[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1870 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1870
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 21, 2021
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize
strengthening of local transportation security capabilities by
assigning certain officers and intelligence analysts to State, local,
and regional fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface
transportation asset and improving the timely sharing of information
regarding threats of terrorism and other threats, including targeted
violence, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Local Transportation
Security Capabilities Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Domestic terrorism.--The term ``domestic terrorism''
has the meaning given such term in section 2331 of title 18,
United States Code.
(2) International terrorism.--The term ``international
terrorism'' has the meaning given such term in section 2331 of
title 18, United States Code.
(3) Public and private sector stakeholders.--The term
``public and private sector stakeholders'' has the meaning
given such term in section 114(u)(1)(c) of title 49, United
States Code.
(4) Surface transportation asset.--The term ``surface
transportation asset'' includes facilities, equipment, or
systems used to provide transportation services by--
(A) a public transportation agency (as such term is
defined in section 1402(5) of the Implementing
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007
(Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1131(5)));
(B) a railroad carrier (as such term is defined in
section 20102(3) of title 49, United States Code);
(C) an owner or operator of--
(i) an entity offering scheduled, fixed-
route transportation services by over-the-road
bus (as such term is defined in section 1501(4)
of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6
U.S.C. 1151(4))); or
(ii) a bus terminal; or
(D) other transportation facilities, equipment, or
systems, as determined by the Secretary.
(5) Targeted violence.--The term ``targeted violence''
means an incident of violence in which an attacker selected a
particular target in order to inflict mass injury or death with
no discernable political or ideological motivation beyond mass
injury or death.
(6) Terrorism.--The term ``terrorism'' means domestic
terrorism and international terrorism.
SEC. 3. THREAT INFORMATION SHARING.
(a) Prioritization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts under
section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h) from
the Transportation Security Administration and, as appropriate, from
the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland
Security, to locations with participating State, local, and regional
fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation
asset in order to enhance the security of such assets, including by
improving timely sharing, in a manner consistent with the protection of
privacy rights, civil rights, and civil liberties, of information
regarding threats of terrorism and other threats, including targeted
violence.
(b) Intelligence Products.--Officers and intelligence analysts
assigned to locations with participating State, local, and regional
fusion centers under this section shall participate in the generation
and dissemination of transportation security intelligence products,
with an emphasis on such products that relate to threats of terrorism
and other threats, including targeted violence, to surface
transportation assets that--
(1) assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement
agencies in deploying their resources, including personnel,
most efficiently to help detect, prevent, investigate,
apprehend, and respond to such threats;
(2) promote more consistent and timely sharing with and
among jurisdictions of threat information; and
(3) enhance the Department of Homeland Security's
situational awareness of such threats.
(c) Clearances.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make
available to appropriate owners and operators of surface transportation
assets, and to any other person that the Secretary determines
appropriate to foster greater sharing of classified information
relating to threats of terrorism and other threats, including targeted
violence, to surface transportation assets, the process of application
for security clearances under Executive Order No. 13549 (75 Fed. Reg.
162; relating to a classified national security information program) or
any successor Executive order.
(d) GAO Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate a review of the implementation of this section,
together with any recommendations to improve information sharing with
State, local, Tribal, territorial, and private sector entities to
prevent, identify, and respond to threats of terrorism and other
threats, including targeted violence, to surface transportation assets.
SEC. 4. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SECURITY TRAINING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with public and private sector stakeholders, may in a
manner consistent with the protection of privacy rights, civil rights,
and civil liberties, develop, through the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Centers, a training program to enhance the protection,
preparedness, and response capabilities of law enforcement agencies
with respect to threats of terrorism and other threats, including
targeted violence, at a surface transportation asset.
(b) Requirements.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security develops
the training program described in subsection (a), such training program
shall--
(1) be informed by current information regarding tactics
used by terrorists and others engaging in targeted violence;
(2) include tactical instruction tailored to the diverse
nature of the surface transportation asset operational
environment; and
(3) prioritize training officers from law enforcement
agencies that are eligible for or receive grants under sections
2003 or 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 604
and 605) and officers employed by railroad carriers that
operate passenger service, including interstate passenger
service.
Passed the House of Representatives July 20, 2021.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.