. Maritime and surface transportation security user fee 

study 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1452 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary to study 

the need for, and feasibility of, establishing a system of maritime 

and surface transportation-related user fees that may be imposed 

and collected to fund maritime and surface transportation security 

improvements. In developing the study, the Secretary would be directed to consult with maritime and surface transportation carriers, shippers, passengers, facility owners and operators, and other 

persons. The study would include an assessment of current security-related fees in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; an 

analysis of the impact of fees on transportation carriers and shippers; and an evaluation of current private and public sector expenditures on maritime and surface transportation security. Within 

1 year after the date of enactment, the Secretary would be required 

to transmit a report to Congress on the results of the study. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

minor modifications. 

Section 1309. Transportation Worker Identification Credential 

(TWIC) 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Sections 1454 and 1455 of the Senate bill codify the existing 

regulatory prohibitions against the issuance of transportation security cards to certain convicted felons. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

minor modifications, codifying the existing regulatory prohibitions 

against the issuance of transportation security cards to certain convicted felons. Nothing in this section is intended to change the 

waiver and appeal rights afforded to workers in 70105 of title 46. 

In fact, the Conferees expect that as the Secretary moves to implement the TWIC program, workers will have their waiver and appeal cases decided expeditiously and that a sufficient number of administrative law judges will be available to adjudicate these cases. 

Section 1310. Roles of the Department of Homeland Security and 

the Department of Transportation 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Sections 1421, 1425, 1435, 1441, 1442, 1444, 1448, 1449, 1445, 

1503 and 1506 of the Senate bill require the Secretary of Homeland 

Security to consult, coordinate, or work with the Secretary of 

Transportation in the implementation of the requirements of the 

sections. Section 1443 of the Senate bill further requires the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation to execute and develop an annex to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Departments signed on September 28, 

2004, governing the specific roles, delineations of responsibilities, 

resources and commitments of the Department of Transportation 

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and the Department of Homeland Security, respectively, in addressing motor carrier transportation security matters. 

The Conference substitute includes a provision which affirms 

and clarifies the current delineation of the roles and responsibilities of Department of Homeland Security and the Department of 

Transportation related to carrying out the provisions of this Act related to transportation security. 

TITLE XIV—PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 

Section 1401. Short title 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1501 of the Senate bill cited the short title as ‘‘The 

Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007.’’

The Conference Substitute adopts a compromise provision, providing that this title may be cited as ‘‘The National Transit Systems Security Act of 2007.’’

Section 1402. Definitions 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a definition section in an effort to clarify terms used in Title XIV of the bill. 

Section 1403. Findings 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Senate Section 1502 finds that public transit is a top target of 

terrorism worldwide, that the Federal Government has invested 

significant sums in creating and maintaining the nation’s transit 

infrastructure, that transit is heavily used and that the current 

Federal investment in security has been insufficient and greater investment is warranted. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate findings as modified. 

Section 1404. National strategy for public transportation security 

There is no comparable House provision. 

The Senate bill does not require an additional strategy for 

transit beyond the modal requirements in Title XII. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

modifications. The purpose of the strategy is to minimize security 

threats and maximize the abilities of public transportation systems 

to mitigate damage that may result from terrorist attacks. The Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) is required to use established and ongoing public transportation security assessments 

and consult with all relevant stakeholders that are specified in the 

legislation in developing a national strategy. 

Section 1405. Security assessments and plans 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1503 of the Senate bill requires the Federal Transit 

Administration of the Department of Transportation to submit all 

public transportation security assessments and other relevant information to the Secretary 30 days after the date of enactment. The 

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Secretary is also required to use the security assessments received 

as the basis for allocating grant funds, unless the Secretary notified the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs that the Secretary determined an adjustment is necessary to 

respond to an urgent threat or other significant factors. 

The Senate provision requires the Secretary to conduct both 

annual updates to the existing assessments and new security assessments of all public transportation agencies considered to be at 

greatest risk of a terrorist attack. In addition, the Secretary is required to establish a process for developing security guidelines for 

public transportation security and to design a security improvement strategy that minimizes terrorist threats to public transportation systems, and maximizes the efforts of public transportation 

systems to mitigate damage from terrorist attacks. It also requires 

the Secretary to conduct security assessments, appropriate to the 

size and nature of each system, to determine the specific needs of 

bus-only and rural transit systems. 

The Conference substitute adopts the requirements included in 

the Senate bill with modification. It requires the Federal Transit 

Administration and the Department of Transportation to transfer 

all existing security assessments as well as any other relevant information to the Department of Homeland Security (the Department or DHS). It also requires the Secretary to review and augment the assessments and to conduct additional assessments as 

necessary to ensure that, at a minimum, all high-risk public transportation agencies will have a completed security assessment. The 

Conference substitute further specifies that each completed assessment should include, at a minimum, an identification of critical assets, infrastructure and systems and their vulnerabilities and an 

identification of any other security weaknesses, including weaknesses in emergency response planning and employee training. The 

Conference substitute adopts the Senate’s provisions addressing 

bus-only and rural transit systems with a clarification that these 

assessments are meant to be representative of the needs of these 

systems and shall be made available for use by similarly situated 

systems. 

The Conference substitute adopts provisions related to mandatory security plans. All high-risk systems will be required to have 

a security plan provided they receive grant funding. However, the 

Conference agreed to provide the Secretary a waiver of that provision in order that he may require a security plan for a high-risk 

system that has not received grant funding, provided that upon 

issuance of that waiver, the Secretary, not less than three days 

after making that determination, provides Congress and the public 

transportation system written notice detailing the need for the security plan, the reason grant funding has not been made available 

and the reason the agency has been designated high-risk. The Secretary is required to provide guidance on developing, preparing and 

implementing these plans. Developing security plans is an eligible 

expense for funds received under this Title. The security plans 

must be consistent with the security assessments developed by the 

Department and the National Strategy for Public Transportation 

Security. The Secretary is authorized to establish a program to develop security plans for systems that are not designated at highmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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risk, provided that no such system may be required to develop a 

plan. Security plans are required to be updated annually, as appropriate. 

The Conference substitute also includes language on nondisclosure of information, encouraging coordination among different 

modes of transportation to the extent they share facilities, and allowing public transportation agencies to petition the Secretary to 

recognize existing protocols, procedures and standards as meeting 

all or part of the requirements for security assessments or plans. 

Section 1406. Public transportation security assistance 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1504 of the Senate bill created two separate grant programs, one for capital expenses and another for operating expenses. 

The Senate bill required coordination with State homeland security 

plans and appropriate consideration of multi-State transportation 

systems, along with Congressional notification prior to grant 

awards and the requirement that transit agencies return any 

misspent grant funds. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

modifications. The Conference substitute establishes a single grant 

program that awards grants directly to eligible public transportation agencies for security improvements. A public transportation 

agency is eligible if the Secretary has performed a security assessment or the agency has developed a security plan. Grant funds provided under this program may only be awarded for permissible 

uses described in this section that address items in a security assessment or further the agency’s security plan. 

The Conference agrees that the grants should be awarded pursuant to an agreement between the Departments of Homeland Security and Transportation. These two Departments are required to 

make their determination on the basis of what is the most efficient 

and effective method to deliver these grants directly to the transit 

agencies. The Conference expects that the delivery system chosen 

will reflect the system that meets these criteria. We note that there 

have been some concerns with the efficiency, efficacy and timeliness of the disbursal of these grants and believe that it is critical 

that the Secretaries reach a decision that will provide for these 

grants to be distributed as efficiently, effectively and quickly as 

possible. The Conference substitute in Section 1406(e) declares that 

all requirements of Section 5307 of Title 49 shall be applied to the 

recipients of these grant funds. Whichever Department distributes 

and awards the grants will have to be responsible for ensuring that 

those requirements are met. 

The Conference substitute also includes a list of eligible capital 

expenses and separately, a list of eligible operating expenses for 

the distribution of grant funds, and retains Senate language addressing coordination with State homeland security plans, multistate transportation systems, Congressional notification and the requirement that transit systems return any misspent grant funds. 

The Conference substitute includes authorization levels for 

each year, although the overall amount of $3.5 billion was similar 

to the Senate bill. In addition, the Conference substitute includes 

a structure that caps the amount of funds that can be used for 

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operational expenses each year of the authorization, declining from 

50 percent in Fiscal Year 2008 to 10 percent in 2011. The Conference expects that training costs will be the predominant use of 

operating funds in the first two years of the program which led to 

the decreasing limitation on operating funds over the life of the 

bill. The Conference substitute provides the Secretary with a waiver of the limitation on operating expenses, provided such waiver is 

used only in the interest of national security. Use of the waiver requires Congressional notification, prior to any such action. The 

Conference substitute also requires any funds distributed under 

Public Law 110–28 to be allocated based on risk and distributed 

solely to address security issues that have already been identified 

in security assessments. 

Section 1407. Security exercises 

There is no comparable House provision. 

The Senate bill did not include a separate exercise provision, 

although security exercises were an eligible expense under the program, as shown in Section 1504(b). 

The Conference substitute adopts more specific language and 

requirements for the Secretary to establish a program for conducting security exercises. The program shall cover public transportation agencies, Federal, State and local governments, including 

emergency response providers and law enforcement as well as any 

other organizations that the Secretary determines are appropriate 

to include. 

Section 1408. Public transportation security training program 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1505 of the Senate bill contains a transit security 

training program detailing how the Secretary, in consultation with 

appropriate officials, is required to develop and issue detailed regulations for a public transportation worker security training program. Public transportation agencies who receive security funding 

must develop a comprehensive worker training program and submit it to the Secretary for approval. The Secretary must review the 

program and make necessary revisions. No later than one year 

after the plan has been established and reviewed, the public transportation agency must complete the training of all workers. The 

Secretary is required to report to Congress on the training program 

and update it as necessary. 

The Conference substitute adopts the security training program with modification. The Conference substitute requires all 

public transportation systems that receive security grants under 

this Title to train all frontline public transportation employees and 

other workers, as appropriate. The training requirement is for both 

initial and ongoing training for any agency that receives a security 

grant. The Conference substitute requires the Secretary to issue 

regulations, including interim final regulations, to implement the 

training requirement. In developing these regulations the Secretary 

must consult with appropriate law enforcement, fire service security, terrorism experts, representatives of public transportation systems and nonprofit employee labor organizations representing public transportation workers or emergency response personnel. Public 

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transportation agencies that receive security funding must develop 

a comprehensive employee training program and submit it to the 

Secretary for approval. The Secretary must review the program 

and make necessary revisions. Not later than one year after each 

public transportation agency’s training program has been established and reviewed, the public transportation agency must complete the training of all workers covered under the program. The 

Conference substitute also includes a study to be conducted by the 

Comptroller General on the implementation of the training program, requiring a survey of transit agencies and employees. 

Section 1409. Public transportation research and development 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1507 of the Senate bill includes a transportation research and development section to establish, through the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency, and in consultation with the Federal Transit Administration, a program to distribute grants or contracts to public and private entities to conduct 

appropriate research into technologies or methods of deterring and 

mitigating the effects of terrorist attacks. The Secretary must report to the Congress on the use of these funds and if the Secretary 

determines that grant funds were misspent, the grantee shall return grant funds to the Treasury of the United States. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with a 

modification to establish a research and development program related to public transportation. The program will be established 

through the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency in the Science and Technology Directorate and will consult with 

the Federal Transit Administration. Grants and/or contracts will be 

awarded to public or private entities to conduct research or demonstrate technologies and methods to reduce and deter terrorist 

threats or to mitigate damage resulting from an attack. The Conference substitute also adopts language regarding privacy and civil 

rights and the Senate language on reporting and misspent grant 

funds and requires coordination with the priorities included in the 

National Strategy for Public Transportation Security. The Conference substitute authorizes $25,000,000 per year for this program. 

Section 1410. Intelligence sharing 

There is no comparable House provision. 

The Senate bill, Section 1506, required the Secretary to provide sufficient financial assistance for the reasonable costs of the 

Information Sharing and Analysis Center for Public Transportation 

(ISAC). All transit agencies would be encouraged to participate in 

the ISAC and those that the Secretary deemed to be at significant 

risk would be required to participate. The imposition of fees was 

prohibited. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate proposal with 

modification. It includes a report to be conducted by the Comptroller General to examine the value and efficacy of the ISAC along 

with any other public transportation information sharing programs 

ongoing at the Department of Homeland Security, including the 

Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) system. The Conmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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ference substitute also authorizes specific dollar amounts for the 

ISAC for Fiscal Years 2008–2010 and such sums as necessary for 

2011 provided the Comptroller’s report has been submitted to Congress. 

Section 1411. Threat assessments 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute requires the Secretary to complete 

a name-based security background check of public transportation 

front-line employees against the consolidated terrorist watch list 

and an immigration status check, within one year after the date of 

enactment, similar to the threat assessment conducted by the U.S. 

Coast Guard with regard to facility employees and longshoremen. 

Section 1412. Reporting requirements 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1508 of the Senate bill includes a reporting section that 

required the Secretary to submit a semi-annual report to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee 

on Appropriations, on the implementation of the capital and operational grant programs, the use of funds and the State of public 

transportation security in the United States. It further requires the 

Secretary to submit an annual report regarding the amount and 

use of grant funds to the Governor of each State with a public 

transportation agency that has received a grant. 

The Conference substitute broadens the reporting requirements included in the Senate bill to ensure that Congress receives 

substantive, useful information regarding public transportation security from the Department of Homeland Security. To that end, the 

Conference substitute includes an annual report to Congress, due 

on March 31st of each year, that includes: a description of the implementation of the provisions of Title XIV; the amount of funds 

appropriated to carry out the title that have not been spent; the 

National Strategy for Public Transportation Security; an estimate 

of the costs to fully implement the National Strategy for Public 

Transportation Security, to be broken out for each Fiscal Year from 

2008 through 2018; and the state of public transportation security 

in the United States. The Conference substitute maintains the Senate’s requirement of an annual report to the Governors. 

Section 1413. Whistleblower protection 

There is no comparable House provision. 

The Senate bill modifies existing whistleblower protections for 

rail employees. 

The Conference substitute adopts protections for public transportation employee whistleblowers, modeled on the protections 

available to railroad employees under 49 U.S.C. 20109 as amended 

by this Act and aviation employees under 49 U.S.C. 42121. 

Section 1414. Security background checks of covered individuals for 

public transportation 

There is no comparable House provision. 

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There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision to ensure that if 

the Secretary of Homeland Security requires or recommends security background checks of public transportation employees, adversely affected employees will have an adequate redress process. 

Section 1415. Limitation on fines and civil penalties 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute prohibits the Secretary and the surface transportation security inspectors (STSI) from issuing fines 

and civil penalties on public transportation agencies except in certain circumstances. 

The Secretary and the STSIs should use fines and civil penalties as a last recourse to achieve public transportation agency 

compliance with DHS security regulations only when other reasonable methods of gaining compliance have not produced adequate results. If a public transportation agency fails to correct a violation 

or to propose an alternative means of compliance acceptable to the 

Secretary, then the Secretary may issue fines or civil penalties 

under section 1302 of the Conference substitute. Additionally, the 

provision restricts the Secretary or STSIs from issuing fines and 

civil penalties for violations of administrative and procedural requirements related to the application and use of funds awarded 

under the transportation security grant programs in this Act. However, the Conference does not consider fraud, gross misuse of grant 

funds, or any criminal conduct related to the application for or use 

of grant funds awarded under this Act to be administrative requirements and, therefore, those acts will not be shielded from 

fines or civil penalties issued by the Secretary. 

TITLE XV—SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 

Subtitle A—General Provisions 

Section 1501. Definitions 

Section 1001 of the House bill contains several definitions related to transportation security. 

Section 1411 of the Senate bill defines the term ‘‘high hazard 

materials.’’ The Conference substitute adopts definitions for terms applicable to the title, including a new definition of ‘‘security-sensitive materials,’’ which must be defined by the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) through a rule making. The Conference believes 

that completing the definition of ‘‘security-sensitive materials’’

should be a high priority for the Department of Homeland Security 

(the Department or DHS), since the definition of this term is a prerequisite for the implementation of several other provisions within 

this title. 

Section 1502. Oversight and grant procedures 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1426 of the Senate bill authorizes the Secretary of 

Homeland Security to enter into contracts to audit and review 

grants awarded under the bill. The Secretary is required to premstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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scribe procedures and schedules for the awarding of grants under 

this title, including application and qualification procedures. In 

awarding grants, the Secretary may issue letters of intent (LOI) to 

recipients of grants awarded under this bill, as the Secretary may 

do now for aviation security funding through the Transportation 

Security Administration (TSA). 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision as 

modified. It requires the Secretary to establish procedures, including those for monitoring and auditing to ensure that grants are expended properly and for application and qualification for grants. 

The provision also provides that for grants awarded to Amtrak 

under this title, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary 

of the Department of Transportation (DOT) in establishing necessary grant procedures. Additionally, the provision permits either 

Department to enter into contracts for additional audits and reviews of such grants to Amtrak. 

The Conference substitute also permits the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue LOI’s to grant recipients. The Conference acknowledges that an LOI is not a commitment of future funds by 

an agency. The Conference substitute requires that grant recipients 

return any misspent funds and that the Secretary take all necessary action to return such funds. It also requires the Secretary 

to notify appropriate Congressional Committees of its intent to 

award a grant. Finally, the Conference substitute requires that the 

Secretary ensure, to extent practicable, that grant recipients use 

disadvantaged business concerns as contractors or subcontractors. 

Section 1503. Authorization of appropriations 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1437 of the Senate bill authorizes appropriations for 

the Secretary of Homeland Security for Fiscal Years (FY’s) 2008–

2010 and for the Secretary of Transportation for FY’s 2008–2011 to 

carry out the activities required by the Act. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision as 

modified to reflect the authorization levels contained within the 

sections of this title. 

Section 1504. Public awareness 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1434 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, 

within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, to develop 

a national plan for improved public outreach and awareness of 

measures that the general public, railroad passengers, and railroad 

employees can take to increase railroad system security. Not later 

than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary would be directed to implement this plan. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

minor modifications, including adding over-the-road bus security 

matters to the provision. 

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Subtitle B—Railroad Security 

Section 1511. Railroad transportation security risk assessment and 

national strategy 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1421 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a task force comprised of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and others to complete a risk 

assessment of freight and passenger rail transportation. It also requires the development of recommendations for improving rail security based on the required risk assessment and the establishment of plans to address such recommendations. This section requires the Secretary to report to the appropriate Congressional 

Committees on the assessment, recommendation, plans and costs to 

implement such recommendations. In addition, the Secretary is required to include in the recommendations a plan for the Federal 

government to provide security support at high threat levels of 

alert; a plan for coordinating existing and planned rail security initiatives undertaken by public and private entities; and a contingency plan developed in conjunction with intercity and commuter 

passenger railroads to ensure the continued movement of freight 

and passengers in the event of a terrorist attack. The provision authorizes $5 million for Fiscal Year 2008 to carry out this section. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. The modified provision requires the Secretary to establish 

a task force to complete a nationwide railroad security risk assessment, including freight, intercity passenger and commuter railroads. The Secretary may make use of the Government Coordinating Council in the establishing of the task force. Based upon 

this assessment, the Secretary is required to develop a modal plan 

for railroad security, entitled the ‘‘National Strategy for Railroad 

Transportation Security,’’ which will serve as the general Federal 

strategy for improving railroad security. 

In completing the assessment and the strategy required by this 

section, the Conference does not intend for TSA and the Department of Homeland Security to unnecessarily re-do existing assessment and modal plan work, of sufficient quality and relevance, already completed by the agency or other Federal, private or public 

stakeholders. However, the Conference expects any existing assessments and existing modal plans used to be synthesized into a comprehensive and coherent total assessment and strategy, not simply 

compiled into a single document. The Conference substitute authorizes $5 million for FY 2008 to carry out this section. 

The Conference notes its frustration with TSA’s inability to 

complete a comprehensive risk assessment and national strategy 

for the railroad sector. The Conference believes fulfillment of this 

section to be an absolute priority, so that the results of the assessment may be used to guide the ongoing rail security efforts and the 

new programs called for in this Conference substitute. 

Section 1512. Railroad carrier assessments and plans 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1421 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a task force to complete a risk assessmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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ment of freight and passenger rail transportation, develop recommendations for improving rail security based on the risk assessment, and establish plans to address such recommendations. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision addressing railroad carrier risk assessments based upon elements of Senate Section 1421. The provision would require that railroad carriers assigned to a high-risk tier by the Secretary complete a vulnerability 

assessment and develop security plans to be approved by the Secretary. In addition, the Secretary would be authorized to establish 

a program to provide guidance and assistance for undertaking assessments and security plans and a process by which such voluntary assessments and plans may be approved by the Secretary 

for railroad carriers not assigned to a high-risk tier. 

Section 1513. Railroad security assistance 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1424 of the Senate bill authorizes the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, in consultation with the TSA and other entities, to make grants to freight railroads, the Alaska Railroad, hazardous materials shippers, owners of rail cars used to transport 

hazardous materials, institutions of higher education, State and 

local governments, and Amtrak, for full or partial reimbursement 

of costs incurred to prevent or respond to acts of terrorism, sabotage, or other risks. The Secretary would be required to adopt necessary procedures to ensure that grants made under this section 

are expended in accordance with the purposes of the Act. The Secretary awards and distributes all grants under this provision, except for grants to Amtrak which the Secretary can award, but the 

Secretary of Transportation would distribute using the well-established DOT grant process which is used to distribute Federal operating and capital grants to Amtrak. This section authorizes $100 

million for the Department of Homeland Security for each of Fiscal 

Years 2008 through 2010 to carry out this section. Grants to Amtrak are limited to $45 million over the authorization period and 

certain grants related to hazardous materials rail security are limited to $80 million in total over the authorization period. 

The Conference substitute adopts a modified version of the 

Senate provision. The provision establishes a railroad security 

grant program for railroads that have completed a vulnerability assessment and security plan under Section 1513 of the Conference 

substitute for a permissible use identified within the section. However, the Secretary has the discretion during the first three years 

after the date of enactment of the Act, or up until one year after 

the regulations are issued under section 1513, to award grants 

based on vulnerability assessments and security plans developed by 

railroad carriers that do not meet the requirements of Section 1513 

if the Secretary finds such assessments and plans sufficient. Additionally, grants can be awarded under this provision to fully or partially fund the assessments and plans required under Section 1513. 

The Conference includes these provisions to ensure that eligible entities would be authorized to receive grant funds under this section 

as soon as possible upon enactment of the Conference substitute 

and so that eligible entities could use grant funds to develop the 

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assessments and plans required under Section 1513 in a timely 

fashion. 

The Conference substitute assigns the responsibility of awarding and distributing grants to the Secretary, except for grants to 

Amtrak which the Secretary can award, but which the Secretary of 

Transportation would distribute using the well-established Department of Transportation grant process to Amtrak. The Secretary of 

Homeland Security is also required to report to the appropriate 

Congressional Committees on the feasibility and appropriateness of 

requiring non-Federal match for grants awarded under this provision. 

The Conference believes the authorization of this grant program is particularly important because little of the existing DHS 

rail and transit security grant funds have been available to intercity passenger rail security and no grant funds have been made 

available for freight railroad security. 

Section 1514. System-wide Amtrak security upgrades 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1422 of the Senate bill authorizes the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, in consultation with the TSA, to make grants 

to Amtrak for the purposes of upgrading the security of assets, systems and infrastructure; securing tunnels, trains, and stations; hiring additional police officers; expanding emergency preparedness 

efforts; and for employee security training. The provision also requires that the Secretary of Transportation disburse the grants to 

Amtrak for projects contained in its system-wide security plan that 

it is required to develop. The provision authorizes funds to be appropriated for grants under this section for Fiscal Years 2008 

through 2010. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision as 

modified. The authorization amounts are increased and extended 

one Fiscal Year to reflect current and anticipated Amtrak security 

expenditures. 

Section 1515. Fire and life safety improvements 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1423 of the Senate bill authorizes the Secretary of 

Transportation to make grants to Amtrak for the purpose of making fire and life-safety improvements to Amtrak tunnels on the 

Northeast Corridor. This section authorizes $100 million in funding 

for the Department of Transportation for each of Fiscal Years 2008 

through 2011 to make fire and life-safety improvements to the New 

York/New Jersey tunnels; $10 million for each of Fiscal Years 2008 

through 2011 for improvements of the Baltimore & Potomac and 

Union tunnels in Baltimore, Maryland; and $8 million for each of 

Fiscal Years 2008 through 2011 for improvements of the Washington, D.C., Union Station tunnels. The Secretary of Transportation is required to approve plans submitted by Amtrak before distributing grants. In addition, the Secretary of Transportation is authorized to consider the feasibility of seeking a financial contribution from other rail carriers towards the cost of the project. This 

section also authorizes $3 million in FY 2008 for preliminary design of a new railroad tunnel in Baltimore, Maryland. 

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The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, but 

with reduced authorization levels to reflect the completion of portions of phase 1 of Amtrak’s tunnel fire and life safety projects 

since the consideration of S. 4 by the Senate, and other changes. 

Section 1516. Railroad carrier exercises 

Section 101 of the House bill provides grants to fund exercises 

to strengthen preparedness against risks of terrorism. Sections 301 

and 302 of the House bill strengthen the design of the national exercise program to require it to enhance the use and understanding 

of the Incident Command System (ICS) by requiring that the national exercise program include model exercises for use by State, 

local and tribal governments. Section 1101 of the House bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a program 

to enhance private sector preparedness for acts of terrorism and 

other emergencies and disasters, developing and conducting training and exercises to support and evaluate emergency preparedness 

and response plans and operational procedures. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a new provision that requires the Secretary to create a security exercises program to test 

and evaluate the ability of railroads to prevent, prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. The 

provision also requires that the exercises conducted be tailored to 

the needs of particular facilities, including accommodations for individuals with disabilities; live, in the case of the most at-risk facilities to a terrorist attack; and coordinated with appropriate officials. The Conference substitute also requires that the Secretary, 

together with the Secretary of Transportation, ensure that the program consolidates existing railroad security exercises that are administered by the Departments, unless this requirement is waived 

by the Secretary of Homeland Security. 

The Conference intends for there to be one primary rail security exercises program within the Federal government administered by TSA, but are including the waiver authority to ensure that 

any Department of Transportation railroad safety or railroad hazardous materials exercises that have a nexus with security are not 

automatically consolidated into this program. The Conference expects that the consolidation of exercises that primarily relate to 

safety would only occur with the concurrence of the Secretary of 

Transportation and the Secretary of Homeland Security. 

Section 1517. Railroad security training program 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1429 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, 

not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, to 

work with law enforcement officials, as well as terrorism and railroad security experts, to develop and issue detailed guidance for a 

railroad worker security training program to prepare front-line 

workers for potential security threat conditions. This section also 

would require railroad carriers to adopt a worker security training 

program in accordance with the guidance and submit it to the Secretary of Homeland Security for approval. Within one year after 

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the Secretary completes a review of a railroad carriers’ training 

programs, the railroad carrier would be required to complete the 

training of all front-line employees consistent with the approved 

program. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

modified language that requires the Secretary, in consultation with 

appropriate parties, to issue regulations for a railroad training program to prepare frontline employees, as defined in section 1501 of 

the Conference substitute, for potential security threats and conditions. Not later than 90 days after the Secretary issues regulations, 

each railroad carrier would be required to submit for review and 

approval a security training program. Each freight and passenger 

railroad is required to complete training of all employees not later 

than one year after the Secretary approves its training program. 

The Secretary is required to review implementation of the training 

program. 

Section 1518. Railroad security research and development 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1425 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland 

Security’s Undersecretary for Science and Technology and the Administrator for TSA, and in consultation with the Secretary of 

Transportation, carry out a research and development program for 

the purpose of improving freight and intercity passenger rail security. In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security would be required to coordinate with other research and development initiatives at the Department of Transportation. The Secretary also may award research and development grants to certain 

entities described in this section. This section authorizes $33 million for the DHS for each of Fiscal Years 2008 through 2011 for the 

Secretary to carry out this section. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision as 

modified to extend the authorizations to Fiscal Year 2011, to ensure coordination with other research and development initiatives, 

and with a provision included to ensure that any activities carried 

out under this section that could affect privacy, civil liberties or 

civil rights would receive privacy impact assessments. 

Section 1519. Railroad tank car security testing 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision that would assess 

likely methods of a deliberate attack on a railroad tank car transporting toxic-inhalation-hazard materials and the potential impact 

of such attacks. It requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to 

conduct certain physical tests as part of the assessment and to submit a report within 30 days of completing the assessment to the appropriate Congressional Committees. The Conference substitute 

also requires an air dispersion modeling analysis of a rail tank car 

carrying toxic-inhalation-hazard materials and specifies factors to 

be considered in that analysis, as well as parties to be consulted 

in conducting such analysis. Further, the substitute directs the 

Secretary to share the information developed through the analysis 

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and submit a report to the appropriate Congressional Committees 

within 30 days of completion of all the modeling exercises. In performing the physical testing required under this section, the Conference expects that the Secretary will take into account other Federal agencies and resources with applicable expertise in such matters. 

Section 1520. Railroad threat assessments 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute requires the Secretary of Homeland 

Security to implement a threat assessment screening program for 

all relevant transportation employees within one year after the 

date of enactment, including a name-based check for all employees 

against the consolidated terrorist watch list and an immigration 

status check, similar to the threat assessment conducted by the 

U.S. Coast Guard with regard to port workers. 

Section 1521. Railroad employee protections 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1430 of the Senate bill updates the existing railroad 

employee protections statute to protect railroad employees from adverse employment impacts due to whistleblower activities related 

to rail security. The provision precludes railroad carriers from discharging, or otherwise discriminating against, a railroad employee 

because the employee, or the employee’s representative: provided, 

caused to be provided, or is about to provide, to the employer or 

the Federal government information relating to a reasonably perceived threat to security; provided, caused to be provided, or is 

about to provide testimony before a Federal or State proceeding; or 

refused to violate or assist in violation of any law or regulation related to rail security. 

The Conference substitute adopts a modified version of the 

Senate language. It modifies the railroad carrier employee whistleblower provisions and expands the protected acts of employees, including refusals to authorize the use of safety-related equipment, 

track or structures that are in a hazardous condition. Additionally, 

the Conference substitute enhances administrative and civil remedies for employees, similar to those in subsection 42121(b) of title 

49, United States Code. The language also provides for de novo review of a complaint in Federal District Court if the Department of 

Labor does not timely issue an order related to the complaint. The 

Conference substitute also raises the cap on punitive damages that 

could be awarded under this provision from $20,000 to $250,000. 

The Conference notes that railroad carrier employees must be 

protected when reporting a safety or security threat or refusing to 

work when confronted by a hazardous safety or security condition 

to enhance the oversight measures that improve transparency and 

accountability of the railroad carriers. The Conference, through 

this provision, intends to protect covered employees in the course 

of their ordinary duties. The intent of this provision is to ensure 

that employees can report their concerns without the fear of possible retaliation or discrimination from employers. 

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Section 1522. Security background checks of covered individuals 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision that would ensure that if the Secretary of Homeland Security issues a rule, regulation or directive requiring private employers to conduct security 

background checks for railroad workers, that it include a redress 

process for such workers similar to that provided under the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) final rule, as required by 46 U.S.C. 70105(c). The Secretary is also required to update private employers conducting background checks regarding 

guidance that has been issued and ensure that any future guidance 

issued on the topic is consistent with this provision. The Conference substitute requires the Secretary to issue a regulation prohibiting a railroad carrier or contractor or subcontractor to a railroad carrier from knowingly misrepresenting to an employee or 

other relevant person, including an arbiter involved in a labor arbitration, the scope, application, or meaning of any rules, regulations, 

directives, or guidance issued by the Secretary related to security 

background check requirements for covered individuals when conducting a security background check. 

It is not the intent of the Conference that this provision imply 

that it favors the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requiring private employers to undertake security background checks. 

Rather, the Conference intends for the provision to ensure that if 

such regulations were ever to be promulgated by DHS, that it 

would contain due process protections similar to those in the 

TWICE rule would be available for employees. The Conference intends for private employees to retain all rights and authorities afforded them otherwise as private employers. 

Section 1523. Northern border railroad passenger report 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1428 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 

the Secretary of Transportation, heads of other appropriate Federal 

Departments and Agencies, and Amtrak, within one year after the 

date of enactment, to submit a report to Congress that contains: a 

description of the current system for screening passengers and baggage on rail service between the United States and Canada; an assessment of the current program to provide pre-clearance of airline 

passengers between the United States and Canada; an assessment 

of the current program to provide pre-clearance of freight railroad 

traffic between the United States and Canada; information on 

progress by the Department and other Federal agencies towards finalizing a bilateral protocol with Canada that would provide for 

pre-clearance of passengers on trains operating between the United 

States and Canada; a description of legislative, regulatory, budgetary, or policy barriers to providing pre-screened passenger lists 

for such passengers; a description of the Canadian position with respect to pre-clearance; a draft of any changes to Federal law necessary to allow for pre-screening; and a feasibility analysis of reinstating in-transit inspections onboard international Amtrak trains. 

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The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision and includes language to ensure that any activities carried out under this 

section that could affect privacy, civil liberties or civil rights will 

receive privacy impact assessments. The Conference notes the significant delays that routinely plague Amtrak trains due to screening of passenger at or near the U.S.-Canadian border and that 

these delays both hamper international rail travel and increase 

costs for Amtrak, and therefore the Federal government. The Conference expects the Secretary of Homeland Security to work, in cooperation with Amtrak and the Canadian Government, to take 

steps to minimize such delays, as soon as practicable. 

Section 1524. International Railroad Security Program 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision that would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a system to 

detect both undeclared passengers and contraband entering the 

United States by railroad, with a primary focus on the detection of 

nuclear and radiological materials and to submit a report to Congress on its progress. The Secretary, in consultation with the TSA, 

the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, and Customs and Border 

Protection, may take a number of actions authorized by the provision to develop this system. 

Section 1525. Transmission line report 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision that would require that the Comptroller General perform the assessment of the 

security, safety, economic benefits and risks associated with the 

placement of high-voltage transmission lines along active railroad 

and other transportation rights of way. 

Section 1526. Railroad security enhancements 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1433 of the Senate bill allows police officers employed 

by a railroad to be deputized to help a second railroad in carrying 

out enforcement duties on the second railroad. In addition, the provision would require the Secretary of Transportation to write and 

distribute to States model railroad police commissioning laws to 

help prevent the problems posed by so-called ‘‘scam railroads.’’

‘‘Scam railroads’’ are companies that are organized as railroads in 

order to obtain police powers but are not actually engaged in the 

railroad business. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision as 

modified to extend the date by which the Secretary of Transportation would be directed to complete the model state legislation. 

Section 1527. Applicability of District of Columbia law to certain 

Amtrak contracts 

There is no comparable House provision. 

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Senate Section 1438 would require that any lease entered into 

between the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and the 

State of Maryland be governed by District of Columbia law. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

Section 1528. Railroad preemption clarification 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision that would clarify the intent and interpretations of the existing preemption statute 

and to rectify the Federal court decisions related to the Minot, 

North Dakota accident that are in conflict with precedent. The 

modified language restructures 49 U.S.C. § 20106 and changes its 

title from ‘‘National Uniformity of Regulation’’ to ‘‘Preemption’’ to 

indicate that the entire section addresses the preemption of State 

laws related to railroad safety and security. 

Subpart (a) of the Conference substitute is titled ‘‘National 

Uniformity of Regulation’’ and contains the exact text of 49 U.S.C. 

§ 20106 as it existed prior to enactment of this Act. It is restructured for clarification purposes; however, the restructuring is not 

intended to indicate any substantive change in the meaning of the 

provision. 

Subpart (b) of the Conference substitute provides further clarification of the intention of 49 U.S.C. § 20106, as it was enacted in 

the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970, to explain what State law 

causes of action for personal injury, death or property damage are 

not preempted. It clarifies that 49 U.S.C. § 20106 does not preempt 

State law causes of action where a party has failed to comply with 

the Federal standard of care established by a regulation or order 

issued by the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, its own plan or standard that it created pursuant to a regulation or order issued by either of the Secretaries, or 

a State law, regulation or order that is not incompatible with 49 

U.S.C. § 20106(a)(2). 

The modified language also contains a retroactivity provision, 

which clarifies that 49 U.S.C. § 20106 applies to all pending State 

law causes of action arising from activities or events occurring on 

or after January 18, 2002, the date of the Minot, North Dakota derailment. Finally, this provision indicates that nothing in 49 U.S.C. 

§ 20106 creates a Federal cause of action on behalf of an injured 

party or confers Federal question jurisdiction for such State law 

causes of action. 

Subtitle C—Over-the-Road Bus and Trucking Security 

Section 1531. Over-the-road bus security assessments and plans 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1447 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a program within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to make grants to private over-theroad bus operators and over-the-road bus terminal operators for the 

purposes of improving bus security. The provision stipulates that 

the Secretary may not make grants to over-the-road operators until 

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tional information that the Secretary may require. Section 1447 

also requires the Secretary to undertake a bus security assessment, 

that would include an assessment of: the existing over-the-road bus 

security grant program; actions already taken to address identified 

security issues by both public and private entities and recommendations on whether additional safety and security enforcement actions are needed; whether additional legislation is needed 

to provide for the security of Americans traveling on over-the-road 

buses; the economic impact that security upgrades of buses and bus 

facilities may have on the over-the-road bus transportation industry and its employees; ongoing research and the need for additional 

research on over-the-road bus security, including engine shut-off 

mechanisms, chemical and biological weapon detection technology, 

and the feasibility of compartmentalization of the driver; industry 

best practices to enhance security; and school bus security, if the 

Secretary deems it appropriate. 

The Conference substitute requires the Secretary to issue regulations, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment, to 

require high-risk over-the-road bus operators to conduct vulnerability assessments and develop, submit and implement approved 

security plans. It allows the Secretary to establish a security program for over-the-road bus operators not assigned to a high-risk 

tier, including guidance on vulnerability assessments and security 

plans, and a review process, as appropriate. The Conference substitute also requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance 

and guidance on components of vulnerability assessments and security plans, in addition to relevant threat information necessary for 

preparing such assessments and plans. It requires the Secretary to 

review the vulnerability assessments and security plans not later 

than 6 months upon receipt, and approve such assessments and 

plans meeting the established requirements. The Conference substitute requires the Secretary to assign each over-the-road bus operator to a risk based tier and operators may be reassigned by the 

Secretary based on changes in risk. Finally, it requires that the 

over-the-road bus operators evaluate the adequacy of the assessments and plans submitted to the Secretary not later than 3 years 

after the date on which the assessment or plan was submitted, and 

at least once every five years thereafter. 

Section 1532. Over-the-road bus security assistance 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1447 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a program within TSA to make grants 

to private over-the-road bus operators and over-the-road bus terminal operators for the purposes of emergency preparedness drills 

and exercises, protecting high risk assets, counter-terrorism training and other security-related actions. This provision requires the 

Secretary, in making grants, to take into consideration security 

measures that over-the-road bus operators have taken since September 11, 2001. The Secretary may not make grants to private operators until the operators have submitted security plans and provided additional information that the Secretary may require. The 

provision further stipulates that the Secretary must submit a report to Congress and must consult with industry, labor and other 

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groups. This provision authorizes the following funding: $12 million 

for FY 2008, $25 million for FY 2009, and $25 million for FY 2010. 

Section 1447 requires the Secretary to select the grant recipients, 

award, and distribute grants to eligible recipients. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate language, with 

modifications. It requires the Secretary to establish a grant program and stipulates that the funds may be used for one or more 

of the following: construction and modifying terminals to increase 

security; modifying over-the-road buses to increase their security; 

protecting the driver of an over-the-road bus; acquiring or improving equipment to collect, store and exchange passenger and driver 

information with ticketing systems and for links with government 

agencies for security purposes; installing cameras and video surveillance equipment; establishing and improving emergency communications systems; implementing and operating passenger 

screening programs; developing public awareness campaigns for 

over-the-road bus security; operating and capital costs associated 

with over-the-road bus security; detection of chemical, biological, 

radiological or explosives, including the use of canine patrols; overtime reimbursement for security personnel; live or simulated security exercises; operational costs to hire, train and employ security 

officers; development of assessments or security plans; and other 

improvements deemed appropriate by the Secretary. The Conference substitute requires the Secretary to select the grant recipients and award the grants, but would require that, within 90 days 

following the date of enactment, that the Secretary and the Secretary of Transportation jointly determine the most effective and 

efficient means to distribute grants awarded under this section to 

grant recipients. Dependent on the result of this determination, one 

of the two Secretaries would be authorized to distribute the grants 

awarded under this section. 

The Conference substitute also stipulates eligibility, limitations 

on uses of funds, annual reports, and consultation with stakeholders. It authorizes $12 million for FY 2008 and $25 million for 

each of Fiscal Years 2009 through 2011. 

Section 1533. Over-the-road bus exercises 

Section 101 of the House bill provides for grants to fund exercises to strengthen terrorism preparedness. Sections 301 and 302 

of the House bill strengthen the design of the National exercise 

program to require it to enhance the use and understanding of the 

Incident Command System (ICS) by requiring that the National 

Exercise Program include model exercises for use by State, local 

and tribal governments. Section 1101 of the House bill requires the 

Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a program to enhance 

private sector preparedness for acts of terrorism and other emergencies and disasters, including the development and the conducting of training and exercises to support and evaluate emergency preparedness, response plans, and operational procedures. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision based on elements of the House provisions that require the Secretary to establish a program for conducting security exercises for over-the-road 

bus transportation to prevent, prepare for, mitigate, respond to, 

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and recover from acts of terrorism. The program shall include Federal, State, local agencies and tribal governments; over-the-road 

bus operators and terminal owners and operators; governmental 

and nongovernmental emergency response providers and law enforcement agencies; and other applicable entities. The program 

calls for consolidation of existing security exercises administered by 

the Department of Homeland Security, TSA and the Department of 

Transportation, as appropriate, and shall be comprised of live exercises tailored to the needs of the recipients, coordinated with appropriate officials, inclusive of over-the-road bus frontline employees, 

and consistent with the National Incident Management System, 

the National Response Plan and other related national initiatives, 

including the National Exercise Program. The exercises shall be 

evaluated by the Secretary and the ensuing best practices shall be 

shared with appropriate stakeholders, and used to develop recommendations of appropriate action. 

The Conference intends for there to be one primary over-theroad bus security exercises program within the Federal government 

administered by TSA, but are including the waiver authority to ensure that any DOT motor carrier safety exercises that have a nexus 

with security are not automatically consolidated into this program. 

The Conference expects that the consolidation of exercises that primarily relate to safety would only occur with the concurrence of the 

Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Homeland Security. 

Section 1534. Over-the-road bus security training program 

There is no comparable House provision. 

While there is no comparable Senate provision, Section 1447 of 

the Senate bill provides grants to over-the-road bus operators and 

over-the-road bus terminal operators and owners for the purposes 

of improving bus security, including training employees in recognizing and responding to security risks, evacuation procedures, passenger screening procedures, and baggage inspection and hiring 

and training security officers. 

The Conference substitute adopts a new provision that would 

require, not later than 6 months after enactment, the Secretary of 

Homeland Security and TSA to develop and issue regulations for 

a bus training program to prepare the over-the-road bus frontline 

employees, as defined in section 1501 of the Conference substitute, 

for potential security threats and conditions. In developing the regulation, the Secretary shall consult with the appropriate stakeholders including law enforcement, over-the-road bus operators, 

and nonprofit employee labor organizations. The program shall include security training for determining the following, including: the 

seriousness of an incident or threat; driver and passenger communication; appropriate responses and training related to terrorist incidents; understanding security procedures; operation and maintenance of security equipment. Not later than 90 days upon issuance 

of the regulations, the over-the-road bus operators shall develop security training programs, which the Secretary shall review not 

later than 60 days upon receipt. Not later than 1 year after receiving the Secretary’s approval of the program, the over-the-road bus 

operator shall complete the security training of all over-the-road 

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bus frontline employees. The Secretary shall update the training 

regulations as appropriate and shall ensure that the program developed is a component of the National Training Program. Not 

later than 2 years after the issuance of the regulation, the Secretary shall review the program and report to the appropriate Congressional Committees. 

Section 1535. Over-the-road bus security research and development 

There is no comparable House provision. 

While there is no comparable Senate provision, Section 1447 of 

the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a program within TSA to make grants to private over-theroad bus operators and over-the-road bus terminal operators for the 

purposes of improving bus security. The section also requires the 

Secretary to undertake a bus security assessment that would include an assessment of ongoing research and the need for additional research on over-the-road bus security, including engine 

shut-off mechanisms, chemical and biological weapon detection 

technology, and the feasibility of compartmentalization of the driver. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision that requires the 

Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and 

Technology and the Administrator of the Transportation Security 

Administration, to establish a research and development (R&D) 

program for over-the-road bus security. Eligible R&D projects include the following: reducing the vulnerability to explosives and 

hazardous chemical, biological and radioactive substances; testing 

of new emergency response and recovery techniques; developing improved technologies for emergency response training, and security 

and redundancy for critical communications. The R&D program 

shall be consistent with other transportation security R&D programs required by the Act, and shall be coordinated with related 

activities within the DHS as well as DOT, in addition to R&D conducted by additional entities and agencies. The provision permits 

R&D projects authorized in this section to be enacted through a reimbursable agreement, if necessary, or memoranda of understanding, contracts, grants, cooperative agreements or other applicable transactions. The Conference substitute also requires the Secretary to consult with the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department, 

and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, who must conduct privacy impact assessments and reviews, respectively and as 

appropriate, for R&D initiatives that could have an impact on privacy, civil rights or civil liberties. Finally, the provision authorizes 

$2 million for each of Fiscal Years 2008 through 2011. 

Section 1536. Motor carrier employee protections 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1430 of the Senate bill updates the existing railroad 

employee protections statute to protect railroad employees from adverse employment impacts due to whistleblower activities related 

to rail security. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision related to the 

Senate provision which expands whistleblower protections to motor 

carrier, including over-the-road bus, employees. It amends the curmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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rent motor carrier employee whistleblower provision for safety to 

include whistleblower protections and increase employee protections related to security. This provision prohibits motor carriers 

from discriminating against or discharging any employee who reports a safety or security threat, or who refuses to work when confronted by a hazardous safety or security conditions. The Conference substitute also provides employees with additional administrative and civil remedies, including de novo review of a complaint 

in Federal District Court if the Department of Labor does not issue 

an order related to the complaint in a timely fashion. It authorizes 

all relief necessary to make a whistleblower whole, including damages, reinstatement with prior seniority status, special damages, 

and attorneys’ fees. Punitive damages are also made available to 

employees in an amount not to exceed $250,000. 

The Conference believes that motor carrier, including over-theroad bus, employees must be protected when reporting a safety or 

security threat or refusing to work when confronted by a hazardous 

safety or security condition. The Conference, through this provision, intends to protect covered employees in the course of their ordinary duties. The intent of this provision is to ensure that employees can report their concerns without the fear of possible retaliation or discrimination from employers. 

Section 1537. Unified Carrier Registration System agreement 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1436 of the Senate bill reinstates the Single State Registration System (SSRS) used by some States to levy motor carrier 

registration fees. This system was repealed pursuant to the Safe, 

Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act—A 

Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU) in the 109th Congress and a new 

Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) system was required to be developed. However, the Department of Transportation missed the 

deadlines to implement the new UCR system, meaning the States 

no longer have the necessary Federal authority to charge motor 

carriers’ registration fees. The Senate provisions reinstate the 

SSRS system until the UCR is implemented and thus provide authority for the States to collect registration fees. 

The Conference substitute adopts a modified version of the 

Senate provision which will extend the effect of Section 14504 of 

title 49, U.S. Code, until January 1, 2008 or the effective date of 

final regulations issued under this section. The provision establishes a deadline of not later than October 1, 2007 for the Federal 

Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to issue final regulations to establish the Unified Carrier Registration System and set 

fees for the calendar year 2008 and subsequent calendar years, as 

required by law. The provision also amends relevant sections of 

SAFETEA–LU. By enacting this provision, the Conference does not 

intend that FMCSA should wait until 2008 to enact the Unified 

Carrier Registration System, in the event that the necessary regulations and fee structure are finalized in 2007. The Conference believes that FMCSA has the authority to set fees for 2007 pursuant 

to SAFETEA–LU and urges the expeditious enactment of the UCR 

plan and agreement and system as soon as possible. 

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Section 1538. School bus transportation security 

There is no comparable House provision. 

While there is no comparable Senate provision, Section 1447 of 

the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a program within TSA to make grants to private over-theroad bus operators and over-the-road bus terminal operators for the 

purposes of improving bus security. The section also requires the 

Secretary to undertake a bus security assessment that would include an assessment of school bus security, if the Secretary deems 

it appropriate. 

The Conference substitute expands upon the Senate provision 

and directs the Secretary to transmit a report to the appropriate 

Congressional Committees containing a comprehensive assessment 

of the risk of a terrorist attack on the Nation’s school bus transportation system. The report shall include assessments of the following: the security risks to the Nation’s publicly and privately operated school bus systems; actions taken by operators to address 

security risks; and the need for additional actions and investments 

to improve the security of passengers traveling on school buses. In 

conducting these assessments, the Secretary shall consult with relevant stakeholders. 

Section 1539. Technical amendment 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute amends subsection 1992(d)(7) of 

title 18, United States Code, to clarify that a definition includes 

intercity bus transportation. 

Section 1540. Truck security assessment 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1445 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation, to transmit a report to Congress on security issues related to the trucking industry. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. The Conference substitute requires the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation, to issue a report, in either classified or redacted format, or 

both, within one year that includes an assessment of the security 

risks to the trucking industry, an assessment of truck security actions already taken by public and private entities, an assessment 

of the economic impact that security upgrades might have on the 

trucking industry, an assessment of ongoing security research, an 

assessment of industry best practices, and an assessment of the 

current status of secure truck parking. 

Section 1541. Memorandum of Understanding Annex 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1443 of the Senate bill requires an annex to the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of 

Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security governing the specific roles, delineations of responsibilities, resources 

and commitments of the two Departments in addressing motor carrier transportation security. 

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The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with a 

minor modification to emphasize that motor carrier transportation 

includes over-the-road bus transportation. 

Section 1542. DHS Inspector General Report on Trucking Security 

Grant Program 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1453 of the Senate bill requires the Inspector General 

of the Department to submit a report to Congress within 90 days 

of enactment on the Trucking Security Grant Program for Fiscal 

Years 2004 and 2005. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

amended, to require the Inspector General of the Department of 

Homeland Security to submit an additional report within one year 

to Congress that analyzes, using all years of available data, the 

performance, efficiency, and effectiveness of, the need for, and recommendations regarding the future of the Trucking Security Grant 

Program. 

Subtitle D—Hazardous Material and Pipeline Security 

Section 1551. Railroad routing of security-sensitive materials 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1431 of the Senate bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with TSA and the Department of 

Transportation, to require rail carriers transporting high hazard 

materials to develop security threat mitigation plans, including alternative routing and temporary shipment suspension options, and 

to address assessed risks to high consequence targets. These threat 

mitigation plans are to be implemented when the threat levels of 

the Homeland Security Advisory System are high or severe or specific intelligence of probable or imminent threat exists toward highconsequence rail targets or infrastructure. Within 60 days of enactment of the Act, a list of routes used to transport high hazard materials must be submitted to the Secretary. Within 180 days after 

receiving the notice of high consequence targets on such routes by 

the Secretary, each rail carrier must develop and submit a high 

hazard materials security threat mitigation plan to the Secretary. 

Any revisions must be submitted to the Secretary within 30 days 

of the revisions being made. The Secretary, with the assistance of 

the Secretary of Transportation, is directed to review and transmit 

comments on the plans to the railroad carrier. A railroad carrier 

must respond to those comments within 30 days. The plans would 

be required to be updated by the railroad carrier every two years. 

This section also defines the following terms: ‘‘high-consequence 

target,’’ ‘‘catastrophic impact zone,’’ and ‘‘rail carrier.’’

The Conference substitute adopts a modified version of the 

Senate provision that requires the Secretary of Transportation, in 

consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to publish a 

final rule for the transportation of hazardous materials that would 

require railroad carriers to compile commodity data of security sensitive materials and analysis of the safety and security risks for 

transportation routes of security sensitive materials. It also mandates that the final rule require that rail carriers that ship secumstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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rity-sensitive materials identify alternate routes, analyze the safety 

and security considerations of such alternative routes, and use such 

routes with the least safety and security risk when transporting security-sensitive materials. The Conference substitute requires that 

when railroads consider alternative routes, they consider the use of 

routes with interchange agreements. 

Section 1552. Railroad security sensitive material tracking 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1435 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with TSA, to develop a program to 

encourage the equipping of rail cars transporting high hazard materials with communications technology that provides information 

concerning car position, depressurization, and the release of hazardous materials. This section also authorizes $3 million in funding 

for each of Fiscal Years 2008 through 2010 for the Secretary to 

carry out this section. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate language with 

minor modifications. 

Section 1553. Hazardous materials highway routing 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1442 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Transportation, within one year of enactment of the Act, in consultation 

with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to: document existing 

and proposed routes for the transportation of radioactive and nonradioactive hazardous materials by motor carrier and develop a 

framework by using a Geographic Information System-based approach to characterize routes in the National Hazardous Materials 

Route Registry; assess and characterize existing and proposed 

routes for the transportation of radioactive and non-radioactive 

hazardous materials by motor carrier for the purpose of identifying 

measurable criteria for selecting routes based on safety and security concerns; analyze current route-related hazardous materials 

regulations in the US, Canada, and Mexico to identify cross-border 

differences and conflicting regulations; document the concerns of 

the public, motor carriers, and State, local, territorial, and tribal 

governments about the highway routing of hazardous materials for 

the purpose of identifying and mitigating security risks associated 

with hazardous material routes; prepare guidance materials for 

State officials to assist them in identifying and reducing both safety concerns and security risks when designating highway routes for 

hazardous materials; develop a tool that will enable State officials 

to examine potential routes for the highway transportation of hazardous materials; transmit to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation, and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure a report on the actions taken to fulfill 

all the requirements of this section and any recommended changes 

to the routing requirements for the highway transportation of hazardous materials. 

Under Section 1442, within 1 year of the date of enactment, 

the Secretary of Transportation would be required to complete an 

assessment of the safety and national security benefits achieved 

under existing requirements for route plans for explosives and ramstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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dioactive materials and shall submit a report to the appropriate 

Congressional Committees with the findings and conclusions of the 

assessment. The Secretary of Transportation is also directed to assess, and potentially require, the addition of certain high-hazardous materials to the list of existing hazardous materials that 

are required to be transported by motor carriers that use highway 

routing plans. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate language with 

minor modifications. 

Section 1554. Motor carrier security-sensitive material tracking 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1442 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, through TSA, and in consultation with the Secretary 

of Transportation, to develop a program to facilitate the equipping 

of motor carriers transporting high hazard materials with communications technology that provides frequent or continuous communications, vehicle position and location and tracking capabilities, 

and an emergency broadcast capability. This section authorizes $7 

million to carry out this section for each of Fiscal Years 2008 

through 2010, of which $3 million per year may be used for equipment and $1 million per year may be used for operations. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate language as 

modified. This section would require that the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the TSA, and in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, develop a program to facilitate the deployment and use of tracking technologies for motor carrier shipments 

of certain security-sensitive hazardous materials. It retains the 

Senate provision authorization level amounts, but does not include 

the specific set-aside of a $1 million per year that may be used for 

operations. 

The Conference expects that this program will help expand the 

use of technology that allows for continuous communication, position location and tracking, and emergency distress signal broadcasting, when such technologies can improve security without being 

overly burdensome, and that the provision will expand TSA’s analysis of other tracking-related security technologies that could be 

beneficial to the security of hazardous materials truck shipments 

through the evaluation required under this section. 

Section 1555. Hazardous materials security inspections and study 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1444 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a program within TSA, in consultation 

with the Secretary of Transportation, for reviewing hazardous materials security plans within one year after the enactment of this 

Act. Failure by any covered person to comply with part 172, title 

49, Code of Federal Regulations, within 180 days after being notified by the Secretary is punishable by a civil penalty. In reviewing 

compliance with part 172, the Secretary is required to utilize risk 

assessment methodologies to prioritize review and enforcement actions to the highest risk hazardous materials transportation operations. This section also requires the Secretary of Transportation, 

within one year, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland 

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Security, to study to what extent the insurance, security, and safety costs borne by carriers of hazardous materials are reflected in 

the rates paid by shippers of such commodities, as compared to 

those for the transportation of non-hazardous materials. Section 

1444 authorizes $2 million each of Fiscal Years 2008 through 2010. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision as 

modified. It directs the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation 

with the Secretary of Homeland Security to limit duplicative reviews of hazardous materials security plans required under part 

172, title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The Conference substitute retains the cost study from the original Senate provision. 

Section 1556. Technical corrections 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1450 of the Senate bill corrects technical errors to section 5103a of title 49, United States Code, by inserting ‘‘Secretary 

of Homeland Security’’ in place of the term ‘‘Secretary’’. This section also clarifies that an individual with a valid transportation 

worker identification card has satisfied the background records 

check required under 5103a of title 49, United States Code. This 

section does not preempt State requirements on background checks 

required to receive a hazardous materials endorsement. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate language with 

minor modifications to clarify the Department of Transportation 

and the Department of Homeland Security’s roles in carrying out 

section 5103a of title 49, United States Code. 

Section 1557. Pipeline security inspections and enforcement 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1449 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, 

to establish a program for reviewing pipeline operator adoption of 

recommendations in the September 5, 2002, Department of Transportation Research and Special Programs Administration Pipeline 

Security Information Circular, including the review of pipeline security plans and critical facility inspections. Section 1449 also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of 

Transportation to develop and implement a plan for reviewing 

pipeline security plans and an inspection of the critical facilities of 

the 100 most critical pipeline operators covered by the September 

5, 2002 Circular. In reviewing pipeline operators, the Secretary of 

Homeland Security and the Secretary of Transportation shall use 

risk assessment methodologies to prioritize risks and to target inspection and enforcement actions to the highest risk pipeline assets. The section also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security 

and the Secretary of Transportation to develop and transmit to 

pipeline operators security recommendations for natural gas and 

hazardous liquid pipelines and pipeline facilities. If the Secretary 

of Homeland Security determines that regulations are appropriate, 

the regulations must incorporate the guidance provided to pipeline 

operators in the September 5, 2002 Circular and contain additional 

requirements as necessary based upon the results of inspections 

performed under this section. The regulations must also include 

the imposition of civil penalties for non-compliance. Finally, the 

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provision authorizes appropriations of $2 million for Fiscal Years 

2008 and 2009 for a pipeline security inspection and enforcement 

program. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

modifications to the dates for program implementation, review, and 

issuance of regulations, an extension of the authorization to Fiscal 

Year 2010, and other changes. 

With respect to pipelines, the Conference is aware that a portion of these critical facilities have been inspected, and do not expect re-inspections to be performed needlessly. The Conference expects the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of 

Transportation to inspect facilities that have not been inspected for 

security purposes since September 5, 2002, by either the Department of Transportation or the Department of Homeland Security, 

and to re-inspect those facilities which the Secretaries deem appropriate. 

Section 1558. Pipeline security and incident recovery plan 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1448 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation 

and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 

(PHMSA), to develop a pipeline security and incident recovery protocols plan. The plan must be developed in accordance with the 

Memorandum of Understanding Annex executed on August 9, 2006 

and take into account actions taken or planned by both private and 

public entities to address identified pipeline security issues and assess the effective integration of such actions. It also requires the 

Secretary of Homeland Security to transmit to Congress a report 

containing the plan, along with an estimate of the private and public sector costs to implement any recommendations. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

modifications, including the requirement that the incident recovery 

protocols plan be developed in accordance with the National Strategy for Transportation Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive–7, in addition to the pipeline security annex to 

the Department of Homeland Security-Department of Transportation Memorandum of Understanding. Language was also added 

to require that the incident recovery protocol plan address the restoration of essential services supporting pipelines, such as electrical 

service. 

TITLE XVI—AVIATION SECURITY 

Section 1601. Airport checkpoint screening fund 

Section 403 of the House bill establishes an airport checkpoint 

screening fund to be funded in Fiscal Year 2008 with $250 million 

and expanded until exhausted for the procurement of explosives detection equipment at security checkpoints. These funds would be 

derived from the current Transportation Security Administration 

(TSA) security fee. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It provides the TSA Administrator with the authority to 

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expend funds in FY 2008 for the purchase, deployment, installation, research, and development of equipment to improve security 

screening for explosives at commercial airport checkpoints. 

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the 

United States (the 9/11 Commission) asserted that while more advanced screening technology is being developed, Congress should 

provide funding for, and TSA should move as expeditiously as possible to support, the installation of explosives detection trace portals or other applicable technologies at more of the nation’s commercial airports. Advanced technologies, such as the use of non-intrusive imaging, have been evaluated by TSA over the last few 

years and have demonstrated that they can provide significant improvements in threat detection at airport passenger screening 

checkpoints for both carry-on baggage and the screening of passengers. 

The Conference urges TSA to deploy such technologies quickly 

and broadly to address security shortcomings at passenger screening checkpoints. The Conference believes the best way to provide 

for the research and development of technologies and techniques 

that would prevent explosives from being placed onto passenger 

aircraft is to pilot these technologies at a diverse group of airports. 

The Conference directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (the 

Secretary) to give priority for these pilot projects to airports that 

have demonstrated their expertise as pilot sites and that have been 

selected by the TSA as ‘‘model airports’’ for the deployment of technology to detect explosives. 

Section 1602. Screening of cargo carried aboard passenger aircraft 

Section 406 of the House bill requires 100 percent of cargo carried on passenger aircraft to be inspected no later than 3 years 

after the date of enactment. At a minimum, the inspection of such 

cargo should provide a level of security equivalent to the inspection 

of passenger checked baggage. The provision requires that the percent of such cargo that should meet these screening standards 

should be 35 percent by the end of Fiscal Year 2007, 65 percent by 

the end of Fiscal Year 2008, and 100 percent by the end of Fiscal 

Year 2009. The Secretary may issue an interim final rule (IFR) but 

must issue a final rule not later than one year after the IFR. After 

the system becomes operational, TSA is required to report to Congress, within 1 year, detailing the operations; and within 120 days, 

report on exemptions permitted under the system. The report on 

exemptions must also be provided to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) which must provide an assessment of such exemptions to Congress within 120 days of receiving the report. 

Section 1462 of the Senate bill requires TSA to develop and implement a system, within 3 years of the date of enactment, to provide for the screening of all cargo being carried on passenger aircraft. The Secretary may issue an interim final rule (IFR) but must 

issue a final rule not later than one year after the IFR. After the 

system becomes operational, the TSA is required to report to Congress, within 1 year, detailing the operations and, within 180 days, 

assessing exemptions permitted under the system. The report on 

exemptions must also be provided to GAO which must provide an 

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assessment of such exemptions to Congress within 120 days of receiving the report. 

The Conference substitute adopts a combination of the House 

and Senate provisions, as modified. It requires minimum standards 

for the screening of cargo on commercial passenger aircraft that 

must be commensurate with the level of screening for passenger 

checked baggage. The Conference substitute includes one benchmark; 50 percent of cargo on commercial passenger aircraft must 

be screened in 18 months and 100 percent screening achieved in 

the three years following the date enactment of the legislation. The 

Conference considers that if TSA were unable to meet the first 

benchmark, TSA would be required to give classified briefings, on 

a periodic and to be determined frequency, to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and to the House 

Committee on Homeland Security, to explain the status of TSA’s 

ability to maximize the screening of cargo on commercial personal 

aircraft without causing negative repercussions on the flow of commerce. 

The Conference substitute also defines the term ‘‘screening’’ in 

order to clarify the requirements of the section and the methods of 

screening the TSA Administrator is permitted to use to screen 

cargo on commercial aircraft. The Conference notes that the use of 

the phrase ‘‘physical search together with manifest verification’’ denotes one method of screening, separate and apart from the other 

methods listed in this subsection, such as X-ray systems, etc. The 

Conference is also concerned about TSA using data checks of cargo 

or shippers, including a review of information about the contents 

of the cargo or verifying the identity of a shipper through a database, such as the Known Shipper database, as a single factor in determining whether cargo poses a threat to transportation security. 

The Conference substitute, therefore, requires that if such data 

checks are used, they must be paired with an additional physical 

or non-intrusive screening method approved by TSA that examines 

the cargo’s contents. 

If TSA does not submit a final rule to implement this program 

within one year after an interim final rule becomes effective, the 

Department of Homeland Security (the Department or DHS) will 

be required to submit status reports to the relevant Congressional 

Committees every 30 days until a final rule is issued. After the system becomes operational, TSA is required to report to Congress, 

within 1 year, detailing the operations and, within 120 days, report 

on exemptions permitted under the system. The report on exemptions must also be provided to GAO which must provide an assessment of such exemptions to Congress within 120 days of receiving 

the report. 

The Conference believes that TSA should consider establishing 

a system whereby aviation ground service providers that perform 

cargo security screening services for passenger aircraft, are compensated for costs incurred as a result of increased cargo security 

requirements. 

Section 1603. In-line baggage screening 

Section 401 of the House bill requires the submission of an 

overdue cost-sharing study on in-line explosive detection systems 

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(EDS) installation within 30 days of enactment, along with the Secretary’s analysis of the study, a list of provisions the Secretary intends to implement, and a plan and schedule for implementation. Section 1465 of the Senate bill authorizes $450 million in discretionary funds for Fiscal Years 2008 through 2011 to fund the installation of in-line EDS at U.S. airports at a level approximate to 

the TSA’s strategic plan for the deployment of such systems. It also 

requires the submission of an overdue cost-sharing study on in-line 

EDS installation within 30 days of enactment. 

The Conference substitute adopts a combination of the House 

and Senate provisions, as modified. It authorizes funding through 

Fiscal Year 2028. It further requires the submission of a cost sharing study and an analysis of the study by the DHS Secretary within 60 days of enactment of the legislation. 

Section 1604. In-line baggage system deployment 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1466 of the Senate bill mandates, through Fiscal Year 2028, the annual dedication of $250 million of the amounts currently collected in aviation security fees to the Aviation Security 

Capital Fund for the installation of in-line electronic screening systems for the enhanced screening of checked baggage at airports. 

The provision also bolsters the existing Letter of Intent (LOI) program, through changes in funding allocation requirements and requiring the creation of a prioritization schedule for planned 

projects. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified to require annual dedication, through Fiscal Year 2028, of 

$250 million of the amounts currently collected in aviation security 

fees to the Aviation Security Capital Fund for the installation of inline electronic screening systems for the enhanced screening of 

checked baggage at airports. Four-fifths of the annual allotment— not less than $200 million—must be committed to the completion 

of LOIs, while the remaining funds may be distributed in a discretionary manner to fund such projects, in a priority manner, at 

small and non-hub airports. It also promotes leveraged funding for 

such projects, and to permit airports that have incurred eligible 

costs to improve baggage screening at their facilities to pursue reimbursement of such costs from TSA. 

The Conference strongly believes that this program should be 

managed as outlined in the legislation and that TSA and the Administration must have a 20-year horizon for the LOIs, rather than 

a limited short-term view which would have detrimental effects on 

the ability of airports to obtain requisite funding from the financial 

bond markets. The Conference believes that airports may not renegotiate previously agreed-upon Government contributions, 

through LOIs, or any other applicable arrangement, for in-line EDS 

systems. 

Section 1605. Strategic plan to test and implement advanced passenger prescreening system 

Section 409 of the House bill requires the Department, within 

90 days of enactment, to submit a strategic plan to Congress that 

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mation to watch lists; explain the integration with international 

flights; and provide a projected timeline for testing and implementation its advanced passenger prescreening system. 

Section 1472 of the Senate bill requires the Department, within 180 days of enactment, to submit a strategic plan to Congress 

that describes the system to be utilized for comparing passenger information to watch lists; explains the integration with international flights; and provides a projected timeline for testing and 

implementation its advanced passenger prescreening system. In addition, the provision requires that a report by the GAO be issued 

to Congress within 90 days of enactment. This report must describe 

progress made in implementing Secure Flight; the effectiveness of 

the appeals process; integration with the international flight prescreening program operated by Customs and Border Protection 

(CBP); and other relevant observations. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House and Senate provisions, as modified. The provision would require the Department, in 

consultation with TSA, to submit a strategic plan to Congress, 

within 120 days of enactment of the legislation, that includes 

timelines for testing and implementation of its advanced passenger 

prescreening system. In addition, a GAO report must be issued to 

Congress within 180 days to review, inter alia, the implementation 

of Secure Flight by the Department; the effectiveness of the appeals process; integration with the international flight pre- screening program operated by the CBP. 

Section 1606. Appeal and redress process for passengers wrongly delayed or prohibited from boarding a flight 

Section 407 of the House bill directs DHS to create an Office 

of Appeals and Redress to establish and administer a timely and 

fair process for airline passengers who believe they have been delayed or prohibited from boarding a passenger flight because they 

have been misidentified against the ‘‘No-Fly’’ or ‘‘Selectee’’ watch 

lists. The Office of Appeals and Redress must establish a presence 

at each airport to begin the appeals process for those passengers 

wrongly identified against watch lists. 

Section 1471 of the Senate bill directs DHS to create an Office 

of Appeals and Redress to establish and administer a timely and 

fair process for airline passengers who believe they have been delayed or prohibited from boarding a passenger flight because they 

have been misidentified against the ‘‘No-Fly’’ or ‘‘Selectee’’ watch 

lists. 

The Conference substitute combines the House and Senate provisions, as modified. It creates the Office in DHS to ensure an adequate appeal and redress process in place for passenger wrongly 

identified against watch lists, and to increase privacy protections 

for individuals. The provision requires Federal employees within 

DHS handling personally identifiable information (PII) of passengers to complete mandatory privacy and security training. In 

addition, the provision requires that DHS ensure that airline passengers are able to initiate the redress process at airports with a 

significant TSA presence. 

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Section 1607. Strengthening explosives detection at passenger 

screening checkpoints 

Section 404 of the House bill directs TSA to issue, within 7 

days, a strategic plan, as required by the Intelligence Reform and 

Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–458), for the deployment of explosives detection equipment at airport checkpoints. 

Section 1470 of the Senate bill directs DHS to issue, within 90 

days after enactment, a strategic plan, as required by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 

108–458), for the deployment of explosives detection equipment at 

airport checkpoints. It also requires TSA to begin full implementation of the strategic plan within 1 year of its submission. 

The Conference substitute adopts a combination of the House 

and Senate provisions, as modified. It directs DHS, in consultation 

with TSA, to issue a strategic plan for the deployment of explosives 

detection equipment at airport checkpoints within 30 days of enactment, and requires the TSA to begin implementation of the plan 

within 1 year of its submission. 

Section 1608. Research and development of aviation transportation 

security technology 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1467 of the Senate bill extends an authorization for research and development spending for aviation security technology 

at a level of $50 million through Fiscal Year 2009. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified to authorize research and development funding for aviation security technology at a level of $50 million through Fiscal 

Year 2011. 

Section 1609. Blast-resistant cargo containers 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1463 of the Senate bill requires TSA to develop a system by which the Administrator provides blast-resistant cargo containers to commercial passenger air carriers for use, on a random 

or risk-assessed basis, as determined by the agency. The cargo containers must be acquired by TSA within 90 days of the agency’s 

completion of development of the system. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. It requires TSA to evaluate and distribute a report to 

Congress and the air carrier industry that includes the results of 

its blast resistant cargo container pilot program. After reporting, 

TSA must develop and implement a program consistent with the 

results of the evaluation to acquire the necessary blast resistant 

cargo containers and make them available to air carriers on a riskassessed basis, as determined appropriate by the Administrator. 

Section 1610. Protection of passenger planes from explosives 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1464 of the Senate bill directs DHS to expedite research and development pilot projects that advance technology to 

protect passenger planes from the threat of explosive devices. It 

also requires the establishment of a grant program to fund projects 

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the agency develops through this process, with an authorization for 

such sums as necessary for Fiscal Year 2008. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. It requires DHS, in consultation with TSA, to develop 

pilot projects that advance technology for protecting passenger 

planes from the threat of explosive devices and to establish a grant 

program to fund projects developed under the program with an authorization for fiscal year 2008. 

Section 1611. Specialized training 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1469 of the Senate bill requires TSA to provide specialized training to Transportation Security Officers for the development of advanced security skills, including behavior observation, 

explosives detection and document verification. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. It requires TSA to provide specialized training to Transportation Security Officers for the development of advanced security skills, including behavior observation, explosives detection and document 

verification, to enhance the effectiveness of layered transportation 

security measures. 

Section 1612. Certain TSA personnel limitation not to apply 

There is no comparable House provision. 

To ensure that the agency is properly staffed at a level necessary to screen travelers as air passenger traffic numbers continue 

to increase, Section 1468 of the Senate bill removes the arbitrary 

hiring cap on Transportation Security Officers of 45,000 full-time 

equivalent (FTE) employees that is currently imposed on the TSA’s 

screener workforce. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. It removes the arbitrary screener cap of 45,000 full-time equivalent 

(FTE) employees that is currently imposed on the TSA’s screener 

workforce so that the agency will be properly staffed at a level necessary to screen travelers as air passenger traffic numbers continue 

to increase. 

Section 1613. Pilot project to test different technologies at airport 

exit lanes 

There is no comparable House provision. Section 1479 of the 

Senate bill establishes a pilot program to test new technologies for 

reducing the number of TSA employees at airport exit lanes, and 

requires the TSA Administrator to brief Congressional Committees, 

within 180 days, on the program, and provide a final report within 

1 year. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. It directs TSA to conduct a pilot project, at no more than 

two airports, to identify technologies to improve security at airport 

exit lanes. The pilot program must ensure that the level of safety 

remains at, or above, the existing level of security at airports 

where the pilot program is initiated. TSA must brief appropriate 

Congressional Committees on the pilot program within 180 days of 

enactment on the pilot program, and provide a report on the program to those Committees within 18 months of the program’s immstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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plementation. The provision also stipulates that this section shall 

be executed using existing funds. 

Section 1614. Security credentials for airline crews 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1475 of the Senate bill mandates a report to Congress, 

within 180 days of enactment, on the status of efforts to institute 

a sterile area access system that will grant flight deck and cabin 

crews expedited access to secure areas through screening checkpoints. The report must include recommendations to implement the 

program for the domestic aviation industry within 1 year after the 

report is submitted, and fully deploy the system within 1 year of 

the report’s submission. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. It requires a report to Congress, within 180 days of enactment of the Act, on the status of efforts to institute a sterile 

area access system that will grant flight deck and cabin crews expedited access to secure areas through screening checkpoints. The 

report must include recommendations to implement the program 

for the domestic aviation industry within one year after the report 

is submitted, and fully deploy the system within one year of the report’s submission. In addition, the provision lists the appropriate 

Committees of jurisdiction in the provision’s reporting requirements. 

Section 1615. Law enforcement officer biometric credential 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1477 of the Senate bill requires a credential or system 

that incorporates biometric and other applicable technologies to 

verify the identity of law enforcement officers seeking to carry a 

weapon on board an aircraft. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. It establishes, within 18 months of enactment, of a Federally managed, national registered armed law enforcement program 

for armed law enforcement officers traveling by commercial aircraft. It also requires that a report be submitted to Congress within 

180 days of the program’s implementation or a report explaining to 

Congress why the program has not been implemented with a further report every 90 days until the program becomes operational. 

Section 1616. Repair station security 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1473 of the Senate bill mandates that security rules be 

put in place at foreign aviation repair stations, within 90 days of 

passage of the Act, and that once security rules are established, 

each repair station be reviewed and audited within a 6–month period. If no action is taken within 90 days, the Administration will 

be prohibited from certifying any further foreign repair stations 

until such regulations are in place. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, as 

modified. It requires that security rules be put in place at foreign 

aviation repair stations within 1 year of passage and that any security rules established be reviewed and audited within a 6 month 

period. If no action is taken within 1 year, the Administration will 

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be prohibited from certifying any foreign repair stations that are 

not presently certified or in the process of certification until such 

regulations are in place. 

Section 1617. General aviation security 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1474 of the Senate bill requires TSA to develop a 

standardized threat and vulnerability assessment program for general aviation (GA) airports within 1 year, and create a program to 

perform such assessments at GA airports in the United States on 

a risk-assessed basis. TSA must also study the feasibility of a grant 

program for GA airport operators to fund key projects to upgrade 

security at such facilities, and establish that program if feasible. It 

further requires TSA to develop a program, within 6 months, under 

which foreign registered GA aircraft must submit passenger information to TSA to be checked against appropriate watch list databases prior to entering the United States. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. It requires TSA to develop a standardized threat and vulnerability assessment program for GA airports within one year, and create a 

program to perform such assessments at GA airports in the United 

States on a risk-assessed basis. TSA must also study the feasibility 

of a grant program for GA airport operators to fund key projects 

to upgrade security at such facilities, and establish that program 

if feasible. The provision requires TSA to develop a program, within six months, under which GA aircraft originating from a foreign 

location must submit passenger information to TSA to be checked 

against appropriate watch list databases prior to entering the 

United States. 

Section 1618. Extension of authorization for aviation security funding. 

Section 405 of the House bill provides an extension for aviation 

security funding through Fiscal Year 2011. 

Section 1461 of the Senate bill provides an extension for aviation security funding through Fiscal Year 2009. 

The Conference substitute combines the House and Senate provisions, as modified to extend aviation security funding through 

Fiscal Year 2011, corresponding to the time limits and other authorizations within the bill. 

TITLE XVII—MARITIME CARGO 

Section 1701. Container scanning and seals 

Section 501 of the House bill prohibits a container from entering the United States unless the container is scanned and secured 

with a seal that uses the best available technology, including technology to detect any breach of the container and record the time 

of that breach. The Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) 

must establish standards for scanning and sealing containers, and 

must review and revise those standards at least once every two 

years. This section requires all countries (those exporting 75,000 or 

more twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU)) scan and seal containers 

within three years of the date of enactment. All other countries 

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must scan and seal container within five years. The Secretary may 

extend the deadline for a port by one year. 

Section 905 of the Senate bill amends Section 232 of the SAFE 

Port Act of 2006 to require the Secretary develop a plan, which includes benchmarks, for scanning 100 percent of the containers destined for the United States using integrated scanning systems developed in the pilot program authorized in that section. It also requires that the plan incorporate existing programs, such as the 

Container Security Initiative and the Customs-Trade Partnership 

Against Terrorism. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. This provision amends Section 232 of the SAFE Port Act 

of 2006 to require full-scale implementation of the 100 percent 

scanning system pilot program required by that section no later 

than July 1, 2012. However, the Secretary is authorized to extend 

the deadline by two years, and may renew the extension in additional two-year increments, if the Secretary certifies to Congress 

that particular conditions can not be met. The provision provides 

a waiver for U.S. and foreign military cargo. It also requires the 

Secretary consult with other appropriate Federal agencies to ensure that actions taken under this section do not violate international trade obligations. 

This substitute also amends section 204(a)(4) of the SAFE Port 

Act by requiring the Secretary to issue an interim rule to establish 

minimum standards and procedures for securing containers in 

transit to the United States not later than April 1, 2008. If the Secretary fails to meet that deadline, this section requires that effective October 15, 2008, and until such interim rule is issued, all containers in transit to the United States shall be required to meet the 

requirements of International Organization for Standardization 

Publicly Available Specification 17712 standard for sealing containers. 

The Conference expects the Secretary to work with the Secretary of State, the United States Trade Representative, and other 

appropriate Federal officials to work with our international partners and international organizations such as the World Customs 

Organization to establish an international framework for scanning 

and securing containers. 

The Conference is aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) 

has inherent capabilities to assess, through its cooperative agreements with numerous countries and port authorities, the adequacy 

of technical and operating procedures for cargo container scanning. 

To ensure smooth continuation of DOE’s cooperative relationships 

with numerous countries and the further expansion of the 

Megavolts Second Line of Defense (SLEDDED) programs, the Conference expects that DHS and DOE shall closely coordinate their 

activities and consult prior to the establishment of technological or 

operational standards by the Secretary of Homeland Security. As 

part of the coordination requirement in this section, the Conference 

expects that where the scanning technology standards affect the 

DOE’s Megavolts and SLEDDED programs, the Secretary shall invite the DOE to participate in the development and final review of 

such standards, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall seek 

the concurrence of the Secretary of Energy. 

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TITLE XVIII—PREVENTING WEAPONS OF MASS 

DESTRUCTION PROLIFERATION AND TERRORISM 

Section 1801. Findings 

Section 1201 of the House bill contains findings and recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision with respect to the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. 

The Conference notes that in late 2005 the members of the 

9/11 Commission also made the following determinations: (1) The 

United States Government has made insufficient progress, and deserves a grade ‘‘D’’, on efforts to prevent weapons of mass destruction (W.D.) proliferation and terrorism. (2) The Cooperative Threat 

Reduction (CAR) Program has made significant accomplishments 

but much remains to be done to secure weapons-grade nuclear materials. The size of the problem still dwarfs the policy response. Nuclear materials in the Former Soviet Union still lack effective security protection, and sites throughout the world contain enough 

highly-enriched uranium to fashion a nuclear device but lack even 

basic security features. (3) Preventing the proliferation of W.D. and 

acquisition of such weapons by terrorists warrants a maximum effort, by strengthening counter-proliferation efforts, expanding the 

Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), and supporting the CAR Program. (4) Preventing terrorists from gaining access to W.D. must 

be an urgent national security priority because of the threat such 

access poses to the American people. The President should develop 

a comprehensive plan to dramatically accelerate the timetable for 

securing all nuclear weapons-usable material around the world and 

request the necessary resources to complete this task. The President should publicly make this goal his top national security priority and ensure its fulfillment. (5) Congress should provide the resources needed to secure vulnerable materials as quickly as possible. 

Section 1802. Definitions 

Section 1202 of the House bill defines terms used throughout 

Title XII of the House bill. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with an 

amendment to clarify the term ‘‘items of proliferation concern’’ and 

makes a further clarifying change. 

Section 1811. Repeal and modifications of limitations on assistance 

for prevention of weapons of mass destruction proliferation and 

terrorism 

Section 1211 of the House bill repeals and modifies various 

conditions on assistance to former Soviet States under the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction (CAR) Program and 

the Department of Energy Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation programs. Section 1211 would also repeal the cap on Department of 

Defense CAR program assistance outside the former Soviet Union, 

with respect to prior year funds, as well as Department of Energy 

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nonproliferation program assistance outside the former Soviet 

Union, while increasing oversight of such programs. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with an 

amendment that removes the repeal and modification of various 

conditions on assistance to States outside the former Soviet Union 

under the Department of Energy nonproliferation programs; removes the repeal of the funding cap on Department of Defense 

CAR assistance outside the former Soviet Union; and makes a 

clarifying change. 

The Conference notes that substitute is consistent with the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission regarding the need to expand, improve, and otherwise fully support the Department of Defense CAR Program and other efforts to prevent weapons of mass 

destruction proliferation and terrorism. 

The Conference further notes that the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, as passed by the House of 

Representatives (Report 110–146, May 11, 2007) and the National 

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, as reported by the 

Senate Armed Services Committee (Report 110–77, June 5, 2007) 

both address the matters contained in this provision, including the 

funding cap on Department of Defense CAR assistance outside the 

former Soviet Union, and the Conferees expect that any final national defense authorization act for Fiscal Year 2008, as enacted, 

will further address these matters. 

Section 1821. Proliferation security initiative improvements and authorities 

Section 1221 of the House bill expresses the sense of Congress 

that, consistent with the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, 

the President should strive to expand and strengthen the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Section 1221 also requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State and 

the head of any other Federal Department or Agency involved with 

PSI-related activities, to submit to the Congressional defense Committees a defined budget for the PSI, beginning with the Department of Defense budget submission for fiscal year 2009. Section 

1221 further requires the President to submit to the relevant Congressional Committees, not later than 180 days after the enactment 

of H.R.1, as passed by the House of Representatives (H.R.1 EH, 

January 9, 2007), a report on the implementation of section 1221, 

including steps taken to implement the recommendations of the 

Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the September 2006 

Report titled ‘‘Better Controls Needed to Plan and Manage Proliferation Security Initiative Activities’’. Section 1221 also directs 

GAO to submit to Congress, beginning in fiscal year 2008, an annual report on its assessment of the progress and effectiveness of 

the PSI. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with an 

amendment that narrows the scope of the sense of Congress; clarifies the annual budget submission; requires each budget submission to be accompanied by a report on PSI funding and activities; 

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changes the GAO report to a biannual report for 2007, 2009 and 

2011; and makes clarifying and technical changes. 

The Conference recognizes that the annual budget request and 

the accompanying report for the PSI, required by the substitute, 

may not be fully inclusive of all funding required for PSI-related 

activities during the fiscal year for the budget request given unknown PSI-related activities that may arise throughout the fiscal 

year. However, the Conference expects the budget request and accompanying report to include all reasonably known obligations, 

costs and expenditures for PSI-related activities for the fiscal year 

of the budget request. 

The Conference believes that in order to effectively expand and 

strengthen the PSI, the United States should work with the international community to strengthen the PSI under international law 

and other international legal authorities. It is important for the 

United States and other PSI partners to seek greater international 

recognition of the need to conduct PSI-related activities within certain international areas, so that international waters and airspace 

do not become ‘‘transit sanctuaries’’ for countries, terrorist organizations, and unscrupulous businesses and individuals seeking to 

transfer items of proliferation concern. One promising avenue could 

be to encourage the U.N.’s ‘‘1540 Committee,’’ which is charged 

with monitoring international compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 promoting nonproliferation, to recognize and endorse the need and ability of PSI partners to monitor 

and, in appropriate circumstances, interdict such shipments. 

Section 1822. Authority to provide assistance to cooperative countries 

Section 1222 of the House bill authorizes the President to, notwithstanding any other provision of law, provide Foreign Military 

Financing, International Military Education and Training, and 

draw down of excess defense articles and services to any country, 

for a maximum of three years, that cooperates with the United 

States and with other countries allied with the United States to 

prevent the transport and transshipment of items of proliferation 

concern in its national territory or airspace or in vessels under its 

control or registry. Such assistance would be provided to enhance 

the capability of the recipient country to prevent the transport and 

transshipment of items of proliferation concern in its national territory or airspace, or in vessels under its control or registry, including through the development of a legal framework in that country, 

consistent with any international laws or legal authorities governing the PSI, to enhance such capability by criminalizing proliferation, enacting strict export controls, and securing sensitive 

materials within its borders, and to enhance the ability of the recipient country to cooperate in operations conducted with other 

participating countries. Such assistance could only be provided in 

accordance with existing procedures regarding reprogramming notifications under section 634A(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 

1961. Finally, this section prohibits the transfer of any excess defense vessel or aircraft to a country until reprogramming notice is 

made, if that country has not agreed that it will support and assist 

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efforts by the United States to interdict items of proliferation concern. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with an 

amendment that narrows the authority and adds an exemption to 

the limitation on an excess vessel or aircraft transfer if such transfer does not involve significant military equipment and the primary 

use of the vessel or aircraft will be for counter-narcotics, counterterrorism or counter-proliferation purposes. 

The Conference intends that assistance provided pursuant to 

this section shall remain subject to all existing law regarding the 

authorities listed in subsection (b) of this section. Thus, for example, the normal Congressional notification and review procedures 

will apply, as well as limitations related to human rights or military coups. 

Section 1831. Findings; Statement of policy 

Section 1231 of the House bill contains findings and a statement of policy regarding assistance to accelerate programs to prevent weapons of mass destruction proliferation and terrorism. Section 1231 emphasizes that it shall be the policy of the United 

States, consistent with the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, to 

eliminate any obstacles to timely obligating and executing the full 

amount of any appropriated funds for threat reduction and nonproliferation programs in order to accelerate and strengthen 

progress on preventing weapons of mass destruction proliferation 

and terrorism, and that such policy shall be implemented with concrete measures such as those described in Title XII of H.R. 1, as 

passed by the House of Representatives (H.R.1 EH, January 9, 

2007). 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision with respect to the policy of the United States to eliminate any obstacles 

to timely obligating and executing the full amount of any appropriated funds for threat reduction and nonproliferation programs, 

and the implementation of such policy with concrete measures. 

The Conference notes that certain U.S. threat reduction and 

nonproliferation programs have in past years encountered obstacles 

to timely obligating and executing the full amount of appropriated 

funds, and have therefore maintained unobligated and uncosted 

balances. Such obstacles have included lack of effective policy guidance, limits on program scope, practical inefficiencies, lack of cooperation with other countries, and lack of effective leadership to 

overcome such obstacles. The Conference also notes that although 

currently most Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction and Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration nonproliferation programs are timely obligating and executing appropriated funds, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy should ensure that this practice continues as 

such threat reduction and nonproliferation programs are accelerated, expanded and strengthened. 

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Section 1832. Authorization of Appropriations for the Department of 

Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program 

Section 1232 of the House bill authorizes to be appropriated to 

the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction (CAR) 

Program such sums as may be necessary for Fiscal Year 2007 for 

biological weapons proliferation prevention; chemical weapons destruction at Shchuch’ye; and to accelerate, expand and strengthen 

CAR Program activities. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with an 

amendment that changes the fiscal year of the authorization of appropriations to the Department of Defense CAR Program to Fiscal 

Year 2008; and clarifies that any sums appropriated pursuant to 

such authorization may not exceed the amounts authorized to be 

appropriated for such purposes by any national defense authorization act for Fiscal Year 2008. 

The Conference expects that any national defense authorization act for 2008 will authorize specific amounts to be appropriated 

for the Department of Defense CAR Program for Fiscal Year 2008. 

Section 1833. Authorization of Appropriations for the Department of 

Energy Programs to Prevent Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism 

Section 1233 of the House bill authorizes to be appropriated to 

the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration such sums as may be necessary for Fiscal Year 2007 nonproliferation programs. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with an 

amendment that changes the fiscal year of the authorization of appropriations to Department of Energy National Nuclear Security 

Administration nonproliferation programs to Fiscal Year 2008; addresses specific purposes for any such authorization of appropriations in report language below; and clarifies that any sums appropriated pursuant to such authorization may not exceed the 

amounts authorized to be appropriated for such purposes by any 

national defense authorization act for Fiscal Year 2008. 

The Conference expects that any national defense authorization act for 2008 will authorize specific amounts to be appropriated 

for Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration nonproliferation programs for Fiscal Year 2008. 

The Conference notes that high priority Department of Energy 

National Nuclear Security Administration nonproliferation programs that could use additional funding include: 

(1) The Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI), for (A) the 

Russian research reactor fuel return program; (B) conversion of research and test reactors from the use of highly enriched uranium 

to low-enriched uranium; (C) development of alternative low-enriched uranium fuels; (D) international radiological threat reduction, including security of vulnerable radiological sites, recovery 

and removal of unsecured radiological sources, and activities to address concerns and recommendations of the Government Accountability Office, in its report of March 13, 2007 titled ‘‘Focusing on 

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forts to Secure Sources in Foreign Countries’’; (E) emerging threats 

and sensitive nuclear materials not covered by other GTRI programs (‘‘gap material’’), including removal and disposal of highlyenriched uranium and plutonium, and development of mobile 

equipment that enables rapid-response teams to quickly secure and 

remove nuclear materials and denuclearize comprehensive nuclear 

weapons programs; and (F) United States radiological threat reduction, including development of alternative materials for radiological 

sources that could be used in a radiological dispersion device, 

known as a ‘‘dirty bomb’’, and securing and storing excess and unwanted domestic radiological sources within United States borders. 

(2) Nonproliferation and International Security, to be used for 

(A) technical support to the six-party process on the 

denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; (B) 

application and deployment of technologies to detect weapons of 

mass destruction (W.D.) proliferation and verify W.D. dismantlement; (C) efforts to strengthen nuclear safeguards, including improved safeguards analysis capabilities for the International Atomic Energy Agency and research and development on the next generation of nuclear safeguards, and W.D. export control systems in 

foreign countries, including technical and other support to the 

International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts to build the capacity 

of countries to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540; (D) training of border, customs and other officials in foreign countries to detect and prevent theft or other illicit transfer 

of W.D. or W.D.-related materials; (E) re-direction of displaced scientists and other personnel with expertise relating to W.D. research and development to sustained civil employment, including 

in Iraq, Libya and Russia; and (F) activities relating to the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and other W.D. interdiction programs. 

(3) International Materials Protection and Cooperation, to be 

used for (A) implementation of physical protection and material 

control and accounting upgrades at sites; (B) national programs 

and sustainability activities in Russia, including activities to address concerns and recommendations of the Government Accountability Office in its report of February 2007 titled ‘‘Progress Made 

in Improving Security at Russian Nuclear Sites, but the Long-Term 

Sustainability of U.S. Funded Security Upgrades is Uncertain’’; (C) 

material consolidation and conversion (including consolidation of 

excess highly-enriched uranium and plutonium into fewer more secure locations in Russia, and conversion of highly-enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium in Russia); and (D) deployment and 

support of radiation detection equipment at key ports of transit, 

and implementation of Department of Energy actions under the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (also known 

as the SAFE Port Act; Public Law 109–347), under the Second Line 

of Defense Megavolts program. 

(4) Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development, to be used for (A) development of technologies to detect and 

analyze activities relating to the global proliferation of W.D., including plutonium reprocessing, uranium enrichment, and special 

nuclear material movement; and (B) nuclear explosion monitoring, 

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ties and research and development on improved domestic and 

world-wide nuclear material and debris collection capabilities. 

Section 1841. Office of the United States Coordinator for the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism 

Section 1241 of the House bill establishes a Presidential Coordinator to improve the effectiveness of United States strategy and 

policies on weapons of mass destruction (W.D.) nonproliferation 

and threat reduction programs. The Coordinator’s duties would include serving as the principal advisor to the President, formulating 

a comprehensive and well-coordinated U.S. strategy for preventing 

W.D. proliferation and terrorism, and coordinating inter-agency action on these matters. The Coordinator would also conduct oversight and evaluation of relevant programs across the government 

and develop a comprehensive budget for such programs. Section 

1241 would also direct the Coordinator to consult regularly with 

the Commission on the Prevention of W.D. Proliferation and Terrorism, established under House section 1251, and to submit to 

Congress, for Fiscal Year 2009 and each fiscal year thereafter, an 

annual report on the strategic plan required under this section. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with an 

amendment that strengthens the role of the Coordinator, by providing that the Coordinator may attend and participate in meetings 

of the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council. It also makes clarifying and technical changes. 

Section 1842. Sense of Congress on United States-Russia Cooperation and Coordination on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass 

Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism 

Section 1242 of the House bill expresses a sense of Congress 

that the President should request the President of the Russian 

Federation to designate a Russian official having the authorities 

and responsibilities for preventing weapons of mass destruction 

(W.D.) proliferation and terrorism, commensurate with those of the 

U.S. Coordinator for these matters, established under House section 1241, and with whom the U.S. Coordinator would interact. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with an 

amendment that expresses a sense of Congress that the President 

should engage Russia’s President in a discussion of the purposes 

and goals for the establishment of the Office of the United States 

Coordinator for the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction 

and Terrorism; the authorities and responsibilities of the U.S. Coordinator; and the importance of strong cooperation between the 

U.S. Coordinator and a senior Russian official having authorities 

and responsibilities for preventing W.D. destruction and terrorism, 

and with whom the U.S. Coordinator would interact. 

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Section 1851. Establishment of Commission on the Prevention of 

Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism 

Section 1251 of the House bill establishes a Congressional–Executive Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision. 

Section 1852. Purposes of commission 

Section 1252 of the House bill specifies that the purposes of the 

commission established in House section 1251 are to assess current 

United States and international nonproliferation activities and provide a comprehensive strategy and concrete recommendations for 

such activities. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision. 

Section 1853. Composition of commission 

Section 1253 of the House bill specifies the composition of the 

commission established in House Section 1251, including the appointment of co-chairmen of the commission. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with an 

amendment that creates one chairman of the commission, rather 

than co-chairmen, and makes other changes to membership structure. The substitute also specifies qualifications for commission 

members; and makes clarifying the technical changes. 

Section 1854. Responsibilities of commission 

Section 1254 of the House bill specifies the responsibilities of 

the commission established under section 1251, including assessment of United States interagency coordination and commitments 

to international regimes. House Section 1254 also specifies that the 

commission shall reassess, and where necessary update and expand on, the conclusions and recommendations of the report titled 

‘‘A Report Card on the Department of Energy’s Nonproliferation 

Programs with Russia’’ of January 2001 (also known as the ‘‘BakerCutler Report’’). 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision. 

Section 1855. Powers of commission 

Section 1255 of the House bill specifies the powers and responsibilities of the commission established under section 1251 of that 

bill. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, with an 

amendment that authorizes staff for the commission. 

Section 1856. Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act 

Section 1256 of the House bill specifies that the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the commission established under section 1251. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

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The Conference substitute adopts the House provision. 

Section 1857. Report 

Section 1257 of the House bill requires, not later than 180 days 

after the appointment of the commission established under section 

1251 of that bill, the commission to submit to the President and 

Congress a final report containing the commission’s findings, conclusions and recommendations. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision. 

Section 1858. Termination 

Section 1258 of the House bill requires all authorities relating 

to the commission established under section 1251 to terminate 60 

days after the date on which the commission’s final report under 

House section 1257 is submitted. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision. 

Section 1859. Funding 

There is no comparable House provision. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a provision that specifically 

authorizes such sums as may be necessary for the purposes of the 

activities of the commission under this title. 

TITLE XIX—INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF 

ANTITERRORISM TECHNOLOGIES 

Section 1901. Promoting Antiterrorism Capabilities through International Cooperation 

There is no comparable House provision. However, the House 

has twice passed legislation to establish a Science and Technology 

Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Office (Office). Specifically, the House passed H.R. 4942 during the 109th 

Congress, and H.R. 884, a slightly modified version of H.R. 4942, 

during the 110th Congress. 

Section 1301 of the Senate bill directs the Department of 

Homeland Security’s (Department) Under Secretary for Science and 

Technology (S&T) to establish the Science and Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Office. The purpose of the Office is to facilitate the planning, development, and 

implementation of international cooperative activities, such as joint 

research projects, exchange of scientists and engineers, training of 

personnel, and conferences, in support of homeland security. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provisions, with 

minor modifications. 

The Conference substitute directs the Under Secretary for S&T 

to establish an Office to promote cooperation between entities of 

the United States and its allies in the global war on terrorism for 

the purpose of engaging in cooperative endeavors focused on the research, development, and commercialization of high-priority technologies intended to detect, prevent, respond to, recover from, and 

mitigate against acts of terrorism and other high consequence 

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events and to address the homeland security needs of Federal, 

State, and local governments. The Office, located within the Department’s S&T Directorate, is responsible for: promoting cooperative research between the United States and its allies on homeland 

security technologies; developing strategic priorities for international cooperative activity and addressing them through agreements with foreign entities; facilitating the matching of U.S. entities engaged in homeland security research with appropriate foreign research partners; ensuring funds and resources expended for 

international cooperative activity are equitably matched; and coordinating the activities of the Office with other relevant Federal 

agencies. This provision also requires the Office to submit a report 

every five years to Congress on the S&T Directorate’s international 

cooperative activities. 

This provision also directs the Department to identify critical 

knowledge and technology gaps, if any, and establish priorities for 

international cooperative activities to address such gaps. The Department shall coordinate with other appropriate research agencies 

in order to avoid creating redundant activities. Specifically, it is 

understood that this new office must coordinate its activities with 

the Department of State and shall not infringe on the Department 

of State’s role as the agency with primary responsibility within the 

Executive Branch for coordination and oversight over all major 

science or science and technology agreements and activities between the United States and foreign countries, in accord with Title 

V of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1979. 

Further, any international agreements that the Department wishes 

to negotiate and conclude in support of international cooperative 

activity relating to homeland security would be subject to the CaseZablocki Act (1 U.S.C. § 112b). 

Section 1902. Transparency of Funds 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1302 of the Senate bill requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that all Federal grants 

expended by the Office are done so in compliance with the Federal 

Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Public Law 

109–282). 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

TITLE XX—INTERNATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION 

Section 2001. Short title 

The Conference substitute provides that Title XX of the Act 

may be cited as the ‘‘9/11 Commission International Implementation Act of 2007.’’

Section 2002. Definitions 

Section 1402 of the House bill contains the definitions applicable to Title XIV. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. 

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Section 2011. Findings; policy 

Section 1411(a) of the House bill contains Congressional findings. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It describes the importance of education that teaches tolerance and respect for different beliefs as a key element in eliminating Islamic terrorism. The findings note that the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States concluded 

that ensuring education opportunity is essential to U.S. efforts to 

defeat global terrorism and recommended that the United States 

join other nations in providing funding for building and operating 

primary and secondary schools in Muslim countries where the governments of those countries commit to sensibly investing financial 

resources in public education. The findings also note that despite 

Congressional endorsement in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–458), such a program was not established. They also declare that it is United 

States policy: to work toward the goal of dramatically increasing 

the availability of modern basic education through public schools in 

predominantly Muslim countries; to join with other countries in 

supporting the International Muslim Youth Opportunity Fund; to 

offer additional incentives to increase the availability of basic education in Arab and predominantly Muslim countries; and to work 

to prevent financing of education institutions that support radical 

Islamic fundamentalism. 

Section 2012. International Muslim Youth Opportunity Fund 

Section 1412 of the House bill amends section 7114 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public 

Law 108–458) by establishing an International Muslim Youth Opportunity Fund. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It states the purpose is to strengthen the public educational systems in predominantly Muslim countries by authorizing 

the establishment of an International Muslim Youth Opportunity 

Fund and providing resources for the Fund to help strengthen the 

public educational systems in predominantly Muslim countries. 

The new section authorizes the establishment of an International 

Muslim Youth Opportunity Fund as either a separate fund in the 

U.S. Treasury or through an international organization or international financial institution; authorizes the Fund to support specific activities, including assistance to enhance modern educational 

programs; assistance for training and exchange programs for teachers, administrators, and students; assistance targeting primary and 

secondary students; assistance for development of youth professionals; and other types of assistance such as the translation of foreign books, newspapers, reference guides, and other reading materials into local languages and the construction and equipping of 

modern community and university libraries; and authorizes such 

sums as may be necessary for Fiscal Years 2008, 2009 and 2010 

to carry out these activities. This subsection also authorizes the 

President to carry out programs consistent with these objectives 

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under existing authorities, including the Mutual Educational and 

Cultural Exchange Act. This subsection requires the President to 

prepare a report to Congress on the United States’ efforts to assist 

in the improvement of education opportunities for Muslim children 

and youths as well as the progress in establishing the International 

Muslim Youth Opportunity Fund. 

Section 2013. Annual report to Congress 

Section 1413(a) of the House bill directs the Secretary of State 

to prepare an annual report. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It directs the Secretary of State to prepare an annual report, not later than June 1 of each year until December 31, 2009, 

on the efforts of predominantly Muslim countries to increase the 

availability of modern basic education and to close educational institutions that promote religious extremism and terrorism. It also 

provides the requirements for the annual report. 

Section 2014. Extension of program to provide grants to American 

sponsored schools in predominantly Muslim countries 

Section 1414(a) of the House bill extends a program to provide 

grants to American sponsored schools in predominantly Muslim 

countries. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It provides findings regarding the pilot program established by section 7113 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 

Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–458). It also states that 

this program for outstanding students from lower-income and middle-income families in predominantly Muslim countries is being implemented. It also provides for amendments to that section to extend the program for Fiscal Years 2007 and 2008, authorizes such 

sums as may be necessary for such years, and requires a report in 

April 2008 about the progress of the program. 

Section 2021. Middle East Foundation 

Section 1421(a) of the House bill deals with the Middle East 

Foundation. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It states the purpose of this section, which is to support 

in the countries of the broader Middle East region, the expansion 

of civil society, opportunities for political participation of all citizens, protections for internationally recognized human rights; educational reforms; independent media, policies that promote economic opportunities for citizens; the rule of law; and democratic 

processes of government. It authorizes the Secretary of State to 

designate an appropriate private, non-profit United States organization as the Middle East Foundation and to provide funding to the 

Middle East Foundation through the Middle East Partnership Initiative. It also requires the Middle East Foundation to award 

grants to persons located in the broader Middle East region or 

working with local partners based in the region to carry out 

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projects that support the purposes specified in subsection (a); and 

permits the Foundation to make a grant to a Middle Eastern institution of higher education to create a center for public policy. It 

also establishes the private nature of the Middle East Foundation. 

It prevents the funds provided to the Foundation from benefiting 

any officer or employee of the Foundation, except as salary or reasonable compensation for services. It also provides that the Foundation may hold and retain funds provided in this section in interest-bearing accounts. The Conference substitute requires annual 

independent private audits, permits audits by the Government Accountability Office, and requires audits of the use of funds under 

this section by the grant recipient. This subsection also directs the 

Foundation to prepare an annual report on the Foundation’s activities and operations, the grants awarded with funds provided under 

this section, and the financial condition of the Foundation. It defines the geographic scope of this section. It also repeals section 

534(k) of Public Law 109–102. 

Section 2031. Advancing United States interests through public diplomacy 

Section 1431(a) of the House bill deals with advancing U.S. interests through public diplomacy. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It contains a finding that the National Commission on 

Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States stated that the U.S. Government initiated some promising initiatives in television and radio 

broadcasting to the Arab world, Iran, and Afghanistan and that 

these efforts are beginning to reach larger audiences. It includes a 

sense of Congress that the United States needs to improve its communication of ideas and information to people in countries with significant Muslim populations, that public diplomacy should reaffirm 

the United States commitment to democratic principles, and that 

a significant expansion of United States international broadcasting 

would provide a cost-effective means of improving communications 

with significant Muslim populations. It amends the United States 

International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to include a provision establishing special authority for surge capacity for U.S. international 

broadcasting activities to support United States foreign policy objectives during a crisis abroad. The provision also authorizes such 

sums to carry out the surge capacity authority and directs the 

Broadcasting Board of Governors to provide information on the use 

of this authority, as part of an existing annual report to the President and Congress. 

Section 2032. Oversight of International broadcasting 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1913 of the Senate bill requires the Board of Broadcasting Governors to transcribe into English all broadcasts by Voice 

of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, 

Radio Farad, Radio Saw, Alhurra, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. 

The Conference substitute is a narrower version of the Senate 

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tiate a pilot project to transcribe into the English language news 

and information programming broadcast by Radio Farad, Radio 

Saw, the Persia Service of the Voice of America, and Alhurra. It 

also provides that this transcription shall consist of random sampling and that the transcripts shall be made available to Congress 

and the public. In addition, it contains a reporting requirement and 

authorizes $2 million in appropriations for this pilot project. 

Section 2033. Expansion of United States scholarship, exchange, 

and library programs in predominantly Muslim countries 

Section 1433(a) of the House bill directs the Secretary of State 

to prepare a report every 180 days until December 31, 2009, on the 

recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks 

Upon the United States, 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It directs the Secretary of State to prepare a report every 

180 days until December 31, 2009, on the recommendations of the 

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States 

for expanding U.S. scholarship, exchange, and library programs in 

predominantly Muslim countries, including a certification by the 

Secretary of State that such recommendations have been implemented or if a certification cannot be made, what steps have been 

taken to implement such recommendations. It provides for the termination of the duty to report when the certification pursuant to 

subsection (a) has been submitted. 

Section 2034. U.S. policy toward detainees 

Section 1434 of the House bill deals with detainees. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It provides findings that the 9/11 Commission recommended that the United States develop a common coalition approach toward detention and humane treatment of captured terrorists, that a number of U.S. allies are conducting investigations related to treatment of detainees and the Secretary of State has 

launched an initiative to address the differences between the 

United States and its allies. It expresses the sense of Congress that 

the Secretary of State should continue to build on the efforts to engage U.S. allies in compliance with Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and other applicable legal principles, toward the 

detention and humane treatment of individuals detained during 

Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, or in connection with United States counterterrorism operations. It also requires that the Secretary keep the appropriate Congressional committees fully informed of the developments of these discussions and 

requires a report on the progress made 180 days after enactment 

of this Act. 

Section 2041. Afghanistan 

Section 1441 of the House bill relates to Afghanistan. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It describes Congressional findings, including that a 

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democratic, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan is vital to the national security of the United States and to combating international 

terrorism; that following the ouster of the Taliban regime in 2001, 

the Government of Afghanistan has achieved some notable successes; that there continue to be factors that pose a serious and immediate threat to the stability of Afghanistan; and that the United 

States and the international community must significantly increase 

political, economic, and military support to Afghanistan to ensure 

its long-term stability and prosperity, and to deny violent extremist 

groups such as al Qaeda sanctuary in Afghanistan. It declares that 

it is the United States’ policy to vigorously support the Government 

and people of Afghanistan with assistance and training, particularly in strengthening government institutions, as they continue to 

commit to the path toward a government representing and protecting the rights of all Afghans. 

Moreover, the Conference substitute declares that the United 

States shall maintain its long-term commitment to the people of Afghanistan by increased assistance and the continued deployment of 

United States troops in Afghanistan. This section also states that 

the President shall engage aggressively with the Government of Afghanistan and NATO to explore all additional options for addressing the narcotics crisis in Afghanistan, including considering 

whether NATO forces should change their rules of engagement regarding counter-narcotics operations. In addition, this subsection 

declares that the United States shall continue to foster greater understanding and cooperation between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. This provision makes it a statement of Congress that the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002 be reauthorized and updated. It also directs the President to make increased effort to improve the capability and effectiveness of police 

training programs, including, if appropriate, by dramatically increasing the numbers of United States and international police 

trainers, mentors, and police personnel operating with Afghan civil 

security forces and shall increase efforts to assist the Government 

of Afghanistan in addressing corruption; and directs the President 

to submit a report on the United States efforts to fulfill the requirements in this subsection. 

Section 2042. Pakistan 

Section 1442 of the House bill relates to Pakistan’s commitment to fighting terrorism. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It contains Congressional findings describing the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to combating international terrorism and the critical issues threatening to disrupt the relationship between the United States and Pakistan, undermine international security, and destabilize Pakistan. The findings also describe the publicly stated goals of Pakistan and their close agreement with the national interests of the United States and the opportunity for a shared effort in achieving correlative goals. This 

provision also declares that it is the policy of the United States to 

work with the Government of Pakistan to maintain its long-term 

strategic relationship; to combat international terrorism; to end the 

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use of Pakistan as a safe haven for forces associated with the 

Taliban; to dramatically increase funding for programs of the U.S. 

Agency for International Development and the Department of 

State; to work with the international community to secure additional financial and political support to assist the Government of 

Pakistan in building a moderate, democratic State; to facilitate 

greater cooperation between the Governments of Afghanistan and 

Pakistan; and to work with the Government of Pakistan to prevent 

the proliferation of nuclear technology. 

The Conference substitute requires the President to submit a 

report on the long-term strategy of the United States to engage 

with the Government of Pakistan to address curbing the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology, combating poverty and corruption, building effective government institutions, promoting democracy and the rule of law, addressing the continued presence of the 

Taliban and other violent extremist forces throughout the country, 

and effectively dealing with Islamic extremism. This section also 

prohibits the provision of United States security assistance to Pakistan for Fiscal Year 2008 until the President determines that the 

Government of Pakistan is committed to eliminating the Taliban 

from operating in areas under its sovereign control, is undertaking 

a comprehensive campaign to accomplish this goal, and is making 

demonstrated, significant, and sustained progress towards eliminating support or safe haven for terrorists, and requires the President to submit a justification for any such determination made. 

Moreover, the Conference substitute provides a sense of Congress that the national security interest of the United States will 

best be served if the United States develops and implements a 

long-term strategy to improve the United States’ relationship with 

Pakistan and works with Pakistan to stop nuclear proliferation. It 

also authorizes such sums as may be necessary for assistance for 

Pakistan in various different accounts. This subsection also states 

that the determination of the level of funds authorized to be appropriated be determined by the degree to which the Government of 

Pakistan makes progress in preventing terrorist organizations from 

operating in Pakistan and in implementing democratic reforms and 

respecting the independence of the press and the judiciary. In addition, it requires a report to be submitted by the Secretary of State 

describing the degree to which such progress has been made. It 

also extends waivers of foreign assistance restrictions with respect 

to Pakistan through the end of Fiscal Year 2008 and includes a 

sense of Congress that extensions of these waivers beyond Fiscal 

Year 2008 should be informed by whether Pakistan makes progress 

in rule of law and other democratic reforms and whether it holds 

a successful parliamentary election. 

Section 2043. Saudi Arabia 

Section 1443 of the House bill contains Congressional findings 

that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the House provision, as 

modified. It contains Congressional findings that the Kingdom of 

Saudi Arabia’s record in the fight against terrorism has been uneven and that the United States has a national security interest in 

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working with the Government of Saudi Arabia to combat international terrorists. This section also expresses a sense of Congress 

that the Government of Saudi Arabia must undertake a number of 

political and economic reforms in order to more effectively combat 

terrorism. In addition, the Conference substitute requires a report 

on United States long-term strategy to engage with the Saudi Government to facilitate reform, to combat terrorism and to provide an 

assessment on Saudi progress to becoming a party to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and on the activities and authority of the Saudi Nongovernmental National Commission for Relief and Charity Work Abroad. 

TITLE XXI—ADVANCING DEMOCRATIC VALUES 

Section 2101. Short title 

Section 2101 of the Senate bill states that this title may be referred to as the, ‘‘Advance Democratic Values, Address Nondemocratic Countries, and Enhance Democracy Act of 2007,’’ or the ‘‘ADVANCE Democracy Act of 2007.’’

There is no comparable House provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment expanding and revising the findings in this section. 

Title XXI, which was title XIX of the Senate bill and has no 

comparable House provision other than section 1421 of the House 

bill, comprises the ADVANCE Democracy Act of 2007, which gives 

statutory standing to the U.S. framework to strengthen and institutionalize U.S. support for the promotion of democratic principles 

and practices worldwide. Since the President’s speech at the National Endowment for Democracy on November 6, 2003, and his 

second inaugural address on January 20, 2005, the Department of 

State has been taking steps to strengthen U.S. Government democracy promotion programs. The Conference recognizes that there are 

already a number of experienced and dedicated career State Department officials who focus their talents and energy on democracy 

promotion. The Conference believes these efforts could be strengthened by further institutionalizing the focus on the protection of 

human rights and the promotion of democracy. In this sense, the 

ADVANCE Democracy Act represents Congressional support for 

the President’s commitment to democracy promotion and the Secretary of State’s ongoing efforts to change the State Department 

through the ‘‘Transformational Diplomacy Initiative.’’ The Conference intends that the Act will contribute to making democracy 

promotion a core element of U.S. foreign policy well beyond the 

time when the President’s term of office has been completed. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provisions, with 

amendments. The ADVANCE Democracy Act of 2007: (1) establishes new Democratic Liaison Officers and requires the Secretary 

to identify at least one office responsible for supporting the new officers and providing liaison with both U.S. and foreign non-governmental organizations; (2) endorses long-term strategies for democracy promotion and human rights protection for non-democratic 

and democratic transition countries; (3) requires the Secretary to 

continue to enhance training on democracy promotion and human 

rights protection for members of the Foreign Service and other 

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State Department employees; (4) supports incentives for employees 

who excel in democracy promotion and human rights protection; (5) 

encourages Ambassadors and other members of the Foreign Service 

to reach out to foreign audiences and engage robustly with foreign 

government officials, media, non-governmental organizations, and 

students in order to engage in discussions about U.S. foreign policy, 

in particular democracy and human rights; (6) supports efforts to 

work on democracy promotion through international institutions, 

such as the UN Democracy Fund and the Community of Democracies, and in cooperation with other countries. 

The ADVANCE Democracy Act of 2007 represents several 

years of discussion with outside activists, democracy practitioners, 

and the Department of State. It seeks to bridge the differences between individuals and non-governmental organizations that focus 

on the promotion of democracy and those that focus on the protection of human rights. The Conference believes that the work of 

these two groups of reform advocates is mutually reinforcing. 

Section 2102. Findings 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1902 of the Senate bill contains Congressional findings 

describing the need to promote democracy throughout the world. 

The findings note that the development of universal democracy constitutes a long-term challenge that goes through unique phases at 

different paces in individual countries. It requires reforms that go 

well beyond the holding of free elections to include, among other 

institutions, a thriving civil society, a free media, and an independent judiciary. The findings state that the development of democracy must be led from within countries themselves. This section 

also recognizes that democracy and human rights activists are 

under increasing pressure from authoritarian regimes and, in some 

cases, the governments of democratic transition countries. While 

recognizing that individuals, non-governmental organizations, and 

movements in nondemocratic and democratic transition countries 

must take the lead in making their own decisions, the findings 

state that democratic countries have a number of instruments to 

support such reformers and should cooperate with each other to do 

so. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment expanding and revising the findings in this section. 

Section 2103. Statement of policy 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1903 of the Senate bill declares that it is United States 

policy: To promote freedom, democracy and human rights as fundamental components of United States foreign policy; to promote 

democratic institutions, including an independent judiciary, an 

independent and professional media, strong legislatures and a 

thriving civil society; to provide appropriate support to individuals, 

non- governmental organizations, and movements living in nondemocratic countries and democratic transition countries that aspire to live in freedom; to provide political, economic, and other 

support to foreign countries that are undertaking a transition to 

democracy; and to strengthen cooperation with other democratic 

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countries in order to better promote and defend shared values and 

ideals. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment expanding and revising the statement of policy in 

this section. 

Section 2104. Definitions 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1904 of the Senate bill provides definitions for use in 

this title. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment adding or revising several definitions, particularly 

by adding a definition of Nondemocratic or Democratic Transition 

Country. 

Subtitle A—Activities To Enhance the Promotion of Democracy 

Section 2111. Democracy promotion at the Department of State 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1911 of the Senate bill provides for the establishment 

of Democracy Liaison Officers. It describes the responsibilities of 

the Democracy Liaison Officers and indicates that these positions 

should be in addition to, and not in replacement of, other positions. 

Section 1911 also provides that nothing in this subsection may be 

construed as affecting Chief of Mission authority under any provision of law, including the President’s direction to Chiefs of Mission 

in the exercise of the President’s constitutional responsibilities. 

The Conference report adopts the Senate provision, with an 

amendment. 

In addition to the Democracy Liaison Officers described above, 

the Conference substitute requires that the Secretary of State identify at least one office in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, 

and Labor (DRL) responsible for working with democratic movements and facilitating the transition of countries to democracy, including having at least one employee in each office specifically responsible for working with such movements. This section provides 

for the identification of such an office; describes the responsibilities 

of the Assistant Secretary for DRL in this regard, which may be 

exercised through this office; and provides that the Assistant Secretary shall identify officers or employees in DRL that shall have 

expertise in and responsibility for working with non-governmental 

organizations, individuals and movements that are committed to 

the peaceful promotion of democracy. 

The Conference substitute also describes actions that Chiefs of 

Missions should take to promote democracy. It provides for the development of a strategy to promote democracy in nondemocratic or 

democratic transition countries and to provide support to non-governmental organizations, individuals and movements in such countries that are committed to democratic principles, practices, and 

values. It also provides for meetings with leaders of nondemocratic 

and democratic transition countries regarding progress toward a 

democratic form of governance, encourages chiefs of missions to 

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cussions with students and young people regarding democratic governance. 

Moreover, the Conference substitute provides that the Secretary of State should seek to increase the proportion of DRL’s nonadministrative employees who are members of the Foreign Service 

and authorizes such sums as may be necessary to carry out the 

provision. 

The Conferees believe that the Democracy Liaison Officers provided for in subsection (a) of the Conference substitute should be 

selected with the concurrence of the Assistant Secretary of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in order to ensure that appropriate 

individuals are put in those posts. The Conferees also believe that 

more senior officials at posts where there are significant human 

rights abuses should also be selected with input from the Assistant 

Secretary for DRL. 

The Conferees note that the Department of State, as part of its 

Transformational Diplomacy Initiative, intends to reduce or eliminate labor officers in posts abroad. While not objecting to normal 

rotations and assignments designed to meet the Secretary of 

State’s priorities and reflect the changing needs of host countries, 

the Conferees are concerned that eliminating such positions would 

signal an abandonment of the core consensus that has existed since 

the 1980’s that the promotion of democracy includes the promotion 

of the freedoms of association and organization by laborers. 

The Conferees observe that activists in other countries sometimes are not sure whom to contact at the Department of State to 

discuss local democracy and human rights issues; thus, the Conferees intend that the Secretary of State have discretion to either 

create a new office for this purpose or to identify one or more existing offices with regional expertise to be the points of contact for 

such activists. With respect to the officers or employees in DRL 

that shall have expertise in and responsibility for working with 

non-governmental organizations, individuals and movements that 

are committed to the peaceful promotion of democracy, as identified 

by the Assistant Secretary for DRL, the Conferees expect that such 

individuals would serve in the office or offices identified pursuant 

to subpart (b)(1). 

Finally, the Conferees believe that encouraging a greater number of members of the Foreign Service to serve in DRL will enhance 

democracy promotion. 

Section 2112. Democracy Fellowship Program 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1912 of the Senate bill, requested by the Department 

of State, provides for a program to obtain an additional perspective 

on democracy promotion abroad by working with appropriate Congressional offices and Committees and in non-governmental and 

international organizations involved in democracy promotion. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment making some minor and conforming changes. 

Section 2113. Investigations of violations of International Humanitarian Law 

There is no comparable House provision. 

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There is no comparable Senate provision. 

The Conference substitute adopts a compromise provision, regarding violations of international humanitarian law by nondemocratic countries. This section requires the President to collect information regarding incidents that may constitute crimes against humanity, genocide and other violations of international humanitarian law. It requires that the President consider what actions he 

can take to hold governments and responsible individuals accountable. 

Subtitle B—Strategies and Reports on Human Rights and the 

Promotion of Democracy 

Section 2121. Strategies, priorities and Annual Report 

Section 1421 of the House bill provides a statement of policy 

on the importance of promoting democracy human rights and requires country-by-country strategies to address the elements in the 

statement of policy. 

Section 1921 of the Senate bill changes the title of an existing 

annual report, ‘‘Supporting Human Rights and Democracy’’

(SHRD), which was required by the amendments made by section 

665 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 2003, to ‘‘Annual 

Report on Advancing Freedom and Democracy’’ and changes the 

date on which that report needs to be submitted. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment adding features of section 1421 of the House bill 

and expanding the provisions of the Senate amendment. It addresses the need for long-term strategies for the promotion of democracy 

in nondemocratic and democratic transition countries. This section 

commends the Secretary of State for the ongoing country-specific 

strategies to promote democracy and requires the Secretary of 

State to expand the development of country-specific strategies to all 

nondemocratic and democratic transition countries. It also provides 

that the Secretary of State shall keep the appropriate Congressional Committees fully and currently informed as strategies are 

developed. 

The Conference substitute also provides that the report shall 

include, as appropriate, United States: (1) priorities for the promotion of democracy and the protection of human rights for each 

non democratic country and democratic transition country, developed in consultation with relevant parties in such countries; and 

(2) specific actions and activities of Chiefs of Missions and other 

U.S. officials to promote democracy and protect human rights. This 

section also extends the due date of the Annual Report. 

The Conferees believe that the Department of State’s process 

for implementing subpart (a)(2) should incorporate both short-term 

objectives and a long-term approach to democratization. The Conferees intend for the Department of State to fulfill the requirement 

of keeping the appropriate Congressional Committees informed by 

briefing the Committees, upon request, in addition to any hearings 

that Congress may conduct. 

The Conferees observe that the existing SHRD Report all too 

often reflects a catalogue of program activities of the U.S. Government over the past year without context or a demonstration of 

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what leadership the top U.S. representative is exercising in the 

area of democracy promotion and human rights protection. Also, 

the Report contains some country sections where both U.S. priorities for assistance and actions by U.S. officials are included. The 

Conferees expect that such inconsistencies will be addressed by including both components for each country described in the Report. 

Section 2122. Translation of human rights reports 

There is no comparable House Provision. 

Section 1932 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary of State 

to continue to expand the translation of various human rights reports. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment making the translations mandatory and making 

other minor changes to the Senate language. 

The Conferees believe that the value of these reports will be 

significantly enhanced if they are available in the language of the 

country about which they are written. The Conferees do not intend 

that the entire contents of all reports be translated. Rather, the 

general overview and the country-specific sections should be translated into the major languages of each country. The Conferees recognize that the Department of State’s current focus is on the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices required by the 

Foreign Assistance Act. However, the Conferees believe that translation of the other reports referred to in this section would further 

expand the impact of the U.S. Government’s work on democracy 

and human rights. 

Subtitle C—Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion and the 

Internet Website of the Department of State 

Section 2131. Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1931 of the Senate bill expresses the sense of Congress 

commending the Secretary of State for establishing the Advisory 

Committee on Democracy Promotion and expresses the hope that 

the Committee will play a significant role in transformational diplomacy by advising the Secretary of State on all aspects of democracy promotion, including improving the capacity of the Department of State and U.S. foreign assistance programs. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment making minor changes to the Senate language. 

Section 2132. Sense of Congress regarding the Internet website of 

the Department of State 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1932 of the Senate bill expresses the sense of Congress 

that the Secretary of State should take additional steps to enhance 

the Internet website for global democracy to facilitate access by individuals and non-governmental organizations in foreign countries 

to documents and other media regarding democratic principles, 

practices, and values, and the promotion and strengthening of democracy. This website is intended to be an address where democracy activists from around the world can obtain or be linked to inmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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formation on conditions in their country, materials on successful 

democracy movements elsewhere and tactics for peaceful democratic change, and other groups around the world that engage in 

similar struggles for freedom. The website should also include parts 

of other relevant human rights reports, including translations 

where appropriate, such as the annual Country Reports on Human 

Rights Practices, the annual Religious Freedom Report, and the annual Report on Trafficking in Persons. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment making minor changes to the Senate language. 

Subtitle D—Training in Democracy and Human Rights; Incentives 

Section 2141. Training in democracy promotion and protection of 

human rights 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1941 of the Senate bill provides that the Secretary of 

State should continue to enhance training on democracy promotion 

and the protection of human rights for members of the Foreign 

Service and that such training should include case studies and 

practical workshops. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment. Pursuant to the amendment, the Secretary of State 

is required to continue to enhance training on democracy promotion 

and the protection of human rights and provides that the training 

shall include appropriate instruction and training materials regarding: (1) international documents and U.S. policy regarding electoral 

democracy and respect for human rights, including trafficking in 

persons; (2) U.S. policy regarding the promotion and strengthening 

of democracy around the world, with particular emphasis on the 

transition to democracy in nondemocratic countries; (3) ways to assist individuals and non-governmental organizations that support 

democratic principles, practices, and values for any member, Chief 

of Mission, or deputy Chief of Mission who is to be assigned to a 

non-democratic or democratic transition country; and (4) the protection of internationally recognized human rights, including the protection of religious freedom and the prevention of slavery and trafficking in persons. Section 1941 also provides that the Secretary of 

State shall consult as appropriate with non-governmental organizations with respect to the training required in this section, and provides for a one-time report on how this section is being implemented. 

The Conference notes that the Department of State is working 

with members of the Community of Democracies on a training 

manual relating to democracy promotion, which may prove useful 

in the training efforts described in this section. Such instruction 

may include: techniques for conducting discussions with political 

leaders of such country regarding United States policy with respect 

to promoting democracy in foreign countries; treatment of opposition and alternatives to repression; techniques to engage civil society, students and young people regarding U.S. policy on democracy 

and human rights; methods of nonviolent action and the most effective manner to share such information with individuals and nongovernmental organizations; and the collection of information remstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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garding violations of internationally-recognized human rights in coordination with non-governmental human rights organizations, violations of religious freedom, and government-tolerated or condoned 

trafficking in persons. 

The Conference understands that certain training courses already include some human rights training. However, the Conference expects that the scope and content will be updated and expanded as part of the Secretary of State’s Transformational Diplomacy Initiative and that continuous improvements will be made 

well into the future. 

Section 2142. Sense of congress regarding advance democracy 

award 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1942 of the Senate bill expresses the sense of Congress 

that the Secretary of State should further strengthen the capacity 

of the Department of State to carry out results-based democracy 

promotion efforts through the establishment of awards and other 

employee incentives, including the establishment of an annual 

award to be known as the ‘‘Outstanding Achievements in Advancing Democracy Award’’, or the ‘‘ADVANCE Democracy Award’’, and 

should establish procedures regarding such awards. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

Section 2143. Personnel policies at the Department of State 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1943 of the Senate bill expresses the sense of Congress 

that precepts for promotion for members of the Foreign Service 

should include consideration of a candidate’s experience or service 

in the promotion of human rights and democracy. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment to add suggested mechanisms for creating incentives. It provides that in addition to other awards, such as the 

award described in section 1942 in that bill, the Secretary of State 

should increase incentives for members of the Foreign Service and 

other State Department employees to serve in assignments that 

have as their primary focus the promotion of democracy and the 

protection of human rights, including awarding performance pay to 

members of the Foreign Service, considering whether a member of 

the Service serving in such assignments as a basis for promotion 

into the Senior Foreign Service, and providing for Foreign Service 

Awards. 

Subtitle E—Cooperation With Democratic Countries 

Section 2151. Cooperation with Democratic Countries 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1951 of the Senate bill expresses the sense of Congress 

that the United States should forge alliances with other democratic 

countries to promote democracy, protect fundamental freedoms 

around the world, promote and protect respect for the rule of law, 

pursue common strategies at international organizations and multilateral institutions and provide support to countries undergoing 

democratic transitions. Section 1951 of the Senate bill also supmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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ports the initiative of the Government of Hungary establishing the 

International Center for Democratic Transition. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment making substantive and technical changes. The 

Conference substitute expresses the sense of Congress that the 

Community of Democracies should establish a more formal mechanism for carrying out work between ministerial meetings, such as 

through the creation of a permanent secretariat with an appropriate staff and should establish a headquarters. The Conference 

substitute authorizes the Secretary of State to detail personnel to 

such a secretariat or any country that is a member of the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies and provides that 

the Secretary of State should establish an office of multilateral democracy promotion to address the Community of Democracies, pursue initiatives coming out of the UN Democracy Caucus, and enhance the UN Democracy Fund. The Conference substitute also authorizes an appropriation of $1,000,000 for each of Fiscal Years 

2008, 2009, and 2010 to the Secretary of State for a grant to the 

International Center for Democratic Transition and provides additional guidance as to the purposes of the Center’s work, including 

providing grants or voluntary contributions to develop, adopt, and 

pursue programs and campaigns to promote the peaceful transition 

to democracy in non-democratic countries. 

Subtitle F—Funding for Promotion of Democracy 

Section 2161. The United Nations Democracy Fund 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1961 of the Senate bill expresses the sense of Congress 

that the United States should continue to contribute to and work 

with other countries to enhance the goals and work of the UN Democracy Fund. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment adding an authorization for the UN Democracy 

Fund. It authorizes $14,000,000 for a United States contribution to 

the Fund for each of the Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009, as requested 

by the President. 

Section 2162. United States Democracy Assistance Programs 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1962 of the Senate bill states the sense of Congress 

that the purpose of the Human Rights and Democracy Fund should 

be to support innovative programming, media, and materials designed to uphold democratic principles, support and strengthen 

democratic institutions, promote human rights and the rule of law, 

and build civil societies in countries around the world. Section 1962 

of the Senate bill provides findings reflecting that democracy assistance has many different forms and there is a need for greater 

clarity on the coordination and delivery mechanisms for U.S. democracy assistance. It also provides that the Secretary of State and 

the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) should develop guidelines, in consultation with the 

appropriate Committees of Congress, to clarify for U.S. diplomatic 

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and consular missions abroad the need for coordination and the appropriate mix of delivery mechanisms for democracy assistance. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

an amendment including minor and technical amendments and 

adding a sense of Congress regarding mechanisms for delivering 

assistance. The Conference substitute provides that United States 

support for democracy is strengthened by using a variety of different instrumentalities, such as the National Endowment for Democracy, the United States Agency for International Development, 

and the Department of State, and expresses the view that the 

Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF), established pursuant 

to the Freedom Investment Act of 2002, should continue to be used 

for innovative approaches to promoting democracy and human 

rights. It also addresses the different mechanisms that are used to 

define the relationship between the U.S. Government and organizations that deliver services or materials to foreign individuals or 

communities. 

The Conference believes that the HRDF should remain a flexible instrument to exploit emerging opportunities while at the same 

time be managed in a cost-effective way and coordinated at the 

country-level to complement the mix of other democracy assistance 

being provided. 

The U.S. Government works with a variety of organizations, 

including non-profit groups such as non-governmental organizations and private and voluntary organizations, and provides them 

with government funding to carry out U.S. foreign assistance goals. 

The government also hires for-profit private sector companies to 

implement foreign assistance programs. The use of such companies 

has been growing over the last 15 years. In general, as in other 

areas of government procurement, the use of contracts, cooperative 

agreements, and grants are the three main acquisition mechanisms 

through which agreement is reached on appropriate benchmarks 

for success, the level of U.S. government funding that will be spent, 

and the specific programs and projects to be undertaken. 

In the democracy field, there are a number of U.S. Government 

entities that manage programs. The Democracy, Human Rights 

and Labor Bureau at the State Department oversees a large number of programs. The Coordinator’s office for the Independent 

States of the Former Soviet Union oversees programs carried out 

through the Freedom Support Act. The Middle East Partnership 

Initiative, also managed by the State Department, promotes democracy and other development priorities in the Middle East. For its 

part, USAID has a specialized unit focused on providing democracy 

and governance assistance worldwide. Because of a constrained operating budget that limits permanent staff, USAID has increasingly relied on contract mechanisms, although it continues to use 

grants and cooperative agreements. The National Endowment for 

Democracy also provides extensive assistance worldwide. More recently, a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) threshold program is providing electoral reform assistance in Jordan. 

Non-profit organizations sometimes apply for and receive funding from several or all of these U.S. Government entities, most 

often through grants and cooperative agreements and sometimes 

through contracts. Private sector companies work almost exclumstockstill on PROD1PC66 with HEARING

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sively through contracts. Both private sector and non-profit organizations bring unique strengths to the effort. Private sector companies have the ability to hire employees with specialized skills to 

provide technical assistance on a short-notice basis. Non-profit organizations often develop longer-term contacts in the field, country 

expertise, and have revenue sources other than U.S. Government 

funding that allows for a more sustained approach to underlying 

problems. With this multitude of actors, mechanisms, and foreign 

assistance ‘‘spigots,’’ and given the characteristics of such actors, 

the Conference requests that the Secretary of State and the Administrator of USAID develop appropriate guidelines to assist U.S. 

missions in their efforts to coordinate democracy assistance incountry and select appropriate mechanisms for its effective implementation. 

TITLE XXII—INTEROPERABLE EMERGENCY 

COMMUNICATIONS 

Section 2201. Interoperable emergency communications 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1481(a) of the Senate bill generally amends Section 

3006 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–171) 

(DRA) by deleting statutory language that currently limits funding 

to systems that either use, or interoperate with systems that use, 

public safety spectrum in the 700 megahertz band (specifically, 

764–776 megahertz and 794–806 megahertz), and inserting new 

subsections providing Congressional direction with respect to eligible activities under NTIA’s administration of the $1 billion public 

safety grant program. 

New 3006(a) of the DRA establishes the scope of the permissible grants under the program and permits NTIA to allocate up 

to $100 million for the establishment of strategic technology reserves that will provide communications capability and equipment 

for first responders and other emergency personnel in the event of 

an emergency or a major disaster. In addition to strategic technology reserves, this subsection describes a broad range of topics 

related to improving communications interoperability that will be 

eligible for assistance under the grant program including, Statewide or regional planning and coordination, design and engineering 

support, technical assistance and training, and the acquisition or 

deployment of interoperable communications equipment, software, 

or systems. 

New 3006(b) of the DRA reiterates the requirement imposed 

under section 4 of the Call Home Act of 2006, which, subject to the 

receipt of qualified applications as determined by the Assistant 

Secretary, would require that not less that $1 billion be awarded 

no later than September 30, 2007. 

New 3006(C) of the DRA requires that funding distributions be 

made among the several States consistent with section 1014(C)(3) 

of the USA PATRIOT Act (0.75 percent to each State) to ensure a 

fair distribution of funds. It also requires that the calculation of 

risk factors be based upon an ‘‘all-hazards’’ approach that recognizes the critical need for effective emergency communications in 

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response not only to terrorist attacks, but also to a variety of natural disasters. 

New section 3006(d) of the DRA establishes requirements for 

grant applicants, including an explanation of how assistance would 

improve interoperability and a description of how any equipment or 

system request would be compatible or consistent with certain relevant sections of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention 

Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C.§ 194(a)(1)). 

New section 3006(e) of the DRA directs NTIA to rely on the 

most current grant guidance issued under the Department of 

Homeland Security (the Department or DHS) SAFECOM program 

to promote greater consistency in the criteria used to evaluate 

interoperability grant applications. 

New section 3006(f) of the DRA establishes criteria for grants 

of equipment, supplies, systems and related communications service related to support for strategic technology reserve initiatives. 

This section also requires that funding for strategic reserves be divided between block grants to States in support of state reserves 

and grants in support of Federal reserves at each Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regional office and in each of 

the noncontiguous States. 

New section 3006(g) of the DRA permits the Assistant Secretary to encourage the development of voluntary consensus standards for interoperable communications systems, but precludes the 

Assistant Secretary from requiring any such standard. 

New section 3006(h) of the DRA permits NTIA to seek assistance from other Federal agencies where appropriate in the administration of the grant program. 

New section 3006(I) of the DRA requires the Inspector General 

of the Department of Commerce annually to assess the management of NTIA’s interoperability grant program. 

New section 3006(j) of the DRA requires NTIA, in consultation 

with the DHS and the FCC, to promulgate final program rules for 

implementation within 90 days of enactment. 

New section 3006(k) of the DRA creates a rule of construction 

clarifying that nothing in this section precludes funding for interim 

or long-term Internet Protocol-based solutions, notwithstanding 

compliance with the Project 25 standard. 

Section 1481(b) of the Senate bill requires the FCC, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and the Secretary of DHS, to report on the 

feasibility of a redundant system for emergency communications no 

later than one year after enactment. 

Section 1481(c) of the Senate bill directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, in consultation with the Secretary of DHS and the Secretary of Health 

and Human Services, to create a joint advisory committee to examine the communications capabilities and needs of emergency medical care facilities. The joint advisory committee will assess current 

communications capabilities at emergency care facilities, options to 

accommodate the growth of communications services used by emergency medical care facilities, and options to better integrate emergency medical care communications systems with other emergency 

communications networks. The joint advisory committee would be 

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required to report its findings to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, within six months after 

the date of enactment. 

Section 1481(d) of the Senate bill provides authorization for not 

more than 10 pilot projects to improve the capabilities of emergency communications systems in emergency medical care facilities. Grants would be administered by the Assistant Secretary of 

Commerce for Communications and Information, would require a 

fifty percent match, would not exceed $2 million per grant, and 

would be geographically distributed to the maximum extent possible. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, with 

modifications. Most notably, it authorizes NTIA, in consultation 

with DHS, to permit up to $75 million of the Public Safety Interoperability Communications grant to be used by States to contribute to a strategic technology reserve. The substitute permits 

waivers to States that have already implemented a strategic technology reserve or can demonstrate higher priority public safety 

communications needs. The Conference substitute adopts the Senate’s provisions relating to the FCC’s vulnerability assessment and 

report on emergency communications back-up system. The Conference agreed to set a deadline of 180 days for FCC to deliver its 

findings to Congress. The Conference substitute also adopts the 

Senate’s provision that directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, in consultation with 

the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to establish a joint advisory 

committee that will assess current communications capabilities at 

emergency care facilities. 

The Conference substitute provides for reports and audits by 

the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce. With respect to grants under this title, these provisions strengthen oversight over this program and clarify the intent of the conferees that 

the provisions in Sec. 2022 of the Homeland Security Act (added 

by Title I) do not apply to this grant program. 

Section 2202. Clarification of Congressional Intent 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1482(a) of the Senate bill would amend Title VI of the 

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (Public 

Law 109–295) by including a savings clause clarifying the concurrent authorities of the Department of Commerce and the Federal 

Communications Commission (FCC), with respect to their existing 

authorities related to public safety and promoting the safety of life 

and property through the use of communications. Section 1482(b) 

of the Senate bill makes the effective date of this savings clause 

as if enacted with the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for FY 2007 (Public Law 109–295). 

The Conference substitute modifies the Senate language to 

clarify that it is Congress’s intent that Federal Departments and 

Agencies work cooperatively in a manner that does not impede the 

implementation of the requirements of Title III and Title XXII of 

this Act and Title VI of Public Law 109–295. 

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The Conference observes that Federal Departments and Agencies should not be precluded or obstructed from carrying out their 

other authorities relating to other emergency communications matters. 

Section 2203. Cross border interoperability reports 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1483 of the Senate bill would require the FCC, in conjunction with the DHS, the Office of Management and Budget, and 

the Department of State to report, not later than 90 days after enactment, on the status of efforts to coordinate cross border interoperability issues and the re-banding of 800 megahertz radios with 

Canada and Mexico. The FCC would further be required to report 

on any communications between the FCC and the Department of 

State regarding possible amendments to legal agreements and protocols governing the coordination process for license applications 

seeking to use channels and frequencies above Line A, to submit 

information about the annual rejection rate over the last 5 years 

by the United States for new channels and frequencies above Line 

A, and to suggest additional procedures and mechanisms that could 

be taken to reduce the rejection rate for such applications. The 

FCC would be required to provide regular updates of the report to 

the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce of treaty negotiations related to the re-banding of 800 megahertz radios until the appropriate treaty has been revised with 

Canada and Mexico. 

The Conference Report adopts the Senate provision. 

Section 2204. Extension of short quorum 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1484 of the Senate bill permits two members of the 

Consumer Product Safety Commission to constitute a quorum for 

six months following enactment of this Act. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

Section 2205. Requiring reports to be submitted to certain Committees 

Section 1485 of the Senate bill requires under provisions of 

this Act to be shared with other relevant Congressional Committees. 

The Conference substitute modifies the Senate reporting provision and agrees that in addition to the Committees specifically enumerated to receive the reports under this Title, any report transmitted under the provisions of this Title shall also be transmitted 

to the appropriate Congressional Committees as provided for by 

under section 2(2) of the Homeland Security Act (6 U.S.C. § 101). 

TITLE XXIII—911 MODERNIZATION 

Section 2301. Short title 

The Conference substitute provides that Title XXIII may be 

cited as the ‘‘911 Modernization Act.’’

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Section 2302. Funding for Program 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1702 of the Senate bill amends Section 3011 of Public 

Law 109–171 (47 U.S.C. § 309) to give borrowing authority to the 

Assistant Secretary of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for not more than $43,500,000 to 

implement the Enhance 911 Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–494). The 

Assistant Secretary must reimburse the Treasury without interest 

once funds are deposited into the Digital Television Transition and 

Public Safety Fund. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

Section 2303. NTIA coordination of E–911 implementation 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1703 of the Senate bill amends Section 158(b)(4) of the 

National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. § 942(b)(4)) to require the Assistant Secretary and the Administrator of the National Highway Safety Administration to issue regulations that allow a portion of the Phase 

II E–911 Implementation Grants to be prioritized for Public Safety 

Answering Points (PSAPs) that were not capable of receiving 911 

calls on the date of the enactment of the Enhanced 911 Act of 2004 

(Public Law 108–494). These grants will be used for the incremental cost of upgrading from Phase I to Phase II compliance. 

Such grants are subject to all the other requirements of this section, such as the fifty percent matching funds requirement and the 

requirement to certify that no portion of any E–911 charges imposed by an applicant’s State or taxing jurisdiction are being obligated or expended for any purpose other than for which such 

charges were designated. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 

TITLE XXIV—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 

Section 2401. Quadrennial Homeland Security Review 

There is no comparable House provision. However, the House 

passed a similar provision in H.R. 1684, the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which called 

for a Comprehensive Homeland Security Review at the beginning 

of each new Presidential Administration. 

Section 1606 of the Senate bill included a provision to conduct 

a Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, requiring the Department of Homeland Security (the Department or DHS) to conduct a 

comprehensive examination of the national homeland security 

strategy. 

The Conference substitute adopts a compromise provision 

which in several places clarifies the scope of the Review. It requires 

the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) to carry out the 

first Quadrennial Homeland Security Review in Fiscal Year 2009, 

and every four years thereafter. The Conferees believe that this review should take place in the first year after a Presidential election, so that a new Administration can act upon the results of the 

review or a re-elected Administration can review its policies and 

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ognizes the time span during which a new President will appoint 

and the Senate will confirm senior departmental officials who will 

be responsible for this review. The provision also requires the Secretary to consult with other Federal agencies, key officials of the 

Department, and other relevant governmental and non-governmental entities in carrying out the review. 

The Conference substitute also describes the required content 

of the review, including an update of the national homeland security strategy, a prioritization of homeland security mission areas, 

and the identification of a budget plan for executing these missions. 

These review activities are intended to strengthen the linkages between strategy and execution at the Department of Homeland Security. The Conference substitute requires the Secretary to submit 

to Congress a report regarding the results of the Quadrennial 

Homeland Security Review no later than December 31 of the year 

in which a review is conducted, and also to make that report public 

consistent with the protection of national security and other sensitive matters. It also requires the Department to begin in Fiscal 

Year 2007 and Fiscal Year 2008 to prepare to carry out this review, 

and to report to Congress on these preparations. 

The Conference understands that the Administration already 

has begun this process by including a request for designated funding in the President’s Fiscal Year 2008 request for the Office of Policy to lead this initiative. 

Section 2402. Sense of the Congress regarding the prevention of 

radicalization leading to ideologically-based violence 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1602 of the Senate bill includes extensive findings concerning the threat of radicalization in the United States as a component of the struggle against the transnational ideological movement of Islamist extremism. This provision also makes recommendations to the Secretary regarding measures that can be 

taken to prevent radicalization and concludes that the Secretary 

should work across the Federal government and with State and 

local officials to make countering radicalization a priority. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision with 

changes. The changes include modifying the terms used to describe 

radicalization so that it is clear that protected behavior is not included. As a result, radicalization is referred to as radicalization 

that leads to ideologically-based violence. Additionally, while the 

language is intended to address the global struggle against violent 

extremism, the language is broadened to include ideologically-based 

violence from all sources. 

Section 2403. Requiring reports to be submitted to certain committees 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 1485 of the Senate bill contained a provision to provide 

certain Senate Committees with reports required elsewhere in the 

bill. 

The Conference substitute adopts part of the Senate provision 

with updated references to certain reports. 

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Section 2404. Demonstration project 

There is no comparable House provision. 

Section 805 of the Senate bill requires the Secretary to establish a demonstration project to conduct demonstrations of security 

management systems. 

The Conference substitute adopts the Senate provision, while 

modifying it so that it defines ‘‘security management system’’ as a 

set of guidelines that address the security assessment needs of critical infrastructure and key resources that are consistent with a set 

of generally accepted management standards ratified and adopted 

by a standards making body. 

Section 2405. Under Secretary for Management of the Department 

of Homeland Security 

There is no comparable House provision, as Members believe 

that this issue would be best addressed as part of a comprehensive 

homeland security authorization bill. 

Section 1601 of the Senate bill elevates the position of Under 

Secretary for Management to a Deputy Secretary, adds qualifications for the position, and gives this newly created position a fiveyear term with removal only for performance reasons. 

The Conference substitute adopts a modified version of the 

Senate provision by enhancing the Under Secretary’s authority 

while maintaining the position at the Under Secretary level without a fixed term. Specifically, the substitute designates the Under 

Secretary for Management as the Chief Management Officer and 

the Secretary’s principal advisor on management-related matters. 

It also requires the Under Secretary to facilitate strategic management planning, integration, transformation, and transition and succession for the Department. 

The Conference substitute requires the Under Secretary to develop a transition and succession plan, and authorizes the incumbent Under Secretary to remain in the position, after a Presidential 

election, until a successor is confirmed in the subsequent Administration. It also expresses the Sense of the Congress that a newly 

elected President should encourage the incumbent Under Secretary 

to remain until a successor is confirmed, to provide continuity during the transition. The legislation also requires that the Under Secretary be accountable for his or her performance—each year, the 

Under Secretary must enter into a performance agreement with 

the Secretary and be subject to an evaluation based on the same. 

The substitute also enhances the President’s ability to attract 

qualified candidates, as it elevates the Under Secretary for Management to Level II of the Executive Schedule. 

Because the Department is newly formed, and in light of the 

integration and management challenges it has faced to date, the 

Conference is concerned about the impending transition between 

Administrations and believes this transition should be well-planned 

and smoothly implemented. The Conference believes that this position requires a person with strong management skills and a proven 

track record of success, and this legislation requires the selection 

of a person with such experience. 

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EARMARKS

Pursuant to House Rule XXI, clause 9(a)(4), the Committee of 

Conference attaches a list of earmarks included in the Conference 

Report to accompany H.R. 1, including a list of Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, and limited tariff benefits in the conference report or joint statement (and the name of any Member, 

Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Senator who submitted a request to the House or Senate Committees of jurisdiction for each 

respective item included in such list) or a statement that the proposition contains no Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or 

limited tariff benefits, as follows: 

Section Earmark Member 

Section 1204 ........................... National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, University 

of Hawaii.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye 

Transportation Technology Center, Inc. ................................. Sen. Wayne Allard 

Sen. Ken Salazar 

Rep. John T. Salazar 

Rep. Ed Perlmutter 

Section 1205 ........................... Connecticut Transportation Institute, University of Connecticut.Sen. Christopher J. Dodd 

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman 

National Transit Institute, Rutgers, the State University of 

New Jersey.

Sen. Robert Menendez 

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg 

Mack-Blackwell National Rural Transportation Study Center 

at the University of Arkansas.

Sen. Mark L. Pryor 

Homeland Security Management Institute, Long Island University.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer 

Rep. Peter T. King 

Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas ....................... Rep. Al Green 

Tougaloo College .................................................................... Rep. Bennie G. Thompson 

BENNIE G. THOMPSON, LORETTA SANCHEZ, NORMAN DICKS, JANE HARMAN, NITA M. LOWEY, SHEILA JACKSON-LEE, DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN, BOB ETHERIDGE, JAMES R. LANGEVIN, HENRY CUELLAR, AL GREEN, ED PERLMUTTER, PETER T. KING, MARK SOUDER, TOM DAVIS, DANIEL E. LUNGREN, MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, CHARLES W. DENT, IKE SKELTON, JOHN M. SPRATT, Jr., 

JIM SAXTON, JOHN D. DINGELL, EDWARD J. MARKEY, TOM LANTOS, GARY ACKERMAN, 

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, 

JOHN CONYERS, 

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ZOE LOFGREN, HENRY A. WAXMAN, WM. LACY CLAY, SILVESTRE REYES, BUD CRAMER, BART GORDON, DAVID WU, PETER A. DEFAZIO, JOHN B. LARSON, Managers on the Part of the House. 

JOE LIEBERMAN, 

CARL LEVIN, 

DANIEL K. AKAKA, 

TOM CARPER, 

MARK PRYOR, 

CHRIS DODD, 

DANIEL K. INOUYE, 

JOE BIDEN, 

Managers on the Part of the Senate. 

Æ 

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