Safe Transit and Rail Awareness and Investments for National Security Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4361
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2004-05-13 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Animals
Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Bridges
Cameras
Capital investments
Chemical warfare
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Closed-circuit television
Colleges
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Crime and Law Enforcement
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
Dogs
Drainage
EBB Terrorism
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electronic surveillance
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Emergency medicine
Employee training
Environmental Protection
Equipment and supplies
Evacuation of civilians
Explosives
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Federal aid to transportation
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Fire fighters
Fire prevention
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Health
Higher education
Informers
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
Law
Light rail transit
Lighting
Mass rapid transit
Medical personnel
Motor buses
Nuclear terrorism
Paramedical personnel
Passenger ships
Performance measurement
Police
Public service advertising
Railroad commuting traffic
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroads
Rescue work
Research centers
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Subways
Systems analysis
Technological innovations
Terminals (Transportation)
Terrorism
Transportation engineering
Transportation planning
Transportation research
Transportation safety
Transportation workers
Tunnels
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-13
text: 
Safe Transit and Rail Awareness and Investments for National Security Act of 2004 (Safe TRAINS Act) - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to improve the security of public transportation systems (including passenger, commuter, and light rail) against acts of terrorism. Sets forth grant uses and requirements.
 
Directs grant recipients to submit to the Secretary their emergency response plan as well as a plan for conducting exercises for emergency response and public transportation employee training pursuant to guidelines published by the Secretary.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and disseminate to appropriate owners, operators, and providers of public transportation systems (including public transportation employees), and Federal, State, and local officials, a report containing best practices for the security of public transportation systems; (2) develop a national plan for public outreach and awareness of measures the public can take to increase public transportation system security; (3) develop a strategic plan for the security of the Nation's public transportation systems; (4) execute in conjunction with the Secretary of Transportation, a Memorandum of Agreement governing the responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation, respectively, in addressing security matters for public transportation systems; and (5) establish National Transportation Security Centers at institutions of higher education to assist in carrying out this Act, to conduct research and education, and to develop or provide professional training of public transportation employees.
 
Sets forth certain whistleblower protections for employees or other persons who have commenced, testified at, or participated in, a proceeding to enhance public transportation security, or who have refused to violate or assist in the violation of any regulation related to public transportation security.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.
action_date: 2004-05-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2004-05-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-05-13
text: Introduced in House