Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1269
Sponsor: Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Animals
Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Bridges
Bus drivers
Cameras
Chemical warfare
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Computer security measures
Congressional reporting requirements
Contractors
Crime and Law Enforcement
Damages
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Transportation
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
District of Columbia
Dogs
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic surveillance
Electronics
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Emergency medicine
Employee training
Employers' liability
Environmental Protection
Evacuation of civilians
Executive reorganization
Explosives
Federal aid to transportation
Federal employees
Federal-Indian relations
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fines (Penalties)
Fire fighters
Fire prevention
Geographic information systems
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Government paperwork
Health
Hours of labor
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
Law
Law enforcement officers
Lighting
Maryland
Mass rapid transit
Minorities
Motor buses
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
Native Americans
New York City
Northeastern States
Nuclear terrorism
Paramedical personnel
Performance measurement
Police
Punitive damages
Railroad freight operations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Railroads
Research and development
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Security clearances
Security measures
Subcontractors
Subways
Surveys
Technological innovations
Terminals (Transportation)
Terrorism
Transportation of hazardous substances
Transportation planning
Transportation safety
Transportation workers
Tunnels
Wage restitution
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and implement a plan entitled the National Strategy for Rail and Public Transportation Security.
 
Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations that require each high- or medium- risk tier railroad carrier, public transportation operator, or over-the-road bus private operator to submit for approval by the Secretary: (1) an assessment of the vulnerability of the rail or public transportation system or over-the-road bus to terrorism; and (2) a security plan that addresses the vulnerabilities identified in the assessment. Requires the Secretary to implement a security program for covered transportation not assigned to a high- or medium-risk tier.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a program for the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to railroad carriers, designated public transportation recipients, and over-the-road bus private operators for certain security improvements.
 
Makes grants to Amtrak for certain fire and life-safety improvements to tunnels on the Northeast Corridor.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop a training program to prepare railroad, public transportation, and over-the-road bus workers for potential threat conditions; and (2) establish a security exercises program for such workers and other named entities to respond to acts of terrorism.
 
 
Sets forth certain whistleblower protections for DHS, Department of Transportation (DOT), rail and public transportation, and over-the-road bus employees (including contractors and subcontractors) who have provided information or otherwise assisted in any investigation regarding conduct related to, 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 surface transportation security inspectors. 
 
Sets forth civil penalties for violations of regulations and orders of the Secretary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-03
text: For Further Action See P.L. 110-53, Titles XIV and XV.
action_date: 2007-03-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection.
action_date: 2007-03-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2007-03-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2007-03-01
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: 2007-03-01
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: 2007-03-01
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: 2007-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E451)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in House