Reducing Crime and Terrorism at America's Seaport Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1587
Sponsor: Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2003-09-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Air cargo
Americans in foreign countries
Armed Forces and National Security
Arson
Assault
Biological warfare
Chemical warfare
Collection of accounts
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Conspiracy
Containerization
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Criminal liability
Criminal negligence
Data banks
Department of Justice
Destruction of property
EBB Terrorism
Emergency Management
Energy
Environmental Protection
Environmental law enforcement
Evidence (Law)
Explosives
Federal law enforcement officers
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fines (Penalties)
Firearms
Fraud
Freight
Fugitives from justice
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Harbors
Immigration
Intermodal transportation
International Affairs
Jurisdiction
Labor and Employment
Labor disputes
Larceny
Law
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Marine safety
Marine terminals
Merchant seamen
Merchant ships
Murder
Navigation
Navigational aids
Nuclear fuels
Nuclear terrorism
Obstruction of justice
Passenger ships
Prosecution
Radioactive wastes
Science, Technology, Communications
Searches and seizures
Security measures
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sentencing guidelines
Ships
St. Lawrence Seaway
Terminals (Transportation)
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation of hazardous substances
Trucks
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Violence
Waste disposal in the ocean
Weapons

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-05
text: 
Reducing Crime and Terrorism at America's Seaports Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) entry by false pretenses to a secure area of a seaport; (2) knowingly failing to obey an order to heave to by an authorized Federal officer; (3) forcibly interfering with an authorized law enforcement action or providing false information during a boarding; (4) willfully disabling a passenger vehicle; and (5) unlawfully and intentionally destroying any aid to maritime navigation maintained by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation that endangers safe navigation.
 
Sets penalties for knowingly and intentionally: (1) placing in U.S. waters a device or substance likely to destroy or damage a vessel or its cargo or likely to interfere with safe navigation or maritime commerce; (2) discharging or releasing into U.S. navigable water or adjoining shoreline any substance that would endanger human life, health, or welfare or the marine environment; (3) transporting aboard any vessel explosive, biological, chemical, or radioactive or nuclear material to be used to commit a Federal crime of terrorism.
 
Sets penalties for: (1) transporting aboard any vessel a terrorist or terror suspect; (2) willfully causing destruction of a vessel or maritime facility; (3) imparting or conveying false information concerning an attempt made to commit certain criminal acts; and (4) knowingly carrying a weapon, explosive, incendiary device, or loaded firearm on a vessel or at a seaport.
 
Requires the Attorney General to issue regulations to require the reporting of cargo theft.
 
Expands the scope of a prohibition against theft of interstate or foreign shipments.
 
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to increase penalties for noncompliance with manifest requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11164-11167)
action_date: 2003-09-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11163-11164)
action_date: 2003-09-05
text: Introduced in Senate