Rail Transit Security and Safety Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4476
Sponsor: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-9]
Introduced: 2004-06-01 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Animals
Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Bridges
Chemical warfare
Chemicals
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Damages
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Labor
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
District of Columbia
Dogs
Drainage
EBB Terrorism
East Asia
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic surveillance
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Employee training
Environmental Protection
Equipment and supplies
Europe
European Union
Evacuation of civilians
Executive reorganization
Explosives
Federal aid to research
Federal aid to transportation
Federal officials
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Financial planning
Fire prevention
Geographic information systems
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Grievance procedures
Hours of labor
Infrastructure
International Affairs
Japan
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal fees
Lighting
Maryland
Mass rapid transit
Massachusetts
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
New York City
Nuclear terrorism
Public service advertising
Railroad employees
Railroad engineering
Railroad finance
Railroad freight operations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Railroad terminals
Railroads
Research and development
Research grants
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Technological innovations
Terrorism
Transportation of hazardous substances
Transportation planning
Transportation research
Transportation workers
Tunnels
Wage restitution
Wages
Water Resources Development
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-01
text: 
Rail Transit Security and Safety Act of 2004 - Directs the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security (Under Secretary) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to complete a vulnerability assessment of freight and passenger rail transportation for identification of: (1) critical assets and infrastructures and threats to them; (2) vulnerabilities specific to the transportation of hazardous materials via railroad; and (3) security weaknesses in passenger and cargo security, transportation infrastructure, protection systems, procedural policies, communications systems, employee training, emergency response planning, and any other area identified by the assessment. Requires the Under Secretary, based on the assessment, to develop specific prioritized recommendations for improving rail security.
 
Directs the Under Secretary to establish the position of Federal Rail Security Manager within each of at least eight regional areas to: (1) serve as regional coordinator of the Under Secretary's response to terrorist incidents and threats to rail assets; and (2) coordinate efforts related to rail security with State and local law enforcement.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on the rail passenger transportation security programs in Japan, member nations of the European Union (EU), and other foreign countries in order to identify effective rail transportation security measures.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to Amtrak for certain fire and life-safety improvements and infrastructure upgrades to tunnels on the Northeast Corridor.
 
Directs the DHS Secretary to award grants directly to public transportation agencies for allowable capital and operational security improvements.
 
Establishes a research and development (R&D) program to improve freight and intercity passenger rail security. Directs the Under Secretary to award grants to public or private entities to conduct research into, and demonstration of, technologies to reduce and deter terrorists threats or mitigate damages resulting from terrorist attacks against public transportation systems.
 
Sets forth certain whistleblower protections for rail employees or other persons who have provided information or otherwise assisted in any investigation regarding certain conduct, or who have refused to violate or assist in the violation of any regulation related to public transportation security.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads.
action_date: 2004-06-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2004-06-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-01
text: Introduced in House