H. R. 4954—5
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph 
(G); and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following: 
‘‘(F) include a salvage response plan—
‘‘(i) to identify salvage equipment capable of restoring 
operational trade capacity; and 
‘‘(ii) to ensure that the waterways are cleared and 
the flow of commerce through United States ports is 
reestablished as efficiently and quickly as possible after 
a maritime transportation security incident; and’’. 
SEC. 102. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO MARITIME FACILITY SECU-
RITY PLANS. 
Section 70103(c) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (3)—
(A) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking ‘‘facility’’ and 
inserting ‘‘facility, including access by persons engaged in 
the surface transportation of intermodal containers in or 
out of a port facility’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(H) in the case of a security plan for a facility, be resub-
mitted for approval of each change in the ownership or operator 
of the facility that may substantially affect the security of 
the facility.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8)(A) The Secretary shall require that the qualified individual 
having full authority to implement security actions for a facility 
described in paragraph (2) shall be a citizen of the United States. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary may waive the requirement of subparagraph 
(A) with respect to an individual if the Secretary determines that 
it is appropriate to do so based on a complete background check 
of the individual and a review of all terrorist watch lists to ensure 
that the individual is not identified on any such terrorist watch 
list.’’. 
SEC. 103. UNANNOUNCED INSPECTIONS OF MARITIME FACILITIES. 
Section 70103(c)(4)(D) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(D) subject to the availability of appropriations, verify 
the effectiveness of each such facility security plan periodically, 
but not less than 2 times per year, at least 1 of which shall 
be an inspection of the facility that is conducted without notice 
to the facility.’’. 
SEC. 104. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) APPLICATIONS FOR MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS.—
The Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for the Transpor-
tation Security Administration and the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall concurrently process an application from an individual 
for merchant mariner’s documents under chapter 73 of title 46,
H. R. 4954—6
United States Code, and an application from that individual for 
a transportation security card under this section. 
‘‘(h) FEES.—The Secretary shall ensure that the fees charged 
each individual applying for a transportation security card under 
this section who has passed a background check under section 
5103a(d) of title 49, United States Code, and who has a current 
hazardous materials endorsement in accordance with section 1572 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, and each individual with 
a current merchant mariners’ document who has passed a criminal 
background check under section 7302(d)—
‘‘(1) are for costs associated with the issuance, production, 
and management of the transportation security card, as deter-
mined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(2) do not include costs associated with performing a back-
ground check for that individual, except for any incremental 
costs in the event that the scope of such background checks 
diverge. 
‘‘(i) 
IMPLEMENTATION
SCHEDULE.—In 
implementing 
the 
transportation security card program under this section, the Sec-
retary shall—
‘‘(1) establish a priority for each United States port based 
on risk, including vulnerabilities assessed under section 70102; 
and 
‘‘(2) implement the program, based upon such risk and 
other factors as determined by the Secretary, at all facilities 
regulated under this chapter at—
‘‘(A) the 10 United States ports that the Secretary 
designates top priority not later than July 1, 2007; 
‘‘(B) the 40 United States ports that are next in order 
of priority to the ports described in subparagraph (A) not 
later than January 1, 2008; and 
‘‘(C) all other United States ports not later than 
January 1, 2009. 
‘‘(j) TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CARD PROCESSING DEADLINE.—
Not later than January 1, 2009, the Secretary shall process and 
issue or deny each application for a transportation security card 
under this section for individuals with current and valid merchant 
mariners’ documents on the date of the enactment of the SAFE 
Port Act. 
‘‘(k) 
DEPLOYMENT
OF
TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY
CARD 
READERS.—
‘‘(1) PILOT PROGRAM.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a pilot 
program to test the business processes, technology, and 
operational impacts required to deploy transportation secu-
rity card readers at secure areas of the marine transpor-
tation system. 
‘‘(B) GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS.—The pilot program shall 
take place at not fewer than 5 distinct geographic locations, 
to include vessels and facilities in a variety of environ-
mental settings. 
‘‘(C) COMMENCEMENT.—The pilot program shall com-
mence not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of the SAFE Port Act. 
‘‘(2) 
CORRELATION
WITH
TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY 
CARDS.—
H. R. 4954—7
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The pilot program described in para-
graph (1) shall be conducted concurrently with the issuance 
of the transportation security cards described in subsection 
(b) to ensure card and card reader interoperability. 
‘‘(B) FEE.—An individual charged a fee for a transpor-
tation security card issued under this section may not 
be charged an additional fee if the Secretary determines 
different transportation security cards are needed based 
on the results of the pilot program described in paragraph 
(1) or for other reasons related to the technology require-
ments for the transportation security card program. 
‘‘(3) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 2 years after the 
commencement of the pilot program under paragraph (1)(C), 
the Secretary, after a notice and comment period that includes 
at least 1 public hearing, shall promulgate final regulations 
that require the deployment of transportation security card 
readers that are consistent with the findings of the pilot pro-
gram and build upon the regulations prescribed under sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days before the promulga-
tion of regulations under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall 
submit a comprehensive report to the appropriate congressional 
committees (as defined in section 2(1) of SAFE Port Act) that 
includes—
‘‘(A) the findings of the pilot program with respect 
to technical and operational impacts of implementing a 
transportation security card reader system; 
‘‘(B) any actions that may be necessary to ensure that 
all vessels and facilities to which this section applies are 
able to comply with such regulations; and 
‘‘(C) an analysis of the viability of equipment under 
the extreme weather conditions of the marine environment. 
‘‘(l) PROGRESS REPORTS.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of the enactment of the SAFE Port Act, and every 6 months 
thereafter until the requirements under this section are fully imple-
mented, the Secretary shall submit a report on progress being 
made in implementing such requirements to the appropriate 
congressional committees (as defined in section 2(1) of the SAFE 
Port Act). 
‘‘(m) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not require the place-
ment of an electronic reader for transportation security cards on 
a vessel unless—
‘‘(1) the vessel has more individuals on the crew that are 
required to have a transportation security card than the number 
the Secretary determines, by regulation issued under subsection 
(k)(3), warrants such a reader; or 
‘‘(2) the Secretary determines that the vessel is at risk 
of a severe transportation security incident.’’. 
(b) CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR TRANSPORTATION SECU-
RITY CARDS.—Section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(2)—
(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 4954—8
‘‘(G) other individuals as determined appropriate by 
the Secretary including individuals employed at a port 
not otherwise covered by this subsection.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ‘‘subparagraph (A), 
(B), or (D)’’ before ‘‘paragraph (1)’’. 
(c) DEADLINE FOR SECTION 70105 REGULATIONS.—Not later than 
January 1, 2007, the Secretary shall promulgate final regulations 
implementing the requirements for issuing transportation security 
cards under section 70105 of title 46, United States Code. The 
regulations shall include a background check process to enable 
newly hired workers to begin working unless the Secretary makes 
an initial determination that the worker poses a security risk. 
Such process shall include a check against the consolidated and 
integrated terrorist watch list maintained by the Federal Govern-
ment. 
SEC. 105. STUDY TO IDENTIFY REDUNDANT BACKGROUND RECORDS 
CHECKS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study of background records checks carried out for the 
Department that are similar to the background records check 
required under section 5103a of title 49, United States Code, to 
identify redundancies and inefficiencies in connection with such 
checks. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit a report to Congress on the results of the study, 
including—
(1) an identification of redundancies and inefficiencies 
referred to in subsection (a); and 
(2) recommendations for eliminating such redundancies and 
inefficiencies. 
SEC. 106. PROHIBITION OF ISSUANCE OF TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 
CARDS TO PERSONS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN FELONIES. 
The Secretary, in issuing a final rule pursuant to section 70105 
of title 46, United States Code, shall provide for the disqualification 
of individuals who have been found guilty or have been found 
not guilty by reason of insanity of a felony, involving—
(1) treason, or conspiracy to commit treason; 
(2) espionage, or conspiracy to commit espionage; 
(3) sedition, or conspiracy to commit sedition; or 
(4) a crime listed in chapter 113B of title 18, United States 
Code, a comparable State law, or conspiracy to commit such 
crime. 
SEC. 107. LONG-RANGE VESSEL TRACKING. 
(a) REGULATIONS.—Section 70115 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended in the first sentence by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Not later than April 1, 2007, the Secretary’’. 
(b) VOLUNTARY PROGRAM.—The Secretary may issue regulations 
to establish a voluntary long-range automated vessel tracking 
system for vessels described in section 70115 of title 46, United 
States Code, during the period before regulations are issued under 
such section.