zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization Act of 2010 - (Sec. 2) Reauthorizes appropriations to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for FY2011 and FY2012. (Sec. 3) Revises the term "accident" to expand the NTSB's authority to investigate, at its discretion, accidents not involving the destruction or damage of a vehicle, aircraft, or pipeline, but significantly affecting transportation safety. Authorizes the NTSB by subpoena to summon witnesses and obtain any and all evidence relevant to an accident investigation. Prohibits the NTSB (including any agency that has received information from the NTSB) from disclosing publicly any commercial or financial or certain classified information during ongoing NTSB accident investigations. Authorizes public disclosure of such information when necessary, in certain circumstances, to promote transportation safety. (Sec. 4) Authorizes accident investigation training of NTSB employees in theory and techniques and on transportation safety methods in order to advance NTSB safety recommendations. Revises the authority of the NTSB to investigate transportation accidents to include: (1) freight or passenger railroad accidents involving a fatality (other than a fatality involving a trespasser), substantial property damage, or significant injury to the environment; (2) accidents or incidents in response to an international request and delegation under appropriate conventions, coordinated through the Department of State and accepted by the NTSB; (3) accidents or incidents significantly affecting transportation safety; and (4) accidents involving a commercial space launch vehicle. Authorizes the NTSB, with the consent of the appropriate Secretary, to delegate its authority to investigate: (1) aviation accidents or incidents to the Department of Transportation; and (2) maritime accidents or incidents to the Coast Guard. Authorizes the NTSB, as well as any NTSB officer or employee, to download or seize any recording device and recordings and require specific information only available from the manufacturer to enable the NTSB to read and interpret any flight parameter or navigation storage device or media on board an accident aircraft. (Sec. 5) Revises requirements for domestic and foreign air carrier plans for addressing the needs of families of passengers involved in aircraft accidents that incur major loss of life. Requires domestic and foreign air carriers to make a reasonable attempt to notify the family of a passenger at least 60 days prior to the planned destruction of any unclaimed property of the passenger. (Sec. 6) Directs the NTSB to report to specified congressional committees on policies, procedures, and guidelines it has used to expedite the release of factual accident-related information to accident victims and their families, federal, state, and local accident investigators and agencies, private or third party investigation partners, the public, and other specified stakeholders.

Date: 2009-11-10
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Pilot Professionalism Assurance Act - Authorizes air carriers to use information obtained from a cockpit voice recorder or a flight data recorder to: (1) discipline or discharge a pilot or flight engineer for actions that endanger the safety or well being of passengers; (2) defend itself in any discipline or discharge grievance proceeding; (3) evaluate or monitor the judgment or performance of an individual pilot or crew member; (4) justify or require a pilot's submission to a proficiency check or line check; or (5) effect any other purpose relating to improving the safety or well being of passengers. Requires each air carrier that has obtained such information to keep it confidential, and allows disclosure only to the extent required in an administrative or judicial proceeding. Prohibits tampering with, disabling, or destroying any cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder installed on a commercial aircraft. Prescribes criminal penalties for violation of this prohibition. Requires an air carrier to terminate immediately the employment of any commercial pilot who violates this prohibition. Requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to revoke immediately the airman certificate issued to that pilot.

Date: 2010-02-26
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Expands the urbanized area formula grants program to include public transit projects in urbanized areas with specified population ranges if the state or regional authority that provides public transportation for the area operates less than 100 buses in fixed-route service in the area during peak service hours. Separates population categories by graduated increases of 200,000, starting with between 200,000 and 400,000, and capping at a minimum of 1 million. Establishes certain grant use limits for the operating costs of public transportation equipment and facilities in such projects, beginning with 50% of grant funds for certain activities and declining gradually to 30% for certain other activities. Revises grant eligibility requirements for FY2010-FY2015 for such projects in urbanized areas with a population of at least 200,000. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, during FY2010-FY2015, to award an additional grant to a designated recipient for the operating cost of public transportation equipment and facilities under this Act if the recipient: (1) was awarded a grant under the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program; and (2) demonstrates that it has achieved specified energy savings and total greenhouse gas emission reduction as a result of a TIGGER grant project.

Date: 2010-03-26
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Harbor Maintenance Act of 2010 - Requires the total budget resources for expenditures from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for harbor maintenance programs to equal the level of receipts plus interest credited to such Fund for that fiscal year. Limits the use of such resources to such programs only. Declares that it shall be out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that would cause total budget resources for the Fund in a fiscal year for harbor maintenance programs to be less than the level of receipts plus interest credited to the Fund for that fiscal year.

Date: 2010-04-15
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Vehicle Event History Information Capturing Leads to Engineering Safety Improvements Act of 2010 or VEHICLE Safety Improvements Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to promulgate regulations to require: (1) each new light-, medium-, and heavy-duty motor vehicle manufactured for sale or lease in the United States to be equipped with an event data recorder (EDR) meeting certain requirements; and (2) any data stored in the EDR of such vehicles to be accessible and retrievable by a commercially available universal data reader. Requires the owner's manual of new motor vehicles to indicate clearly the presence of EDRs. Prohibits the retrieval of information recorded or transmitted by an EDR by any person other than the owner of the motor vehicle in which such device is installed, unless: (1) a court authorizes it, the owner consents, or the information is retrieved by a government motor vehicle safety agency; and (2) neither the personally identifiable information of the vehicle owner or driver nor the vehicle identification number (VIN) is disclosed in the retrieval of information.

Date: 2010-04-28
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 - (Sec. 2) Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) for FY2011 for the Maritime Administration for: (1) operations and training activities, including earmarks for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy capital improvements and maintenance and repair for State Maritime Schools training ships; (2) administrative expenses related to maritime guaranteed loan commitments; (3) the disposal of non-retention vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet; and (4) maintenance of a U.S.-flag merchant fleet. (Sec. 3) Revises the purposes of the United States Merchant Marine Academy to emphasize: (1) its status as an institution of higher education; and (2) maritime-related research and provision of other appropriate academic support, assistance, training, and activities to prepare individuals for service in the U.S. merchant marine. (Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary, not later than July 31, 2012, to report to Congress on the status of the nation's coastal and inland waterways infrastructure. Authorizes the Secretary to investigate, make determinations concerning, and develop a repository of statistical information on intercoastal water transportation. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Maritime Administration to assess, and report to Congress on, the potential for using container-on-barge transportation on the inland waterways system. (Sec. 5) Eliminates separate landside congestion mitigation projects from the short sea transportation program. Authorizes the Secretary to designate a project as a short sea transportation project if it will provide transportation services for passengers or freight (or both) that may reduce congestion on landside infrastructure or lead to other public benefits. (Sec. 6) Declares that certain maritime law limitations shall not affect the Maritime Administration's authority to dispose of National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels or shipyards for recycling. (Sec. 7) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a green ships program to: (1) identify, evaluate, demonstrate, or improve emerging marine technologies likely to achieve environmental improvements through reduction of air or water emissions, increased fuel economy, or control of aquatic invasive species; and (2) develop and approve a validation and testing regime to certify or validate emerging technologies that demonstrate significant environmental benefits. (Sec. 8) Authorizes the donation, instead of sale, of non-retention (obsolete) vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet.

Date: 2010-07-12
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance to Help Transportation Act of 2010 - Declares U.S. policy with respect to freight transportation. Establishes within the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) an Office of Freight Planning and Development. Directs the Secretary to develop a long-term National Freight Freight Transportation Strategic Plan to guide planning and investments in the national transportation system to move freight. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop new or improve existing tools to support an outcome-oriented, performance-based approach to evaluate proposed freight-related and other transportation projects; (2) facilitate the collection of transportation-related data to support a broad range of evaluation methods and techniques to assist in making transportation investment decisions; and (3) consider improvements to the Commodity Flow Survey that reduce identified freight data gaps and deficiencies and help evaluate forecasts of transportation demand. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a competitive grant program for capital investment projects that improve the efficiency of the national transportation system to move freight; and (2) give priority to projects with the highest system performance improvement relative to their benefit-cost analysis. Limits the federal share of project net capital costs at 80%. Requires a grant recipient to submit to the Secretary: (1) a project management plan and an annual financial plan for a project with a total cost of $500 million or more; and (2) an annual financial plan for a project with a total cost of $100 million or more. Repeals specified prohibitions against the transfer of amounts from the Highway Trust Fund to the Port Infrastructure Development Fund.

Date: 2010-07-22
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
SAFE Port Reauthorization Act - Authorizes appropriations for port security grants. Amends the SAFE Port Act to authorize appropriations for: (1) the automated targeting system for identifying and inspecting high-risk oceanborne container cargo; (2) the Container Security Initiative; and (3) the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). Permits: (1) unannounced inspections of a C-TPAT participant's security measures; and (2) provision of voluntary supply chain security training. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a program to promote sharing of private sector security-related information. Requires the Secretary, prior to entering into an agreement between the United States and a foreign government providing for mutual recognition of supply chain security programs, to: (1) notify Congress of such agreement's terms; and (2) determine that the foreign government's program provides a C-TPAT level of security. Sets forth exemptions to the requirement that a container loaded on a vessel in a foreign port not be allowed into the United States unless it was scanned by nonintrusive imaging and radiation detection equipment prior to loading. Directs the Secretary to establish the America's Waterway Watch Program to promote voluntary public and industry recognition and reporting of suspected terrorist activity or suspicious behavior against a vessel, facility, port, or waterway. Directs the Secretary to provide for maritime and cargo security research and development, as well as a maritime and cargo security demonstration project. Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to provide a foreign government with port security and safety assistance.

Date: 2010-07-27
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Requires states, at a minimum, to cooperate with affected nonmetropolitan local officials responsible for transportation through regional transportation planning organizations to develop and implement long-range statewide transportation plans and statewide transportation improvement programs, with emphasis on addressing the transportation needs of nonmetropolitan areas of the state. Defines a regional transportation planning organization as a multi-jurisdictional organization composed of nonmetropolitan local officials (or their designees) and representatives of local transportation systems who all volunteer for such organization.

Date: 2010-08-05
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Fairness in Admiralty and Maritime Law Act - Expands a shipowner's liability to claims not subject to limitation to include: (1) personal injury claims; (2) wrongful death claims; and (3) claims relating to oil drilling or exploration or the discharge of oil from a vessel or offshore facility. Excepts the owner of a fishing vessel from such limitation for claims for personal injury or wrongful death, unless the claim involves the privity or knowledge of the owner. Allows punitive damages to be assessed without regard to the amount of compensatory damages assessed in a civil maritime action for damages arising out of a maritime tort, subject to exception. Amends the Death on the High Seas Act to permit the personal representative of a decedent to bring a civil action in admiralty or law (limited to admiralty under current law) against the person or vessel responsible for the decedent's death when the death was caused by wrongful act, neglect, or default occurring on the high seas beyond three nautical miles from the shore of the United States. Allows recovery in such an action for fair compensation for nonpecuniary loss (limited to pecuniary loss under current law), plus a fair compensation for the decedent's pain and suffering. Defines "nonpecuniary loss" as loss of care, comfort, and companionship. Amends provisions concerning commercial aviation accidents to include general aviation accidents. Amends the Jones Act to allow recovery for the loss of care, comfort, and companionship of a seaman in a claim by the seaman's representative relating to oil drilling or exploration or the discharge of oil when the seaman died as the result of such oil drilling or exploration or the discharge of oil.

Date: 2010-08-05
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Aviation Security Innovation & Reform Act of 2010 or AIR Act of 2010 - Directs the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Assistant Secretary) (Transportation Security Administration [TSA]) to prescribe employment standards for air carrier personnel and airport security personnel. (Under current law, the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security (Department of Transportation [DOT]) is required to prescribe such standards.) Revises security screening personnel training plan requirements to require the Assistant Secretary to establish a training plan for TSA Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) that: (1) ensures that TSO training is standardized; and (2) meets certain other requirements, including that each TSO receives training in basic security screening skills and criminal and antiterrorism awareness. Places the TSA, headed by the Assistant Secretary, under the administration of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (Effectively updates federal law to reflect the transfer of the TSA from DOT to DHS in March, 2003.) Establishes in the TSA the Office of Behavior Analysis, which shall provide behavior assessment training to TSA and other federal, state, and local government law enforcement personnel. Requires the Assistant Secretary to develop partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies to: (1) improve coordination of behavior detection activities; and (2) deploy TSOs specializing in techniques to identify high-risk individuals based on behavior patterns (behavior detection officers) to serve as an additional layer of security and to deter terrorism at train and bus stations and other infrastructure facilities. Directs the Assistant Secretary to: (1) provide a select group of behavior detection officers at Passengers by Observation Techniques airports with an appropriate level of security clearance to access law enforcement and intelligence databases, assist in verifying a passenger's identity, and assist in law enforcement operations; (2) require the TSA Transportation Security Operations Center to use all of the law enforcement and intelligence databases available when checking passengers at the law enforcement official referral level; and (3) standardize and streamline threat-reporting guidelines to allow behavior detection officers or other designated TSA officials to receive Center information in a timely manner. Directs the Assistant Secretary to continue the standardization of TSA security and personnel procedures at U.S. airports. Requires the Assistant Secretary to deploy: (1) behavior detection officers to National Special Security Events designated by the DHS Secretary; and (2) Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams at passenger rail facilities to enhance security and cross-training opportunities for behavior detection officers. Directs the Assistant Secretary to establish an electronic medium through which TSOs and behavior detection officers may anonymously submit feedback regarding TSA transportation security programs or management issues.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to study and report to specified congressional committees on the potential impact on consumers of increasing the amount of ethanol blended with gasoline or other petroleum products for use as fuel for internal combustion engines. Directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to study and report to specified congressional committees on whether the use of ethanol-gasoline blends of more than 10% by volume ethanol in motor vehicles will have an adverse impact on tailpipe emissions, exhaust temperatures, catalytic converters, and motor vehicle engine performance and durability. Declares the sense of Congress that federal departments and agencies should withhold from approving any increase in the use of ethanol or ethanol-gasoline blends as fuel for internal combustion engines until 30 days after both such reports have been submitted.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Commerce
Authorizes the state of Ohio to use (reprogram) grant funds received from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for intercity passenger rail service capital projects, pursuant to appropriations under title XII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, for any other transportation projects.

Date: 2010-11-29
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Clean Ports Act of 2011 - Declares that federal preemption of state and local law relating to a price, route, or service of any motor carrier of property shall not apply to the authority of a state, local government, or the political authority of two or more states to adopt requirements for motor carriers providing services at port facilities that are reasonably related to the reduction of environmental pollution, traffic congestion, the improvement of highway safety, or the efficient utilization of such port facilities, provided adoption or enforcement of such requirements does not conflict with federal law. Declares that nothing in this Act shall limit the rights reserved to any state or political subdivision of such state under the Clean Air Act.

Date: 2011-02-09
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Surface Transportation Safety Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to modify certain federal regulations to: (1) allow fire services personnel to wear high visibility apparel meeting certain requirements, and (2) ensure that positive protective measures (including temporary longitudinal traffic barriers) are used to separate workers on highway construction projects from motorized traffic. Directs the Secretary to approve the use of federal-aid highway funds by a state for patented or proprietary items that further the goals of state strategic highway safety plans. Revises requirements for the highway safety improvement program to count installation, replacement, and upgrade of highway signs and pavement markings as a highway safety improvement project. Authorizes: (1) states to obligate highway safety improvement program funds apportioned to them for projects to maintain minimum levels of retroreflectivity in highway signs or pavement markings on public roads, whether or not such projects are included in state plans; and (2) a federal share of costs of 100% for such projects. Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out a program to improve traffic signs and pavement markings for older drivers and pedestrians in all states; (2) review the safety of all highway-rail grade crossings in the United States and, based on such review, compile a list of the ten highway-rail grade crossings having the greatest need for safety improvements; (3) establish a national database of information on the safety of highway-rail grade crossings in the United States; and (4) allocate $20 million to each state with a population density of less than 20 persons per square mile for each fiscal year beginning with FY2011 for rural highway safety improvement projects.

Date: 2011-02-28
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
American Shipping Reinvestment Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal shipping investment withdrawal tax rules; and (2) allow U.S. corporate shareholders an election to deduct dividends attributable to foreign base company shipping income received from a controlled foreign corporation.

Date: 2011-03-11
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Taxation
Requires the Commandant of the Coast Guard to convey the decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter STORIS to the Storis Museum, a nonprofit entity of Juneau, Alaska, provided that the Museum agrees to enumerated conditions.

Date: 2011-03-29
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the alternative tax on qualifying shipping activities to treat a corporation electing such tax as continuing to use a qualifying vessel in the U.S. foreign trade during any period of use in the U.S. domestic trade, thus eliminating the 30 day limitation on operating in U.S. domestic trade under current law.

Date: 2011-03-30
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Taxation
Short Sea Shipping Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the harbor maintenance tax commercial cargo (other than bulk cargo) loaded at: (1) a port in the U.S. mainland and unloaded at another such port after transport solely by coastal route or river or unloaded at a port in Canada located in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System, or (2) such a port in Canada and unloaded at a port in the U.S. mainland. Defines the "Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System" as the waterway between Duluth, Minnesota, and Nova Scotia, encompassing the five Great Lakes, their connecting channels, and the Saint Lawrence River.

Date: 2011-04-14
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Taxation
Putting Our Resources Toward Security (PORTS) Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, between FY2012-FY2016, to increase the number of full-time Customs and Border Protection officers, agriculture specialists, and border security support personnel for U.S. ports of entry by not fewer than 5,000, 1,200, and 350, respectively, above the number of such personnel for which funds were made available during FY2010.Authorizes appropriations to the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) for each of FY2012-FY2016 to make improvements to existing U.S. ports of entry to improve border security. Directs the Administrator to give priority to ports determined to be in most need of repair in accordance with required infrastructure assessment studies.

Date: 2011-04-14
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Emergency management
Marine Corps Aviation Centennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, during the one-year period beginning on January 1, 2015, to mint and issue up to 100,000 $10 coins emblematic of the warrior ethos of the U.S. Marine Corps. Requires all coin sales to include a $35 surcharge, and all surcharges received to be paid promptly to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation for construction of the Marine Corps Heritage Center.

Date: 2011-04-15
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Older Driver and Pedestrian Safety and Roadway Enhancement Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to implement a roadway safety enhancement program for older drivers and pedestrians to: (1) improve roadway safety infrastructure in states that is consistent with recommendations of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the "Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians," and (2) achieve significant reductions in roadway fatalities and serious injuries among drivers and pedestrians 65 years old or older on all public roads. Sets forth project eligibility requirements and project identification and selection priorities. Requires the Secretary to finalize revision of the Handbook for publication. Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) to repeal its program for roadway safety improvements for older drivers and pedestrians. Requires the Secretary to: (1) appoint a Special Assistant for Older Driver and Pedestrian Safety within the Office of the Secretary; and (2) establish national goals for increasing driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety for persons 65 years old or older. Requires the Secretary to revise the manual on uniform traffic control devices to include a standard for a minimum level of retroreflectivity for pavement markings on all public roads.

Date: 2011-05-05
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Notice of Arrival Act or NOA Act - Amends the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 to require a notice of arrival (NOA) on the Outer Continental Shelf from certain U.S. documented vessels only if they arrive from a foreign port or place.

Date: 2011-05-11
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
United States Ferry Systems Investment Act of 2011 - Makes funds available from the Highway Trust Fund to the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) for FY2012-FY2018 for construction of ferry vessels and ferry terminal facilities. Revises general requirements and the formula for the allocation of such funds to ferry systems and public entities responsible for developing ferries. Includes ferries within the federal clean fuels grant program. Directs the Secretary to establish within the Department of Transportation (DOT) a Ferry Joint Program Office to: (1) coordinate federal programs affecting ferry vessel and ferry facility construction, maintenance, operations, and security; and (2) promote ferry service as a component of the U.S. transportation system. Requires the Secretary to: (1) ensure that the national ferry database is consistent with the national transit database maintained by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA); and (2) award a grant to a college to establish a National Ferry Transportation Institute for research, development, and training programs relating to U.S. ferry transportation systems.

Date: 2011-05-12
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Creating and Restoring U.S. Investment and Stimulating Employment Act - Exempts from certain provisions limiting the transportation of passengers by a passenger vessel between U.S. coastwise trading ports or places those voyages: (1) that are over 24 hours in duration, (2) that are at least partly on the high seas, and (3) in which passengers embark or disembark in the United States (including any U.S. commonwealth or territory). Excludes from the existing definition of "passenger vessel": (1) public vessels, (2) vessels owned or operated by a state or local government, or (3) vessels used on a regular schedule to provide transportation only between particular places and to transport only passengers or vehicles or railroad cars used in transporting passengers or goods.

Date: 2011-07-08
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Border Security Technology Innovation Act of 2011 - Directs the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that any federal government interagency or intra-agency agreement entered into by the Under Secretary to develop and transition new technology explicitly characterizes the requirements, expected use, and concept of operations for that technology. Changes the termination date for DHS's Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee to December 31, 2014.Directs the Comptroller General to assess the basic science research needs in the border and maritime security domain.Requires: (1) the Secretary of DHS and the Director of the Joint Planning and Development Office to continue to research and develop technologies to permit routine operation of unmanned aerial vehicles, including autonomously piloted drones, within the national airspace for border and maritime security missions without any degradation of existing levels of safety for all national airspace system users; (2) the Secretary to coordinate with the Director to enter into pilot projects in designated test ranges in sparsely populated, low-density air traffic airspace to conduct research, experiments, and data collection in order to accelerate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system as part of that Office's research activities; (3) the Under Secretary to continue to research and develop technologies to permit detection of near surface voids, such as tunnels, with an emphasis on technologies with real time capability; and (4) the Secretary to coordinate with other federal agencies and ensure the integration of such activities with relevant efforts of such other agencies and DHS's Centers of Excellence Program.Directs the Under Secretary, in coordination with: (1) the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to continue a joint research and development program on anti-counterfeit technologies and standards; and (2) the Commissioner of United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to continue research on the use of mobile biometric technology at the nation's borders between the ports of entry.

Date: 2011-07-08
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Emergency management
Piracy Suppression Act of 2011 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Revised Statutes to subject any person who commits an act of piracy to the penalty of death or imprisonment for life. Defines "act of piracy" to mean any: (1) illegal act of violence, detention, or depredation, committed by the crew or passengers of a vessel against a vessel, person, or property on the high seas or in any other place outside the jurisdiction of a state (including inciting or facilitating such an act of piracy); and (2) any voluntary act of participation in the operation of a vessel with knowledge that it is a pirate ship. (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to seek reimbursement from a foreign country for the cost of U.S. action to protect or defend foreign-flagged vessels of the country from a pirate attack, including the cost of U.S. action to deter the attack. Authorizes the waiver of such costs under certain circumstances. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to establish a training program for U.S. mariners on the use of force against pirates. (Sec. 5) Directs the DOT Secretary to require each federal agency responsible for the transport of equipment, materials, or commodities (government-impelled cargo) by U.S. vessels to provide armed personnel aboard such vessels while transiting high-risk waters. Requires each agency to reimburse vessel owners or operators for the cost of providing armed personnel. (Sec. 6) Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on efforts to track ransom payments paid to pirates operating in the waters off Somalia and improve their prosecution.

Date: 2011-09-02
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Suspected Maritime Activities Reporting of Terrorism Immunity Act or the SMART Immunity Act - Amends the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to provide immunity for reporting or responding to any suspicious transaction, activity, or occurrence that involves or is directed against a vessel, facility, port, or waterway and that indicates an individual may be engaging in a violation of law relating to a threat or an act of terrorism against the vessel, facility, port, or waterway, whether or not a passenger is threatened.

Date: 2011-09-07
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Polar Protection Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard (CG) is operating to use competitive procedures to enter into leases of at least 10 years for 2 polar icebreakers that meet the CG's maritime responsibilities in the Arctic and certain other requirements.

Date: 2011-10-05
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) it is urgent that the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) application process be reformed by the end of 2012, (2) the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) should promulgate final regulations to require the deployment of TWIC readers as soon as practicable to ensure security, and (3) Port Security Grant Program funds for TWIC projects shall not expire before issuance of the final TWIC reader rule. Directs the Secretary to reform the process for the enrollment, activation, issuance, and renewal of a TWIC to require not more than one in-person visit to a designated enrollment center, except in cases in which there are extenuating circumstances requiring more than one such in-person visit.

Date: 2011-10-12
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Emergency management
American Mariners Job Protection Act - Amends federal shipping laws that require a determination by the Administrator of the Maritime Administration regarding the non-availability of qualified U.S. flag capacity to meet national defense requirements before the head of an agency responsible for the administration of navigation or vessel-inspection laws is authorized on its own initiative to waive compliance with such laws when it considers it necessary in the interest of national defense. Requires the Administrator, in making such determinations, to: (1) identify any actions that could be taken to enable such flag capacity to meet the national defense requirements, (2) provide each such determination to the Secretary of Transportation and the head of the agency for which the determination is made, and (3) publish each such determination on the Internet site of the Department of Transportation (DOT) within 48 hours after it is provided to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to notify Congress of any waiver requests or issuances. Requires the notification of the issuance of a waiver to include the reasons why: (1) the waiver is necessary, and (2) specified actions are not feasible.

Date: 2011-10-14
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
America's Cup Act of 2011 - Authorizes vessels operating in preparation for, or in connection with, the 34th America's Cup competition, that have been certified by the Administrator of the Maritime Administration to be eligible vessels, to position competing vessels and transport individuals, equipment, and supplies utilized for the staging, operations, or broadcast of the competition from and around U.S. ports. Deems such an eligibility certification to be conclusive evidence to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of the qualification of a vessel to participate in the competition. Subjects to specified penalties any vessel participating in the 34th America's Cup as a competing or supporting vessel that has not received an eligibility certification or that is not in compliance with provisions regarding coastwise endorsement to specified penalties.

Date: 2011-10-27
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Sports and recreation
Port Security Efficiency Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) or of any other department in which the Coast Guard is operating, in assessing the effectiveness of antiterrorism measures maintained at foreign ports and notifying foreign governments of any steps necessary to improve such antiterrorism measures, to treat an assessment conducted by a foreign government or international organization as an assessment by the Secretary, provided that the Secretary certifies that such assessment was conducted in accordance with procedures specified in existing port security laws. Allows the appropriate Secretary to enter into agreements with a foreign government or international organization under which: (1) such governments or organizations may conduct such assessments on behalf of the Secretary or share related information, and (2) the Secretary may conduct such assessments on behalf of such governments or organizations or share related information. Prohibits this Act from: (1) requiring the approprite Secretary to recognize an assessment conducted by a foreign government or international organization, or (2) limiting the discretion or ability of the Secretary to conduct such an assessment.

Date: 2011-10-27
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Emergency management
America's Cup Act of 2011 - Authorizes vessels operating in preparation for, or in connection with, the 34th America's Cup competition, that have been certified by the Administrator of the Maritime Administration to be eligible vessels, to position competing vessels and transport individuals, equipment, and supplies utilized for the staging, operations, or broadcast of the competition from and around U.S. ports. Deems such an eligibility certification to be conclusive evidence to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of the qualification of a vessel to participate in the competition. Subjects to specified penalties any vessel participating in the 34th America's Cup as a competing or supporting vessel that has not received an eligibility certification or that is not in compliance with provisions regarding coastwise endorsement.

Date: 2011-11-02
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Sports and recreation
America's Cup Act of 2011 - Authorizes eligible competing or supporting vessels operating only in preparation for, or in connection with, the 34th America's Cup commencing in 2011 in the United States to position competing vessels and transport individuals, equipment, and supplies for such competition in and around U.S. ports. Prohibits vessels from operating unless issued an Eligibility Certification from the Administrator of the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Subjects noncompliant vessels to certain penalties. Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the vessels: (1) M/V GEYSIR, (2) OCEAN VERITAS, and (3) LUNA. Authorizes issuance of a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for liquefying natural gas (LNG) tanker vessels: (1) LNG GEMINI, (2) LNG LEO, and (3) LNG VIRGO. Limits authorized coastwise trade for each vessel to the carriage of natural gas, as defined in the Deepwater Port Act of 1974. Prohibits a vessel transported in Dry Dock #2 (state of Alaska registration AIDEA FDD-2), if, during such transportation, such dock remains connected by a utility or other connecting line to pierside moorage, from being considered merchandise for purposes of certain coastwise trade requirements a vessel must otherwise meet before engaging in merchandise transportation.

Date: 2011-11-02
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Pirate Fishing Vessel Disposal Act of 2011 - Directs the head of a U.S. agency with administrative control over a forfeited vessel to transfer such vessel to the Commandant of the Coast Guard for use in live-fire sinking exercises if the Commandant determines that the vessel would be useful for such exercises. Requires, if a forfeited vessel is not transferred to or utilized by the Commandant for such exercises, that the forfeited vessel be transferred to or otherwise under the control of the Commandant, the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, or the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce, and be: (1) scrapped or recycled; (2) sold or donated to a developing nation for fisheries enforcement; or (3) donated to a not-for-profit institution or governmental agency for education, research, or other public interest purposes with an agreement that the vessel will never be utilized for illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing or related activities. Defines a "forfeited vessel" as a foreign or stateless vessel forfeited to the United States for engaging in specified illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing under any of the living marine resource statutes implemented by the Secretary of Commerce. Applies this Act to all forfeited vessels surrendered or seized and forfeited after September 1, 2011.

Date: 2011-11-17
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Port Security Grant Act of 2011 - Extends the authorization of appropriations for the port security grant program through FY2015.

Date: 2011-11-18
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Emergency management
Invest in American Jobs Act of 2011 - Revises Buy American requirements with respect to federal-aid highways, capital investment grants to support intercity passenger rail service (rail grants), and Amtrak, particularly the handling of waiver requests. Revises similar Buy American requirements with respect to public transportation, particularly rolling stock. Requires the cost of rolling stock components and subcomponents produced in the United States to increase from 60% in FY2012 by 10% annual increments up to 100% for FY2016 and ensuing fiscal years. Revises waiver requirements as well to mirror those for federal-aid highways. Applies the rail grant Buy American requirements under this Act to recipients of rail loans and loan guarantees with respect to railroad rehabilitation and improvement. Prescribes Buy American requirements for procurement of a facility or equipment under federal aviation programs similar to those for rolling stock. Requires the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to report annually to Congress on: (1) each project for which a waiver of Buy American requirements was issued; and (2) the country of origin and product specifications for steel, iron, or manufactured goods acquired pursuant to each waiver. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prescribe Buy American requirements for steel, iron, and manufactured goods used in the construction of a publicly owned wastewater treatment works. Adds similar Buy American requirements to the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, with respect to economic development programs, and to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, with respect to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Declares that only a vessel owned by a U.S. citizen for which a certificate of documentation with a registry endorsement is issued may engage in support of exploration, development, or production of resources in, on, above, or below the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), or any other activity in the EEZ, to the extent that the regulation of such activity is not prohibited under customary international law. Exempts from this requirement any activities requiring either a coastwise endorsement or a fishery endorsement. Subjects to U.S. shipping law any vessels operating in the EEZ, to the extent that the regulation of such operation is not prohibited under customary international law. Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to establish a program to provide Coast Guard personnel with the training necessary for implementation of U.S. shipping law in the EEZ.

Date: 2011-12-01
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Gauging American Port Security Act or the GAPS Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) conduct a study of gaps in U.S. port security and submit to Congress a report (in classified form but with an unclassified annex) that includes a prioritization of such gaps and a plan for addressing them; (2) share relevant information with designated points of contact from federal agencies, state, local, or tribal governments, and port system owners and operators in accordance with rules for the handling of classified information; and (3) help expedite the clearance process if a designated point of contact does not have the necessary security clearance to receive such information.

Date: 2012-02-09
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Emergency management
Mille Lacs Lake Freedom To Fish Act of 2012 - Exempts from certain federal vessel licensing and safety inspection requirements owners or operators of vessels operating on Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota.

Date: 2012-05-17
Topic: Transportation (Maritime)
Subject: Transportation and public works