I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 6140 

To facilitate access to swiftly transport goods during a publicly announced 

state of emergency situation. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 1, 2023 

Mr. EZELL (for himself, Mr. GARAMENDI, and Mr. BALDERSON) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To facilitate access to swiftly transport goods during a 

publicly announced state of emergency situation. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Facilitating Access to 

5 Swiftly Transport Goods during a Publicly Announced 

6 State of Emergency Situation Act’’ or the ‘‘FAST PASS 

7 Act’’. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HR 6140 IH

1 SEC. 2. STUDY ON CRITICAL CARGO. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

3 date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Trans4 portation shall initiate a study to examine— 

5 (1) efforts to expedite the movement of critical 

6 cargo through ports and marine terminals; and 

7 (2) methodologies, practices, and processes for 

8 moving such cargo during an event for which an 

9 emergency is declared by the President or a Federal 

10 agency. 

11 (b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study under sub12 section (a), the Secretary shall examine methodologies, 

13 practices, and processes for— 

14 (1) identifying critical cargo and expediting the 

15 movement of such cargo through the marine termi16 nals and ports; 

17 (2) expediting the movement of critical cargo 

18 across all modes of transportation after leaving ma19 rine terminals and ports; and 

20 (3) mitigating the impact on the movement of 

21 other cargo that is not critical. 

22 (c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study under 

23 subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with— 

24 (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv25 ices; and 

26 (2) other relevant Federal agencies. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HR 6140 IH

1 (d) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.—The Secretary 

2 shall issue a request for information in the Federal Reg3 ister seeking public comment on the matters to be consid4 ered in the study required under subsection (a). 

5 (e) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

6 of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit 

7 to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

8 of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

9 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 

10 report containing— 

11 (1) the findings of the study conducted under 

12 subsection (a); and 

13 (2) recommendations for methodologies, prac14 tices, and processes described in such subsection, in15 cluding recommendations for using data from com16 mercial and government data tracking initiatives 

17 to— 

18 (A) determine when cargo is critical and 

19 needs to be expedited; 

20 (B) identify such critical cargo at port and 

21 marine terminals; and 

22 (C) expedite the movement and distribu23 tion of such cargo to end users. 

24 (f) PILOT PROGRAM.—In conducting the study under 

25 subsection (a), the Secretary may establish 1 or more volVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Nov 07, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6140.IH H6140

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HR 6140 IH

1 untary pilot programs to test the effectiveness of meth2 odologies, practices, and processes for expediting the 

3 movement of critical cargo through ports and marine ter4 minals. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB