Protecting Railroads against Enemy Efforts through Modernization, Planning, and Technology Act

Bill: 108-hr-4604
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2004-06-17 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Animals
Armed Forces and National Security
Automation
Biological warfare
Bridges
Chemical warfare
Computers
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal justice information
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Transportation
District of Columbia
Dogs
Drainage
EBB Terrorism
Economics and Public Finance
Electric power
Electric power failures
Electronic surveillance
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Employee training
Energy
Environmental Protection
Explosives
Federal aid to transportation
Federal employees
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fire prevention
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Government regulation
Information networks
Infrastructure
International Affairs
Labor and Employment
Law
Lighting
Maryland
New York City
Northeastern States
Nuclear terrorism
Police
Private police
Railroad employees
Railroad equipment
Railroad freight operations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Railroad terminals
Railroads
Recruiting of employees
Risk
Sabotage
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Terrorism
Traffic signs and signals
Transportation of hazardous substances
Transportation planning
Tunnels
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-17
text: 
Protecting Railroads against Enemy Efforts through Modernization, Planning, and Technology Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security, to develop a national railroad transportation security plan that identifies threats and vulnerabilities to the Nation's railroads and provides a plan for increased security. Directs the Secretary to develop prioritized recommendations for improving railroad security, including: (1) the security of rail tunnels and bridges and other rail infrastructure and facilities; (2) deployment of equipment to detect explosives and hazardous chemical, biological, and radioactive substances; (3) installation of redundant and backup systems to ensure continued operation in the event of a terrorist attack; and (4) deployment of surveillance equipment. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to railroads, hazardous materials shippers, owners of rail cars used in transportation of hazardous materials, universities, colleges, and research centers, and State and local governments for reimbursement of costs incurred to prevent or respond to acts of terrorism, sabotage, or other railroad security threats.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to procure fire and life-safety improvements to the tunnels on the Northeast Corridor in New York, New York, Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
 
Directs the Secretary to review existing Department of Transportation (DOT) rail regulations to identify areas in which those regulations need to be revised to improve railroad security.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads.
action_date: 2004-06-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2004-06-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-17
text: Introduced in House