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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Facilitating Access to 
Swiftly Transport Goods during a Publicly Announced 
State of Emergency Situation Act’’ or the ‘‘FAST PASS 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. STUDY ON CRITICAL CARGO. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall initiate a study to examine— 
(1) efforts to expedite the movement of critical 
cargo through ports and marine terminals; and 
(2) methodologies, practices, and processes for 
moving such cargo during an event for which an 
emergency is declared by the President or a Federal 
agency. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall examine methodologies, 
practices, and processes for— 
(1) identifying critical cargo and expediting the 
movement of such cargo through the marine termi-
nals and ports; 
(2) expediting the movement of critical cargo 
across all modes of transportation after leaving ma-
rine terminals and ports; and 
(3) mitigating the impact on the movement of 
other cargo that is not critical. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with— 
(1) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices; and 
(2) other relevant Federal agencies. 
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(d) REQUEST
FOR INFORMATION.—The Secretary 
shall issue a request for information in the Federal Reg-
ister seeking public comment on the matters to be consid-
ered in the study required under subsection (a). 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report containing— 
(1) the findings of the study conducted under 
subsection (a); and 
(2) recommendations for methodologies, prac-
tices, and processes described in such subsection, in-
cluding recommendations for using data from com-
mercial and government data tracking initiatives 
to— 
(A) determine when cargo is critical and 
needs to be expedited; 
(B) identify such critical cargo at port and 
marine terminals; and 
(C) expedite the movement and distribu-
tion of such cargo to end users. 
(f) PILOT PROGRAM.—In conducting the study under 
subsection (a), the Secretary may establish 1 or more vol-
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untary pilot programs to test the effectiveness of meth-
odologies, practices, and processes for expediting the 
movement of critical cargo through ports and marine ter-
minals. 
Æ 
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