Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.1870 | Sponsor: Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz (D-CA)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2021
This bill addresses threat information sharing and law enforcement training regarding the enhancement of security for surface transportation assets. A surface transportation asset includes facilities, equipment, or systems used to provide transportation services by a public transportation carrier, railroad carrier, or an entity offering scheduled, fixed-route transportation services by bus.
Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts from the Transportation Security Administration and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis to locations with fusion centers in jurisdictions with high-risk surface transportation assets to enhance the security of such assets, including by improving timely sharing of classified information regarding terrorism and other threats.
The bill also authorizes DHS to develop a training program to enhance the protection, preparedness, and response capabilities of law enforcement agencies with respect to terrorism and other threats at a surface transportation asset.

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize 
    strengthening of local transportation security capabilities by 
 assigning certain officers and intelligence analysts to State, local, 
 and regional fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface 
 transportation asset and improving the timely sharing of information 
 regarding threats of terrorism and other threats, including targeted 
                   violence, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Local Transportation 
Security Capabilities Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Domestic terrorism.--The term ``domestic terrorism'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 2331 of title 18, 
        United States Code.
            (2) International terrorism.--The term ``international 
        terrorism'' has the meaning given such term in section 2331 of 
        title 18, United States Code.
            (3) Public and private sector stakeholders.--The term 
        ``public and private sector stakeholders'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 114(u)(1)(c) of title 49, United 
        States Code.
            (4) Surface transportation asset.--The term ``surface 
        transportation asset'' includes facilities, equipment, or 
        systems used to provide transportation services by--
                    (A) a public transportation agency (as such term is 
                defined in section 1402(5) of the Implementing 
                Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 
                (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1131(5)));
                    (B) a railroad carrier (as such term is defined in 
                section 20102(3) of title 49, United States Code);
                    (C) an owner or operator of--
                            (i) an entity offering scheduled, fixed-
                        route transportation services by over-the-road 
                        bus (as such term is defined in section 1501(4) 
                        of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
                        Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 
                        U.S.C. 1151(4))); or
                            (ii) a bus terminal; or
                    (D) other transportation facilities, equipment, or 
                systems, as determined by the Secretary.
            (5) Targeted violence.--The term ``targeted violence'' 
        means an incident of violence in which an attacker selected a 
        particular target in order to inflict mass injury or death with 
        no discernable political or ideological motivation beyond mass 
        injury or death.
            (6) Terrorism.--The term ``terrorism'' means domestic 
        terrorism and international terrorism.

SEC. 3. THREAT INFORMATION SHARING.

    (a) Prioritization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts under 
section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h) from 
the Transportation Security Administration and, as appropriate, from 
the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland 
Security, to locations with participating State, local, and regional 
fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation 
asset in order to enhance the security of such assets, including by 
improving timely sharing, in a manner consistent with the protection of 
privacy rights, civil rights, and civil liberties, of information 
regarding threats of terrorism and other threats, including targeted 
violence.
    (b) Intelligence Products.--Officers and intelligence analysts 
assigned to locations with participating State, local, and regional 
fusion centers under this section shall participate in the generation 
and dissemination of transportation security intelligence products, 
with an emphasis on such products that relate to threats of terrorism 
and other threats, including targeted violence, to surface 
transportation assets that--
            (1) assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement 
        agencies in deploying their resources, including personnel, 
        most efficiently to help detect, prevent, investigate, 
        apprehend, and respond to such threats;
            (2) promote more consistent and timely sharing with and 
        among jurisdictions of threat information; and
            (3) enhance the Department of Homeland Security's 
        situational awareness of such threats.
    (c) Clearances.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make 
available to appropriate owners and operators of surface transportation 
assets, and to any other person that the Secretary determines 
appropriate to foster greater sharing of classified information 
relating to threats of terrorism and other threats, including targeted 
violence, to surface transportation assets, the process of application 
for security clearances under Executive Order No. 13549 (75 Fed. Reg. 
162; relating to a classified national security information program) or 
any successor Executive order.
    (d) GAO Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a review of the implementation of this section, 
together with any recommendations to improve information sharing with 
State, local, Tribal, territorial, and private sector entities to 
prevent, identify, and respond to threats of terrorism and other 
threats, including targeted violence, to surface transportation assets.

SEC. 4. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SECURITY TRAINING.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
consultation with public and private sector stakeholders, may in a 
manner consistent with the protection of privacy rights, civil rights, 
and civil liberties, develop, through the Federal Law Enforcement 
Training Centers, a training program to enhance the protection, 
preparedness, and response capabilities of law enforcement agencies 
with respect to threats of terrorism and other threats, including 
targeted violence, at a surface transportation asset.
    (b) Requirements.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security develops 
the training program described in subsection (a), such training program 
shall--
            (1) be informed by current information regarding tactics 
        used by terrorists and others engaging in targeted violence;
            (2) include tactical instruction tailored to the diverse 
        nature of the surface transportation asset operational 
        environment; and
            (3) prioritize training officers from law enforcement 
        agencies that are eligible for or receive grants under sections 
        2003 or 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 604 
        and 605) and officers employed by railroad carriers that 
        operate passenger service, including interstate passenger 
        service.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 20, 2021.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.