I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2975 
To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security relating to public transportation security, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 21, 2017 
Mr. LIPINSKI (for himself and Mrs. COMSTOCK) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To make certain improvements in the laws administered by 
the Secretary of Homeland Security relating to public 
transportation security, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Securing America’s 
Facilities, Equipment and Rail: Taking Responsibility for 
American National Security In Transit Act’’ or the 
‘‘SAFER TRANSIT Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(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 be-
coming 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 impro-
vised 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. 
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(7) According to the Global Terrorism Data-
base, 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), 
conferred to the Department of Homeland Security 
the responsibility for assuring public transportation 
security. 
(10) A May 2016 report by the Inspector Gen-
eral 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 Ac-
countability Office recommended that the Federal 
Air Marshal Service undertake a number of meas-
ures to ensure resources are allocated according to 
risk assessments. 
(12) Congress must provide the agencies and 
municipalities with the necessary resources to com-
bat terrorism, and continue to conduct oversight of 
their effective use. 
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SEC. 3. RAIL SECURITY. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment 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 Sec-
retary to expedite the implementation of the requirements 
of subtitle B of title XV of the Implementing Rec-
ommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Pub-
lic Law 110–53; 6 U.S.C. 1161 et seq.) to— 
(1) assign rail carriers to high-risk tiers; and 
(2) establish a rail security training program. 
SEC. 4. VISIBLE INTERMODAL PREVENTION AND RE-
SPONSE TEAMS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
1303(b) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 
9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–53; 6 
U.S.C. 1112) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2016 
through 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2016 through 
2020’’. 
(b) SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY INSPEC-
TORS.—Section 1304(j) of the Implementing Rec-
ommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Pub-
lic Law 110–53; 6 U.S.C. 1113) is amended by striking 
‘‘this section’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘this sec-
tion such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
2016 through 2020.’’. 
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SEC. 5. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 1409(h) of the Implementing Recommenda-
tions of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 
110–53; 6 U.S.C. 1138) is amended by striking ‘‘to make 
grants’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘to carry out 
this section such sums as may be necessary for each of 
fiscal years 2016 through 2020.’’. 
SEC. 6. RAILROAD SECURITY. 
Section 1513(i)(1) of the Implementing Rec-
ommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Pub-
lic Law 110–53; 6 U.S.C. 1163) is amended by striking 
‘‘Out of funds’’ and all that follows and inserting: ‘‘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.’’. 
SEC. 7. OVER-THE-ROAD BUS SECURITY ASSISTANCE. 
Section 1532(k)(1) of the Implementing Rec-
ommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Pub-
lic Law 110–53; 6 U.S.C. 1182) is amended by striking 
‘‘From amounts’’ and all that follows and inserting 
‘‘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.’’. 
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SEC. 8. PUBLIC TRANSIT SECURITY POLICE TRAINING PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity shall develop a program, to be known as the ‘‘Local 
Transit Security Instructor Training Program’’, which 
shall be carried out at the Federal Law Enforcement 
Training Centers. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The program developed under sub-
section (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 high-
est 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) and have jurisdiction over a geographic area 
where a public transit system operates rail or bus service. 
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SEC. 9. EFFECTIVENESS OF FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL PRO-
GRAM. 
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’’) uses its resources to cover the highest-risk 
flights. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall— 
(1) consider risk when determining how to di-
vide the international flight coverage resources of 
the FAMS among international destinations, incor-
porate risk into the method of the FAMS for ini-
tially 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 de-
cisions of the FAMS, including the identification of 
high-priority geographic areas; 
(3) in conducting such risk assessment, evalu-
ate 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 
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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. 
SEC. 10. CBRNE DETECTORS ABOARD PUBLIC TRANSPOR-
TATION. 
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, bio-
logical, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats aboard 
public transportation of all modes that are capable contin-
uous, real-time sensing and detection of, and alerting pas-
sengers and operating personnel to the presence of such 
a threat. 
Æ 
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