Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-5714
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Introduced: 2006-06-29 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Bridges
Bus drivers
Cameras
Chemical warfare
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Classified defense information
Computer security measures
Computer software
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost effectiveness
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal justice information
Damages
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Labor
Disasters
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Employee training
Environmental Protection
Evacuation of civilians
Evidence (Law)
Explosives
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to research
Federal aid to transportation
Federal employees
Federal-Indian relations
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fines (Penalties)
Fire fighters
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Health
Infrastructure
Injunctions
Labor and Employment
Law
Law enforcement officers
Legal fees
Marine terminals
Mass rapid transit
Minorities
Native Americans
Nuclear terrorism
Paramedical personnel
Performance measurement
Police
Privileges and immunities
Punitive damages
Railroad employees
Railroad equipment
Railroad freight operations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Railroad terminals
Railroads
Research and development
Right of privacy
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Security clearances
Security measures
Subcontractors
Subways
Surveys
Technological innovations
Terminals (Transportation)
Terrorism
Transportation of hazardous substances
Transportation planning
Transportation research
Transportation safety
Transportation workers
Tunnels
Wage restitution
Waste in government spending
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2006-06-29
text: 
Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2006 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and implement, and update as appropriate, a National Rail and Public Transportation Security Plan.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), to promulgate regulations that require a railroad carrier or public transportation system owner or operator to: (1) conduct an assessment of the vulnerability of the rail or public transportation system to terrorism; and (2) prepare and implement a security plan that addresses identified vulnerabilities.
 
Directs the Secretary to develop, and submit to Congress, a Rail and Public Transportation Strategic Information Sharing Plan.
 
Establishes a grant program to allocate federal assistance to U.S. rail and public transportation systems. Sets forth uses of such grants, including to remedy rail and public transportation security vulnerabilities identified in the assessments.
 
Requires rail and public transportation systems to develop for its workers a rail and public transportation security training program that conforms to guidelines established by the Secretary.
 
Establishes: (1) a Rail and Public Transportation Security Exercise Program; and (2) a research and development program to improve rail and mass transit security.
 
Sets forth certain whistleblower protections for DHS and rail employees (including federal contractors and subcontractors) 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 national or homeland security. 
 
Requires an increase in the number of DHS rail security inspectors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5098)
action_date: 2006-07-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity.
action_date: 2006-06-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.
action_date: 2006-06-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2006-06-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2006-06-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2006-06-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1329-1330)
action_date: 2006-06-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-06-29
text: Introduced in House