SAFER TRANSIT Act

To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Homeland Security relating to public transportation security, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing America’s Facilities, Equipment and Rail: Taking Responsibility for American National Security In Transit Act SAFER TRANSIT Act 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Nationwide, Americans rely on 6,800 public transportation systems for their daily commute. Every weekday, public transportation riders take 35,000,000 trips. Public transportation significantly improves quality of life, saving Americans who live in areas served by public transportation systems nearly 865,000,000 hours in travel time annually. (2) Increasingly, public transportation is becoming a target of terrorist activity. (3) In 2004, terrorists simultaneously detonated explosives concealed inside backpacks on Madrid’s commuter train system, killing 191 and injuring nearly 2000. (4) In 2005, four suicide bombers attacked London’s public transportation system, killing 52. (5) In 2011, authorities discovered an improvised explosives device near Amtrak and commuter train tracks. The same year, German police found multiple firebombs alongside high-speed rail tracks and in tunnels leading into train stations. (6) On March 22, 2016, a coordinated terrorist attack targeted both the Brussels Airport and a metro station in the city killing 32 and injuring nearly 300 travelers. (7) According to the Global Terrorism Database, there were 57 terror attacks on transportation from 2006 to 2014. (8) To ensure the continued effectiveness of public transportation, the Federal Government must balance transit system security and accessibility. (9) The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 ( Public Law 110–53 (10) A May 2016 report by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security found that the Transportation Security Administration has limited regulatory oversight of Amtrak’s passenger security. (11) A May 2016 report by the Government Accountability Office recommended that the Federal Air Marshal Service undertake a number of measures to ensure resources are allocated according to risk assessments. (12) Congress must provide the agencies and municipalities with the necessary resources to combat terrorism, and continue to conduct oversight of their effective use. 3. Rail security Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget, shall submit to Congress a report on the plan of the Secretary to expedite the implementation of the requirements of subtitle B of title XV of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 ( Public Law 110–53 6 U.S.C. 1161 (1) assign rail carriers to high-risk tiers; and (2) establish a rail security training program. 4. Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response Teams (a) Authorization of appropriations Section 1303(b) of the Implementing Recommendations of the Public Law 110–53 6 U.S.C. 1112 fiscal years 2016 through 2018 fiscal years 2016 through 2020 (b) Surface transportation security inspectors Section 1304(j) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 ( Public Law 110–53 6 U.S.C. 1113 this section this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. 5. Public transportation security research and development Section 1409(h) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 ( Public Law 110–53 6 U.S.C. 1138 to make grants to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. 6. Railroad security Section 1513(i)(1) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 ( Public Law 110–53 6 U.S.C. 1163 Out of funds There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. 7. Over-the-road bus security assistance Section 1532(k)(1) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 ( Public Law 110–53 6 U.S.C. 1182 From amounts There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. 8. Public transit security police training program (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop a program, to be known as the Local Transit Security Instructor Training Program (b) Contents The program developed under subsection (a) shall be an intensive training program designed to— (1) cover the comprehensive tactical subject matters pertaining to the unique nature of public transit operational environments and threats; (2) provide high-quality training and instill the knowledge, skills, and aptitudes needed for the highest proficiency in transit security; and (3) leverage the existing skills of trainee officers by emphasizing leadership, teach backs, and adult learning as well as the traditional technical skills needed by field training officers. (c) Availability The Secretary shall make such program available to law enforcement agencies that are eligible for the Homeland Security Grant Program under section 2002 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 603 9. Effectiveness of Federal Air Marshal Program The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that the Federal Air Marshal Service (hereinafter in this section referred to as the FAMS (1) consider risk when determining how to divide the international flight coverage resources of the FAMS among international destinations, incorporate risk into the method of the FAMS for initially setting its annual target numbers of average daily international and domestic flights; (2) conduct and document a risk assessment to further support the domestic resource allocation decisions of the FAMS, including the identification of high-priority geographic areas; (3) in conducting such risk assessment, evaluate the threat environment with regard to each of the different modes of transportation supported by the FAMS to inform resource allocation decisions, including the identification of high-priority modes of transportation; (4) document the rationale for the selection of international destinations by FAMS for air marshal deployment and the proportion of flights to cover at each destination; (5) adopt a consistent name and definition for the performance measure referred to as the TSA coverage score that accurately reflects its calculation method and composite nature; and (6) report the performance results for each of the subcategories that comprise the TSA coverage score to FAMS and TSA leadership. 10. CBRNE detectors aboard public trans­por­ta­tion The Secretary of Homeland Security shall direct the Directorate of Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize research of scalable, cost-effective technology solutions to detect chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats aboard public transportation of all modes that are capable continuous, real-time sensing and detection of, and alerting passengers and operating personnel to the presence of such a threat.

Summary: Securing America's Facilities, Equipment and Rail: Taking Responsibility for American National Security in Transit Act or the SAFER TRANSIT Act This bill amends the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to reauthorize through FY2020 the Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) program and other specified activities related to public transportation security. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must: (1) develop a Local Transit Security Instructor Training Program, and (2) take steps necessary to ensure that the Federal Air Marshal Service uses its resources to cover the highest-risk flights. DHS shall direct the Directorate of Science and Technology to prioritize research of scalable, cost-effective technology solutions to detect chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats abroad public transportation that are capable of continuous, real-time detecting of, and alerting passengers and operating personnel to, such threats.