Surface and Maritime Transportation Security Act

Bill: 115-s-763
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2017-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Employee hiring
Firearms and explosives
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Licensing and registrations
Marine and inland water transportation
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
Personnel records
Railroads
Service animals
Terrorism
Transportation employees
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-29
text: 

Surface and Maritime Transportation Security Act

 
This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to: (1) assess, and implement a risk-based security strategy to address, the vulnerabilities of and risks to surface transportation and maritime transportation systems; (2) develop a management oversight strategy that identifies the parties responsible for implementing the security strategy; and (3) submit a report that describes a risk-based budget and resource allocation plan for surface transportation sectors that reflects the security strategy.
 
The TSA shall establish the Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee to make recommendations pertaining to surface transportation security.
 
In addition, the bill:
 
 
directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expand the TSA's explosives detection canine team program,
 
requires the Government Accountability Office to study specified matters related to surface transportation,
 
expands the permissible uses of railroad security improvement grants,
 
requires the TSA to issue a decision on the use of a passenger vetting system by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak),
 
requires the TSA to establish a program to promote surface transportation security through the training of surface transportation operators and frontline employees,
 
expands the transportation security card program to allow individuals subject to credentialing or a background check to apply for a transportation security card, and
 
requires DHS to evaluate cargo-container scanning technologies.
 

action_date: 2017-10-25
text: 

Surface and Maritime Transportation Security Act

 
This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to: (1) assess, and implement a risk-based security strategy to address, the vulnerabilities of and risks to surface transportation and maritime transportation systems; (2) develop a management oversight strategy that identifies the parties responsible for implementing the security strategy; and (3) submit a report that describes a risk-based budget and resource allocation plan for surface transportation sectors that reflects the security strategy.
 
The TSA shall establish the Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee to make recommendations pertaining to surface transportation security.
 
In addition, the bill:
 
 
directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expand the TSA's explosives detection canine team program and to deploy next generation technologies to detect nuclear material,
 
requires the Government Accountability Office to study specified matters related to surface transportation,
 
expands the permissible uses of railroad security improvement grants,
 
requires the TSA to issue a decision on the use of a passenger vetting system by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak),
 
requires the TSA to establish a program to promote surface transportation security through the training of surface transportation operators and frontline employees,
 
expands the transportation security card program to allow individuals subject to credentialing or a background check to apply for a transportation security card, and
 
requires DHS to evaluate cargo-container scanning technologies.
 
 
The bill authorizes appropriations for FY2018-FY2021 for DHS to award surface transportation preparedness grants, subject to specified certification requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 251.
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-178.
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-178.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate