Port Anti-Terrorism and Security Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3456
Sponsor: Rep. Bell, Chris [D-TX-25]
Introduced: 2003-11-06 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Aircraft pilots
Arson
Bombings
Business records
Canals
Capital punishment
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Common carriers
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Conspiracy
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal justice information
Data banks
Department of Justice
Destruction of property
EBB Terrorism
Embezzlement
Environmental Protection
Environmental law enforcement
Explosives
Extraterritoriality
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fines (Penalties)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Fraud
Freight
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Harbors
Hazardous wastes
Infrastructure
International Affairs
Jurisdiction
Larceny
Law
Life imprisonment
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Marine safety
Marine terminals
Merchant seamen
Merchant ships
Mines (Ordnance)
Navigational aids
Nuclear terrorism
Obstruction of justice
Oil pollution
Passenger ships
Radioactive wastes
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Searches and seizures
Security measures
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sentencing guidelines
Ships
Smuggling
Terrorism
Violence
Waste disposal in rivers, lakes, etc.
Waste disposal in the ocean
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: 
Port Anti-Terrorism and Security Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit damaging or destroying a vessel or maritime facility. Provides enhanced penalties where the vessel carried high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel. Prohibits placing in U.S. waters devices or substances likely to destroy or damage ships.
 
 Prohibits piracy, privateering, theft or intentional wrecking of a vessel, or use of a dangerous weapon or explosive on a passenger vessel. Provides sanctions for failure to heave to and for obstructing boarding or providing false information during a boarding. Prohibits the knowing discharge of hazardous substances in U.S. navigable waters or the adjacent shoreline with intent to endanger human life, health, or welfare or the marine environment.
 
Directs the Attorney General to: (1) take specified actions to coordinate port-related crime data collection; and (2) establish an outreach program to work with State and local law enforcement officials to harmonize the reporting of data on cargo theft and with local port security committees to disseminate such information to appropriate law enforcement officials.
 
Sets civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation of Federal prohibitions against theft or embezzlement related to interstate or foreign shipments by carrier.
 
Amends the Tariff Act to increase penalties for falsity or lack of a manifest.
 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit to Congress a plan to inspect merchandise and containers at foreign facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2003-11-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2003-11-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Introduced in House