[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6140 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>





                                                 Union Calendar No. 644
118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6140

                          [Report No. 118-779]

   To facilitate access to swiftly transport goods during a publicly 
                announced state of emergency situation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 1, 2023

 Mr. Ezell (for himself, Mr. Garamendi, and Mr. Balderson) introduced 
      the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                   Transportation and Infrastructure

                           November 26, 2024

Additional sponsors: Mr. Carson, Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon, Ms. 
                    Davids of Kansas, and Mr. Lawler

                           November 26, 2024

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
    [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
                           November 1, 2023]


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To facilitate access to swiftly transport goods during a publicly 
                announced state of emergency situation.


 


    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 ``Facilitating Access to Swiftly 
Transport Goods during a Publicly Announced State of Emergency 
Situation Act'' or the ``FAST PASS Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY ON CRITICAL CARGO.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall initiate a study 
to examine--
            (1) efforts to expedite the movement of critical cargo 
        through ports and marine terminals; and
            (2) methodologies, practices, and processes for moving such 
        cargo during an event for which an emergency is declared by the 
        President or a Federal agency.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall examine methodologies, practices, and processes for--
            (1) identifying critical cargo and expediting the movement 
        of such cargo through the marine terminals and ports;
            (2) expediting the movement of critical cargo across all 
        modes of transportation after leaving marine terminals and 
        ports; and
            (3) mitigating the impact on the movement of other cargo 
        that is not critical.
    (c) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall consult with--
            (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and
            (2) other relevant Federal agencies.
    (d) Request for Information.--The Secretary shall issue a request 
for information in the Federal Register seeking public comment on the 
matters to be considered in the study required under subsection (a).
    (e) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report containing--
            (1) the findings of the study conducted under subsection 
        (a); and
            (2) recommendations for methodologies, practices, and 
        processes described in such subsection, including 
        recommendations for using data from commercial and government 
        data tracking initiatives to--
                    (A) determine when cargo is critical and needs to 
                be expedited;
                    (B) identify such critical cargo at port and marine 
                terminals; and
                    (C) expedite the movement and distribution of such 
                cargo to end users.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Voluntary Pilot Programs.--In conducting the study required 
under section 2, the Secretary may establish 1 or more voluntary pilot 
programs to test the effectiveness of methodologies, practices, and 
processes for expediting the movement of critical cargo through ports 
and marine terminals.
    (b) Limitations.--The Secretary may only establish a pilot program 
under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that the pilot program 
does not--
            (1) allow for the purchase of any fully automated cargo 
        handling equipment that is remotely operated or remotely 
        monitored with or without the exercise of human intervention or 
        control; or
            (2) result in a net loss of jobs within a port or port 
        terminal.

SEC. 4. SAVINGS CLAUSE.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to interfere with or 
supersede any port labor agreements.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 644

118th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 6140

                          [Report No. 118-779]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To facilitate access to swiftly transport goods during a publicly 
                announced state of emergency situation.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           November 26, 2024

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed