September 7, 2006 - Issue: Vol. 152, No. 109 — Daily Edition109th Congress (2005 - 2006) - 2nd Session
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TEXT OF AMENDMENTS; Congressional Record Vol. 152, No. 109
(Senate - September 07, 2006)
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[Pages S9194-S9209] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] TEXT OF AMENDMENTS SA 4907. Mr. CONRAD (for himself, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Menendez, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Obama, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Leahy) proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows: On page 230, beginning on line 15, strike ``$19,265,000'' and all that follows through line 16 and insert the following: ``$219,265,000, to remain available until September 30, 2008: Provided, That $200,000,000 of such funds is available only for a unit dedicated to bringing to justice Osama bin Laden and other key leaders of al Qaeda: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall, not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, submit to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a classified report on progress made by the operations in the global war on terrorism for which funding is provided in this Act, including an assessment of the likely current location of terrorist leaders, including Osama bin Laden and other key leaders of al Qaeda, a description of ongoing efforts to bring to justice such terrorists, a description of the cooperation provided by the governments of any countries assessed as likely locations of top leaders of al Qaeda and by other relevant countries, a description of diplomatic efforts currently being made to improve the cooperation of any such governments, and a description of the status of, and strategy for bringing to justice, perpetrators of terrorism including the top leadership of al Qaeda: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall prepare such reports in consultation with other appropriate officials with regard to funds appropriated under this chapter: Provided further, That the amount provided under this heading is designated as making appropriations for contingency operations directly related to the global war on terrorism, and other unanticipated defense- related operations, pursuant to section 402 of H. Con. Res. 376 (109th Congress), as made applicable to the House of Representatives by H. Res. 818 (109th Congress) and is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of S. Con. Res. 83 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007, as made applicable in the Senate by section 7035 of Public Law 109- 234.'' ______ SA 4908. Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. Clinton) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title VIII, add the following: Sec. 8109. Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made available by title IV under the heading ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force'', up to $1,000,000 may be available for the Environment Systems, Management, Analysis, and Reporting Network (E-SMART) threat analysis program. ______ SA 4909. Mr. MENENDEZ proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows: At the end of title VIII, add the following: Sec. 8019. (a) Prohibition on Use of Funds for Certain Public Relations Activities.--None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be obligated or expended for a public relations program designed to monitor news media in the United States and the Middle East and create a database of news stories to promote positive coverage of the war in Iraq. (b) Scope.--The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to programs and activities of the Department of Defense directed at collecting or analyzing information in the news media. ______ SA 4910. Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. Obama) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title IX, add the following: Sec. 9012. (a) Congress makes the following findings: (1) Despite the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement on May 5, 2006, the violence in Darfur, Sudan, continues to escalate and threatens to spread to other areas of Sudan and throughout the region. (2) The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) currently serves as the primary security force in Sudan, but is undermanned and under-equipped. (3) Although the United Nations has approved sending a peacekeeping force to Darfur, the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) will need to expand its manpower and capability in order to assist or serve as a bridge force until the United Nations peacekeeping force can be deployed. (b) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by chapter 2 of this title under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'' is hereby increased by $20,000,000. (c) Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made available by chapter 2 of this title under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', as increased by subsection (b), $20,000,000 may be available-- (1) to assist in the training, support, and equipping of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to bolster its efforts to protect the civilian population in Darfur; (2) to facilitate the air-lifting of AMIS forces into the Darfur region as quickly as possible; and (3) to assist and expand the logistics capability of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). (d) The Secretary of Defense may transfer funds made available under subsection (b) to other appropriations to accomplish the purposes of this section. This transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense. The Secretary shall, not fewer than five days prior to making transfers from this appropriation account, notify the congressional defense committees in writing of the details of any such transfer. ______ SA 4911. Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Bayh, and Mr. Dorgan) proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows: At the end of title IX, add the following: Sec. 9012. (a) Additional Amount for Aircraft Procurement, Air Force.--The amount appropriated by chapter 3 of this title under the heading ``Aircraft Procurement, Air Force'' is hereby increased by $65,400,000, with the amount of the increase designated as appropriations for contingency operations directly related to the Global War on Terrorism, and other unanticipated defense-related operations, pursuant to section 402 of H. Con. Res. 376 (109th Congress), as made applicable to the House of Representatives by H. Con. Res. 818 (109th Congress) and designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of S. Con. Res. 83 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007, as made applicable in the Senate by Section 7035 of Public Law 109-234. (b) Availability for Procurement of Predators.--Of the amount appropriated by chapter 3 of this title under the heading ``Aircraft Procurement, Air Force'' as increased by subsection (a), up to $65,400,000 may be available for procurement of Predators for Special Operations forces. (c) Supplement Not Supplant.--The amount available under subsection (b) for the purpose specified in that subsection is in addition to any other amounts available in this Act for that purpose. ______ SA 4912. Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. Obama, Mrs. Clinton, and Mr. Durbin) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows: At the end of title IX, add the following: Sec. 9012. (a) Congress makes the following findings: (1) Despite the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement on May 5, 2006, the violence in Darfur, Sudan, continues to escalate and threatens to spread to other areas of Sudan and throughout the region. ______ SA 4913. Mrs. BOXER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows: At the end of title IX, add the following: Sec. 9012. (a) Report on Contingency Planning in the Event of Civil War in Iraq.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report setting forth the contingency plans of the Department of Defense to protect United States [[Page S9195]] military and civilian personnel in the event of a civil war in Iraq. (b) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) may be submitted in classified form. (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means-- (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on International Relations, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. ______ SA 4914. Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Burns, Mr. Dorgan, and Mr. Wyden) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: On page 230, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR For an additional amount for ``Wildland Fire Management'' under the heading ``DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR'' of title I of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-54), $100,000,000 for the conduct of emergency wildfire suppression activities of the Secretary of the Interior, to be made available beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and to remain available until expended: Provided, That the amount provided under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of S. Con. Res. 83 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007, as made applicable in the Senate by section 7035 of Public Law 109-234. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE For an additional amount for ``Wildland Fire Management'' under the heading ``DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'' of title III of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-54), $175,000,000 for the conduct of emergency wildfire suppression activities of the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to be made available beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and to remain available until expended: Provided, That the amount provided under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of S. Con. Res. 83 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007, as made applicable in the Senate by section 7035 of Public Law 109-234. ______ SA 4915. Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Burns, Mr. Dorgan, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Reid, and Mr. Salazar) proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows: On page 230, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR For an additional amount for ``Wildland Fire Management'' under the heading ``DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR'' of title I of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-54), $100,000,000 for the conduct of emergency wildfire suppression activities of the Secretary of the Interior. Provided, That the amount provided under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of S. Con. Res. 83 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007, as made applicable in the Senate by section 7035 of Public Law 109- 234. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE For an additional amount for ``Wildland Fire Management'' under the heading ``DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'' of title III of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-54), $175,000,000 for the conduct of emergency wildfire suppression activities of the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service: Provided, That the amount provided under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of S. Con. Res. 83 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007, as made applicable in the Senate by section 7035 of Public Law 109-234. ______ SA 4916. Mr. STEVENS (for Mr. Cochran) proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows: At the end of title VIII, add the following: Sec. 8109. Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made available by title IV under the heading ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy'', up to $300,000 may be available for independent testing of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Neutralizer III, with such test to be designed and conducted by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. (2) The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) currently serves as the primary security force in Sudan, but is undermanned and underequipped. (3) Although the United Nations has approved sending a peacekeeping force to Darfur, the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) will need to expand its manpower and capability in order to assist or serve as a bridge force until the United Nations peacekeeping force can be deployed. (b) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by chapter 2 of this title under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'' is hereby increased by $20,000,000. (c) Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made available by chapter 2 of this title under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', as increased by subsection (b), $20,000,000 may be available-- (1) to assist in the training, support, and equipping of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to bolster its efforts to protect the civilian population in Darfur; (2) to facilitate the air-lifting of AMIS forces into the Darfur region as quickly as possible; and (3) to assist and expand the logistics capability of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). (d) The amount made available by subsection (b) is designated as appropriations for contingency operations directly related to the global war on terrorism, and other unanticipated defense-related operations, pursuant to section 402 of H. Con. Res. 376 (109th Congress), as made applicable to the House of Representatives by H. Res. 818 (109th Congress) and is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of S. Con. Res. 83 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007, as made applicable in the Senate by section 7035 of Public Law 109-234. (e) The Secretary of Defense may transfer funds made available by subsection (b) to other appropriations to accomplish the purposes of this section. This transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense. The Secretary shall, not fewer than five days prior to making transfers from this appropriation account, notify the congressional defense committees in writing of the details of any such transfer. ______ SA 4917. Mr. STEVENS proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows: At the end of title VIII, add the following: Sec. 8109. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Army may reimburse a member for expenses incurred by the member or family member when such expenses are otherwise not reimbursable under law: Provided, That such expenses must have been incurred in good faith as a direct consequence of reasonable preparation for, or execution of, military orders: Provided further, That reimbursement under this section shall be allowed only in situations wherein other authorities are insufficient to remedy a hardship determined by the Secretary, and only when the Secretary determines that reimbursement of the expense is in the best interest of the member and the United States: Provided further, That this provision shall only apply to soldiers assigned to the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. ______ SA 4918. Mr. STEVENS proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows: At the end of title VIII, add the following: Sec. 8109. Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made available by title IV under the heading ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide'' for DARPA Management Headquarters, up to $1,000,000 may be available for the Heavy Fuel Diesel Engine (PE #0603286E). ______ SA 4919. Mr. FRIST (for himself, Mr. Reid, Ms. Collins, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Allen) proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 4954, to improve maritime and cargo security through enhanced layered defenses, and for other purposes; as follows: Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Port Security Improvement Act of 2006''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. [[Page S9196]] TITLE I--SECURITY OF UNITED STATES SEAPORTS Subtitle A--General Provisions Sec. 101. Area Maritime Transportation Security Plan to include salvage response plan. Sec. 102. Requirements relating to maritime facility security plans. Sec. 103. Unannounced inspections of maritime facilities. Sec. 104. Transportation security card. Sec. 105. Long-range vessel tracking. Sec. 106. Establishment of interagency operational centers for port security. Subtitle B--Port Security Grants; Training and Exercise Programs Sec. 111. Port security grants. Sec. 112. Port Security Training Program. Sec. 113. Port Security Exercise Program. Subtitle C--Port Operations Sec. 121. Domestic radiation detection and imaging. Sec. 122. Port security user fee study. Sec. 123. Inspection of car ferries entering from Canada. Sec. 124. Random searches of containers. Sec. 125. Work stoppages and employee-employer disputes. TITLE II--SECURITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN Subtitle A--General Provisions Sec. 201. Strategic plan to enhance the security of the international supply chain. Sec. 202. Post incident resumption of trade. Sec. 203. Automated Targeting System. Sec. 204. Container security standards and procedures. Sec. 205. Container Security Initiative. Subtitle B--Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Sec. 211. Establishment. Sec. 212. Eligible entities. Sec. 213. Minimum requirements. Sec. 214. Tier 1 participants in C-TPAT. Sec. 215. Tier 2 participants in C-TPAT. Sec. 216. Tier 3 participants in C-TPAT. Sec. 217. Consequences for lack of compliance. Sec. 218. Revalidation. Sec. 219. Noncontainerized cargo. Sec. 220. C-TPAT Program management. Sec. 221. Resource management staffing plan. Sec. 222. Additional personnel. Sec. 223. Authorization of appropriations. Sec. 224. Report to Congress. Subtitle C--Miscellaneous Provisions Sec. 231. Pilot integrated scanning system. Sec. 232. International cooperation and coordination. TITLE III--ADMINISTRATION Sec. 301. Office of Cargo Security Policy. Sec. 302. Reauthorization of Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee. Sec. 303. Research, development, test, and evaluation efforts in furtherance of maritime and cargo security. TITLE IV--AGENCY RESOURCES AND OVERSIGHT Sec. 401. Office of International Trade. Sec. 402. Resources. Sec. 403. Negotiations. Sec. 404. International Trade Data System. Sec. 405. In-bond cargo. Sec. 406. Sense of the Senate. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--Except as otherwise defined, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Finance of the Senate; (D) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; (E) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; (F) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; (G) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and (H) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives. (2) Commercial seaport personnel.--The term ``commercial seaport personnel'' means any person engaged in an activity relating to the loading or unloading of cargo, the movement or tracking of cargo, the maintenance and repair of intermodal equipment, the operation of cargo-related equipment (whether or not integral to the vessel), and the handling of mooring lines on the dock when a vessel is made fast or let go, in the United States or the coastal waters of the United States. (3) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means the Commissioner responsible for the United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security. (4) Container.--The term ``container'' has the meaning given the term in the International Convention for Safe Containers, with annexes, done at Geneva, December 2, 1972 (29 UST 3707). (5) Container security device.--The term ``container security device'' means a device or system designed, at a minimum, to detect the unauthorized intrusion of a container and secure containers against tampering or compromise throughout the international supply chain. (6) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the Department of Homeland Security. (7) Examination.--The term ``examination'' means an inspection of cargo to detect the presence of misdeclared, restricted, or prohibited items that utilizes nonintrusive imaging and detection technology. (8) Inspection.--The term ``inspection'' means the comprehensive process used by the United States Customs and Border Protection to assess goods entering the United States to appraise them for duty purposes, to detect the presence of restricted or prohibited items, and to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. The process may include screening, conducting an examination, or conducting a search. (9) International supply chain.--The term ``international supply chain'' means the end-to-end process for shipping goods to or from the United States from a point of origin (including manufacturer, supplier, or vendor) through a point of distribution. (10) Radiation detection equipment.--The term ``radiation detection equipment'' means any technology that is capable of detecting or identifying nuclear and radiological material or nuclear and radiological explosive devices. (11) Scan.--The term ``scan'' means utilizing nonintrusive imaging equipment, radiation detection equipment, or both, to capture data, including images of a container. (12) Screening.--The term ``screening'' means a visual or automated review of information about goods, including manifest or entry documentation accompanying a shipment being imported into the United States, to determine the presence of misdeclared, restricted, or prohibited items and assess the level of threat posed by such cargo. (13) Search.--The term ``search'' means an intrusive examination in which a container is opened and its contents are devanned and visually inspected for the presence of misdeclared, restricted, or prohibited items. (14) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Homeland Security. (15) Transportation disruption.--The term ``transportation disruption'' means any significant delay, interruption, or stoppage in the flow of trade caused by a natural disaster, labor dispute, heightened threat level, an act of terrorism, or any transportation security incident defined in section 70101(6) of title 46, United States Code. (16) Transportation security incident.--The term ``transportation security incident'' has the meaning given the term in section 70101(6) of title 46, United States Code. TITLE I--SECURITY OF UNITED STATES SEAPORTS Subtitle A--General Provisions SEC. 101. AREA MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECURITY PLAN TO INCLUDE SALVAGE RESPONSE PLAN. Section 70103(b)(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; (2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following: ``(F) include a salvage response plan-- ``(i) to identify salvage equipment capable of restoring operational trade capacity; and ``(ii) to ensure that the waterways are cleared and the flow of commerce through United States ports is reestablished as efficiently and quickly as possible after a maritime transportation security incident.''. SEC. 102. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO MARITIME FACILITY SECURITY PLANS. Section 70103(c) of title 46, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (3)-- (A) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking ``facility'' and inserting ``facility, including access by individuals engaged in the surface transportation of intermodal containers in or out of a port facility''; (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the end; (C) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (D) by adding at the end the following: ``(H) in the case of a security plan for a facility, be resubmitted for approval of each change in the ownership or operator of the facility that may substantially affect the security of the facility.''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(8)(A) The Secretary shall require that the qualified individual having full authority to implement security actions for a facility described in paragraph (2) shall be a citizen of the United States. ``(B) The Secretary may waive the requirement of subparagraph (A) with respect to an individual if the Secretary determines that it is appropriate to do so based on a complete background check of the individual and a review of all terrorist watch lists to ensure that the individual is not identified on any such terrorist watch list.''. SEC. 103. UNANNOUNCED INSPECTIONS OF MARITIME FACILITIES. Section 70103(c)(4)(D) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``(D) subject to the availability of appropriations, verify the effectiveness of each such facility security plan periodically, but not less than twice annually, at least 1 of which shall be an inspection of the facility that is conducted without notice to the facility.''. [[Page S9197]] SEC. 104. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CARD. (a) In General.--Section 70105 of title 46, United States, Code is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(g) Applications for Merchant Mariner's Documents.--The Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for the Transportation Security Administration and the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall concurrently process an application from an individual for merchant mariner's documents under chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, and an application from that individual for a transportation security card under this section. ``(h) Fees.--The Secretary shall ensure that the fees charged each individual obtaining a transportation security card under this section who has passed a background check under section 5103a of title 49, United States Code, and who has a current and valid hazardous materials endorsement in accordance with section 1572 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, and each individual with a current and valid Merchant Mariner Document-- ``(1) are for costs associated with the issuance, production, and management of the transportation security card, as determined by the Secretary; and ``(2) do not include costs associated with performing a background check for that individual, unless the scope of said background checks diverge. ``(i) Implementation Schedule.--In implementing the transportation security card program under this section, the Secretary shall-- ``(1) conduct a strategic risk analysis and establish a priority for each United States port based on risk; and ``(2) implement the program, based upon risk and other factors as determined by the Secretary, at all facilities regulated under this chapter at-- ``(A) the 10 United States ports that are deemed top priority by the Secretary not later than July 1, 2007; ``(B) the 40 United States ports that are next in order of priority to the ports described in subparagraph (A) not later than January 1, 2008; and ``(C) all other United States ports not later than January 1, 2009. ``(j) Transportation Security Card Processing Deadline.-- Not later than January 1, 2009, the Secretary shall process and issue or deny each application for a transportation security card under this section for individuals with current and valid merchant mariner's documents on the date of enactment of the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006. ``(k) Vessel and Facility Card Reader Assessments.-- ``(1) Pilot programs.-- ``(A) Vessel pilot program.--The Secretary shall conduct a pilot program in 3 distinct geographic locations to assess the feasibility of implementing card readers at secure areas of a vessel in accordance with the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released on May 22, 2006, (TSA-2006-24191; USCG- 2006-24196). ``(B) Facilities pilot program.--In addition to the pilot program described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall conduct a pilot program in 3 distinct geographic locations to assess the feasibility of implementing card readers at secure areas of facilities in a variety of environmental settings. ``(C) Coordination with transportation security cards.--The pilot programs described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be conducted concurrently with the issuance of the transportation security cards as described in subsection (b), of this section to ensure card and card reader interoperability. ``(2) Duration.--The pilot program described in paragraph (1) shall commence not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006 and shall terminate 1 year after commencement. ``(3) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the termination of the pilot program described under subparagraph (1), the Secretary shall submit a comprehensive report to the appropriate congressional committees (as defined in section 2(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(2)) that includes-- ``(A) the actions that may be necessary to ensure that all vessels and facilities to which this section applies are able to comply with the regulations promulgated under subsection (a); ``(B) recommendations concerning fees and a statement of policy considerations for alternative security plans; and ``(C) an analysis of the viability of equipment under the extreme weather conditions of the marine environment. ``(l) Progress Reports.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of the Port Security Improvement Act 2006 and every 6 months thereafter until the requirements under this section are fully implemented, the Secretary shall submit a report on progress being made in implementing such requirements to the appropriate congressional committees (as defined in section 2(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(2)).''. (b) Clarification of Eligibility for Transportation Security Cards.--Section 70105(b)(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in subparagraph (E); (2) by striking ``Secretary.'' in subparagraph (F) and inserting ``Secretary; and''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(G) other individuals as determined appropriate by the Secretary including individuals employed at a port not otherwise covered by this subsection.''. (c) Deadline for Section 70105 Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate final regulations implementing section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, no later than January 1, 2007. SEC. 105. LONG-RANGE VESSEL TRACKING. (a) Regulations.--Section 70115 of title 46, United States Code, is amended in the first sentence by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``Not later than April 1, 2007, the Secretary''. (b) Voluntary Program.--The Secretary may issue regulations to establish a voluntary long-range automated vessel tracking system for vessels described in section 70115 of title 46, United States Code, during the period before regulations are issued under such section. SEC. 106. ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERAGENCY OPERATIONAL CENTERS FOR PORT SECURITY. (a) In General.--Chapter 701 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 70107 the following: ``Sec. 70107A. Interagency operational centers for port security ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish interagency operational centers for port security at all high-priority ports not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006. ``(b) Characteristics.--The interagency operational centers established under this section shall-- ``(1) utilize, as appropriate, the compositional and operational characteristics of centers, including-- ``(A) the pilot project interagency operational centers for port security in Miami, Florida; Norfolk/Hampton Roads, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; San Diego, California; and ``(B) the virtual operation center of the Port of New York and New Jersey; ``(2) be organized to fit the security needs, requirements, and resources of the individual port area at which each is operating; ``(3) provide, as the Secretary determines appropriate, for participation by representatives of the United States Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and other Federal agencies, and State and local law enforcement or port security personnel, members of the Area Maritime Security Committee, and other public and private sector stakeholders; and ``(4) be incorporated in the implementation and administration of-- ``(A) maritime transportation security plans developed under section 70103; ``(B) maritime intelligence activities under section 70113 and information sharing activities consistent with section 1016 of the National Security Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485) and the Homeland Security Information Sharing Act (6 U.S.C. 481 et seq.); ``(C) short and long range vessel tracking under sections 70114 and 70115; ``(D) protocols under section 201(b)(10) of the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006; ``(E) the transportation security incident response plans required by section 70104; and ``(F) other activities, as determined by the Secretary. ``(c) Security Clearances.--The Secretary shall sponsor and expedite individuals participating in interagency operational centers in gaining or maintaining their security clearances. Through the Captain of the Port, the Secretary may identify key individuals who should participate. The port or other entities may appeal to the Captain of the Port for sponsorship.''. (b) 2005 Act Report Requirement.--Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section relieves the Commandant of the Coast Guard from complying with the requirements of section 807 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 (118 Stat. 1082). The Commandant shall utilize the information developed in making the report required by that section in carrying out the requirements of this section. (c) Budget and Cost-Sharing Analysis.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a proposed budget analysis for implementing section 70107A of title 46, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), including cost-sharing arrangements with other Federal departments and agencies involved in the interagency operation of the centers to be established under such section. (d) Clerical Amendment.--The chapter analysis for chapter 701 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 70107 the following: ``70107A. Interagency operational centers for port security.''. Subtitle B--Port Security Grants; Training and Exercise Programs SEC. 111. PORT SECURITY GRANTS. (a) Basis for Grants.--Section 70107(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking ``for making a fair and equitable allocation of funds'' and inserting ``for the allocation of funds based on risk''. (b) Multiple-Year Projects, etc.--Section 70107 of title 46, United States Code, is [[Page S9198]] amended by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) as subsections (i), (j), (k), (l), and (m), respectively, and by inserting after subsection (d) the following: ``(e) Multiple-Year Projects.-- ``(1) Letters of intent.--The Secretary may execute letters of intent to commit funding to such authorities, operators, and agencies. ``(2) Limitation.--Not more than 20 percent of the grant funds awarded under this subsection in any fiscal year may be awarded for projects that span multiple years. ``(f) Consistency With Plans.--The Secretary shall ensure that each grant awarded under subsection (e)-- ``(1) is used to supplement and support, in a consistent and coordinated manner, the applicable Area Maritime Transportation Security Plan; and ``(2) is coordinated with any applicable State or Urban Area Homeland Security Plan. ``(g) Applications.--Any entity subject to an Area Maritime Transportation Security Plan may submit an application for a grant under this subsection, at such time, in such form, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary, working through the Directorate for Preparedness, may require.''. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (l) of section 70107 of title 46, United States Code, as redesignated by subsection (b) is amended to read as follows: ``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated $400,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011 to carry out this section.''. SEC. 112. PORT SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Preparedness and in coordination with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, may establish a Port Security Training Program (referred to in this section as the ``Program'') for the purpose of enhancing the capabilities of each of the Nation's commercial seaports to prevent, prepare for, respond to, mitigate against, and recover from threatened or actual acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies. (b) Requirements.--The Program shall provide validated training that-- (1) reaches multiple disciplines, including Federal, State, and local government officials, commercial seaport personnel and management, and governmental and nongovernmental emergency response providers; (2) provides training at the awareness, performance, and management and planning levels; (3) utilizes multiple training mediums and methods; (4) addresses port security topics, including-- (A) seaport security plans and procedures, including how security plans and procedures are adjusted when threat levels increase; (B) seaport security force operations and management; (C) physical security and access control at seaports; (D) methods of security for preventing and countering cargo theft; (E) container security; (F) recognition and detection of weapons, dangerous substances, and devices; (G) operation and maintenance of security equipment and systems; (H) security threats and patterns; (I) security incident procedures, including procedures for communicating with governmental and nongovernmental emergency response providers; and (J) evacuation procedures; (5) is consistent with, and supports implementation of, the National Incident Management System, the National Response Plan, the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, the National Preparedness Guidance, the National Preparedness Goal, the National Maritime Transportation Security Plan, and other such national initiatives; (6) is evaluated against clear and consistent performance measures; (7) addresses security requirements under facility security plans; and (8) educates, trains, and involves populations of at-risk neighborhoods around ports, including training on an annual basis for neighborhoods to learn what to be watchful for in order to be a ``citizen corps'', if necessary. SEC. 113. PORT SECURITY EXERCISE PROGRAM. (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Preparedness and in coordination with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, may establish a Port Security Exercise Program (referred to in this section as the ``Program'') for the purpose of testing and evaluating the capabilities of Federal, State, local, and foreign governments, commercial seaport personnel and management, governmental and nongovernmental emergency response providers, the private sector, or any other organization or entity, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, to prevent, prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies at commercial seaports. (b) Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that the Program-- (1) conducts, on a periodic basis, port security exercises at commercial seaports that are-- (A) scaled and tailored to the needs of each port; (B) live, in the case of the most at-risk ports; (C) as realistic as practicable and based on current risk assessments, including credible threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences; (D) consistent with the National Incident Management System, the National Response Plan, the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, the National Preparedness Guidance, the National Preparedness Goal, the National Maritime Transportation Security Plan, and other such national initiatives; (E) evaluated against clear and consistent performance measures; (F) assessed to learn best practices, which shall be shared with appropriate Federal, State, and local officials, seaport personnel and management; governmental and nongovernmental emergency response providers, and the private sector; and (G) followed by remedial action in response to lessons learned; and (2) assists State and local governments and commercial seaports in designing, implementing, and evaluating exercises that-- (A) conform to the requirements of paragraph (2); and (B) are consistent with any applicable Area Maritime Transportation Security Plan and State or Urban Area Homeland Security Plan. (c) Improvement Plan.--The Secretary shall establish a port security improvement plan process to-- (1) identify and analyze each port security exercise for lessons learned and best practices; (2) disseminate lessons learned and best practices to participants in the Program; (3) monitor the implementation of lessons learned and best practices by participants in the Program; and (4) conduct remedial action tracking and long-term trend analysis. Subtitle C--Port Operations SEC. 121. DOMESTIC RADIATION DETECTION AND IMAGING. (a) Examining Containers.--Not later than December 31, 2007, all containers entering the United States through the busiest 22 seaports of entry shall be examined for radiation. (b) Strategy.--The Secretary shall develop a strategy for the deployment of radiation detection capabilities that includes-- (1) a risk-based prioritization of ports of entry at which radiation detection equipment will be deployed; (2) a proposed timeline of when radiation detection equipment will be deployed at each port of entry identified under paragraph (1); (3) the type of equipment to be used at each port of entry identified under paragraph (1), including the joint deployment and utilization of radiation detection equipment and nonintrusive imaging equipment; (4) standard operating procedures for examining containers with such equipment, including sensor alarming, networking, and communications and response protocols; (5) operator training plans; (6) an evaluation of the environmental health and safety impacts of nonintrusive imaging technology; (7) the policy of the Department for using nonintrusive imagining equipment in tandem with radiation detection equipment; and (8) a classified annex that-- (A) details plans for covert testing; and (B) outlines the risk-based prioritization of ports of entry identified under paragraph (1). (c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit the strategy developed under subsection (b) to the appropriate congressional committees. (d) Update.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary may update the strategy submitted under subsection (c) to provide a more complete evaluation under subsection (b)(6). (e) Other Weapons of Mass Destruction Threats.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a strategy for the development of equipment to detect chemical, biological, and other weapons of mass destruction at all ports of entry into the United States to the appropriate congressional committees. (f) Standards.--The Secretary, in conjunction with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall publish technical capability standards and recommended standard operating procedures for the use of nonintrusive imaging and radiation detection equipment in the United States. Such standards and procedures-- (1) should take into account relevant standards and procedures utilized by other Federal departments or agencies as well as those developed by international bodies; and (2) shall not be designed so as to endorse specific companies or create sovereignty conflicts with participating countries. (g) Implementation.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall fully implement the strategy developed under subsection (b). SEC. 122. PORT SECURITY USER FEE STUDY. The Secretary shall conduct a study of the need for, and feasibility of, establishing a system of ocean-borne and port-related transportation user fees that may be imposed and collected as a dedicated revenue source, on a temporary or continuing basis, to provide necessary funding for legitimate improvements to, and maintenance of, port security. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary [[Page S9199]] shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that contains-- (1) the results of the study; (2) an assessment of the annual amount of customs fees and duties collected through ocean-borne and port-related transportation and the amount and percentage of such fees and duties that are dedicated to improve and maintain security; (3)(A) an assessment of the fees, charges, and standards imposed on United States ports, port terminal operators, shippers, and persons who use United States ports, compared with the fees and charges imposed on ports and port terminal operators in Canada and Mexico and persons who use those foreign ports; and (B) an assessment of the impact on the competitiveness of United States ports, port terminal operators, and shippers; and (4) the Secretary's recommendations based upon the study, and an assessment of the consistency of such recommendations with the international obligations and commitments of the United States. SEC. 123. INSPECTION OF CAR FERRIES ENTERING FROM ABROAD. Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, and in coordination with the Secretary of State, and in cooperation with appropriate foreign government officials, shall seek to develop a plan for the inspection of passengers and vehicles before such passengers board, or such vehicles are loaded onto, a ferry bound for a United States seaport. SEC. 124. RANDOM SEARCHES OF CONTAINERS. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall develop and implement a plan, utilizing best practices for empirical scientific research design and random sampling, to conduct random searches of containers in addition to any targeted or preshipment inspection of such containers required by law or regulation or conducted under any other program conducted by the Secretary. Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean that implementation of the random sampling plan precludes additional searches of containers not inspected pursuant to the plan. SEC. 125. WORK STOPPAGES AND EMPLOYEE-EMPLOYER DISPUTES. Section 70101(6) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``In this paragraph, the term `economic disruption' does not include a work stoppage or other nonviolent employee-related action not related to terrorism and resulting from an employee-employer dispute.''. TITLE II--SECURITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN Subtitle A--General Provisions SEC. 201. STRATEGIC PLAN TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN. (a) Strategic Plan.--The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies and private-sector stakeholders responsible for security matters that affect or relate to the movement of containers through the international supply chain, shall develop, implement, and update, as appropriate, a strategic plan to enhance the security of the international supply chain. (b) Requirements.--The strategic plan required under subsection (a) shall-- (1) describe the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies and private-sector stakeholders that relate to the security of the movement of containers through the international supply chain; (2) identify and address gaps and unnecessary overlaps in the roles, responsibilities, or authorities described in paragraph (1); (3) identify and make recommendations regarding legislative, regulatory, and organizational changes necessary to improve coordination among the entities or to enhance the security of the international supply chain; (4) provide measurable goals, including objectives, mechanisms, and a schedule, for furthering the security of commercial operations from point of origin to point of destination; (5) build on available resources and consider costs and benefits; (6) provide incentives for additional voluntary measures to enhance cargo security, as determined by the Commissioner; (7) consider the impact of supply chain security requirements on small and medium size companies; (8) include a process for sharing intelligence and information with private-sector stakeholders to assist in their security efforts; (9) identify a framework for prudent and measured response in the event of a transportation security incident involving the international supply chain; (10) provide protocols for the expeditious resumption of the flow of trade in accordance with section 202, including-- (A) the identification of the appropriate initial incident commander, if the Commandant of the Coast Guard is not the appropriate initial incident commander, and lead departments, agencies, or offices to execute such protocols; (B) a plan to redeploy resources and personnel, as necessary, to reestablish the flow of trade in the event of a transportation disruption; and (C) a plan to provide training for the periodic instruction of personnel of the United States Customs and Border Protection in trade resumption functions and responsibilities following a transportation disruption; (11) consider the linkages between supply chain security and security programs within other systems of movement, including travel security and terrorism finance programs; and (12) expand upon and relate to existing strategies and plans, including the National Response Plan, National Maritime Transportation Security Plan, and the 8 supporting plans of the Strategy, as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 13. (c) Consultation.--In developing protocols under subsection (b)(10), the Secretary shall consult with Federal, State, local, and private sector stakeholders, including the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee and the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee. (d) Communication.--To the extent practicable, the strategic plan developed under subsection (a) shall provide for coordination with, and lines of communication among, appropriate Federal, State, local, and private-sector stakeholders on law enforcement actions, intermodal rerouting plans, and other strategic infrastructure issues. (e) Utilization of Advisory Committees.--As part of the consultations described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, utilize the Homeland Security Advisory Committee, the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee, and the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee to review, as necessary, the draft strategic plan and any subsequent updates to the strategic plan. (f) International Standards and Practices.--In furtherance of the strategic plan required under subsection (a), the Secretary is encouraged to consider proposed or established standards and practices of foreign governments and international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization, the World Customs Organization, and the International Organization for Standardization, as appropriate, to establish standards and best practices for the security of containers moving through the international supply chain. (g) Report.-- (1) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the strategic plan required by subsection (a). (2) Final report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which the strategic plan is submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that contains an update of the strategic plan. SEC. 202. POST INCIDENT RESUMPTION OF TRADE. (a) In General.--Except as otherwise determined by the Secretary, in the event of a maritime transportation disruption or a maritime transportation security incident, the initial incident commander and the lead department, agency, or office for carrying out the strategic plan required under section 201 shall be determined by the protocols required under section 201(b)(10). (b) Vessels.--The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall, to the extent practicable and consistent with the protocols and plans required under paragraphs (10) and (12) of section 201(b), ensure the safe and secure transit of vessels to ports in the United States after a maritime transportation security incident, with priority given to vessels carrying cargo determined by the President to be critical for response and recovery from such a disruption or incident, and to vessels that-- (1) have either a vessel security plan approved under section 70103(c) of title 46, United States Code, or a valid international ship security certificate, as provided under part 104 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations; (2) are manned by individuals who are described in section 70105(b)(2)(B) of title 46, United States Code, and who-- (A) have undergone a background records check under section 70105(d) of title 46, United States Code; or (B) hold a transportation security card issued under section 70105 of title 46, United States Code; and (3) are operated by validated participants in the Customs- Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program. (c) Cargo.--Consistent with the protocols and plans required under paragraphs (10) and (12) of section 201(b), the Commissioner shall give preference to cargo-- (1) entering a port of entry directly from a foreign seaport designated under Container Security Initiative; (2) determined by the President to be critical for response and recovery; (3) that has been handled by a validated C-TPAT participant; or (4) that has undergone (A) a nuclear or radiological detection scan, (B) an x-ray, density or other imaging scan, and (C) an optical recognition scan, at the last port of departure prior to arrival in the United States, which data has been evaluated and analyzed by United States Customs and Border Protection personnel. (d) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure that there is appropriate coordination among the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the Commissioner, and other Federal officials following a maritime disruption or maritime transportation security incident in order to provide for the resumption of trade. [[Page S9200]] (e) Communication.--Consistent with section 201 of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Commissioner, and other appropriate Federal officials, shall promptly communicate any revised procedures or instructions intended for the private sector following a maritime disruption or maritime transportation security incident. SEC. 203. AUTOMATED TARGETING SYSTEM. (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall-- (1) identify and seek the submission of data related to the movement of a shipment of cargo through the international supply chain; and (2) analyze the data described in paragraph (1) to identify high-risk cargo for inspection. (b) Consideration.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall-- (1) consider the cost, benefit, and feasibility of-- (A) requiring additional nonmanifest documentation; (B) reducing the time period allowed by law for revisions to a container cargo manifest; (C) reducing the time period allowed by law for submission of certain elements of entry data, for vessel or cargo; and (D) such other actions the Secretary considers beneficial for improving the information relied upon for the Automated Targeting System and any successor targeting system in furthering the security and integrity of the international supply chain; and (2) consult with stakeholders, including the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, and identify to them the need for such information, and the appropriate timing of its submission. (c) Determination.--Upon the completion of the process under subsection (b), the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, may require importers to submit certain elements of non-manifest or other data about a shipment bound for the United States not later than 24 hours before loading a container on a vessel at a foreign port bound for the United States. (d) System Improvements.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall-- (1) conduct, through an independent panel, a review of the effectiveness and capabilities of the Automated Targeting System; (2) consider future iterations of the Automated Targeting System; (3) ensure that the Automated Targeting System has the capability to electronically compare manifest and other available data for cargo entered into or bound for the United States to detect any significant anomalies between such data and facilitate the resolution of such anomalies; and (4) ensure that the Automated Targeting System has the capability to electronically identify, compile, and compare select data elements for cargo entered into or bound for the United States following a maritime transportation security incident, in order to efficiently identify cargo for increased inspection or expeditious release. (e) Authorization of Appropriations.-- (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security to carry out the Automated Targeting System for identifying high-risk ocean-borne container cargo for inspection-- (A) $33,200,000 for fiscal year 2008; (B) $35,700,000 for fiscal year 2009; and (C) $37,485,000 for fiscal year 2010. (2) Supplement for other funds.--The amounts authorized by this subsection shall be in addition to any other amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Automated Targeting System. SEC. 204. CONTAINER SECURITY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES. (a) Establishment.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish minimum standards and procedures for securing containers in transit to an importer in the United States. (2) Interim rule.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue an interim final rule pursuant to the proceeding described in paragraph (1). (3) Missed deadline.--If the Secretary is unable to meet the deadline established pursuant to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall transmit a letter to the appropriate congressional committees explaining why the Secretary is unable to meet that deadline and describing what must be done before such minimum standards and procedures can be established. (b) Review and Enhancement.--The Secretary shall regularly review and enhance the standards and procedures established pursuant to subsection (a). (c) International Cargo Security Standards.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Energy, and other government officials, as appropriate, and with the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, the Homeland Security Advisory Committee, and the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee, is encouraged to promote and establish international standards for the security of containers moving through the international supply chain with foreign governments and international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization and the World Customs Organization. SEC. 205. CONTAINER SECURITY INITIATIVE. (a) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall establish and implement a program (referred to in this section as the ``Container Security Initiative'') to identify and examine or search maritime containers that pose a security risk before loading such containers in a foreign port for shipment to the United States, either directly or through a foreign port. (b) Assessment.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, may designate foreign seaports to participate in the Container Security Initiative after the Secretary has assessed the costs, benefits, and other factors associated with such designation, including-- (1) the level of risk for the potential compromise of containers by terrorists, or other threats as determined by the Secretary; (2) the volume and value of cargo being imported to the United States directly from, or being transshipped through, the foreign seaport; (3) the results of the Coast Guard assessments conducted pursuant to section 70108 of title 46, United States Code; (4) the commitment of the government of the country in which the foreign seaport is located to cooperate with the Department to carry out the Container Security Initiative; and (5) the potential for validation of security practices at the foreign seaport by the Department. (c) Notification.--The Secretary shall notify the appropriate congressional committees of the designation of a foreign port under the Container Security Initiative or the revocation of such a designation before notifying the public of such designation or revocation. (d) Negotiations.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of State and in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, may enter into negotiations with the government of each foreign nation in which a seaport is designated under the Container Security Initiative to ensure full compliance with the requirements under the Container Security Initiative. (e) Overseas Inspections.--The Secretary shall establish minimum technical capability criteria and standard operating procedures for the use of nonintrusive imaging and radiation detection equipment in conjunction with the Container Security Initiative and shall monitor operations at foreign seaports designated under the Container Security Initiative to ensure the use of such criteria and procedures. Such criteria and procedures-- (1) shall be consistent with relevant standards and procedures utilized by other Federal departments or agencies, or developed by international bodies if the United States consents to such standards and procedures; (2) shall not apply to activities conducted under the Megaports Initiative of the Department of Energy; (3) shall not be designed to endorse the product or technology of any specific company or to conflict with the sovereignty of a country in which a foreign seaport designated under the Container Security Initiative is located; and (4) shall be applied to the equipment operated at each foreign seaport designated under the Container Security Initiative, except as provided under paragraph (2). (f) Savings Provision.--The authority of the Secretary under this section shall not affect any authority or duplicate any efforts or responsibilities of the Federal Government with respect to the deployment of radiation detection equipment outside of the United States under any program administered by the Department. (g) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Energy to-- (1) provide radiation detection equipment required to support the Container Security Initiative through the Department of Energy's Second Line of Defense and Megaports programs; or (2) work with the private sector to obtain radiation detection equipment that meets the Department's technical specifications for such equipment. (h) Staffing.--The Secretary shall develop a human capital management plan to determine adequate staffing levels in the United States and in foreign seaports including, as appropriate, the remote location of personnel in countries in which foreign seaports are designated under the Container Security Initiative. (i) Annual Discussions.--The Secretary, in coordination with the appropriate Federal officials, shall hold annual discussions with foreign governments of countries in which foreign seaports designated under the Container Security Initiative are located regarding best practices, technical assistance, training needs, and technological developments that will assist in ensuring the efficient and secure movement of international cargo. (j) Lesser Risk Port.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, may treat cargo loaded in a foreign seaport designated under the Container Security Initiative as presenting a lesser risk than similar cargo loaded in a foreign seaport that is not designated under the Container Security Initiative, for the purpose of clearing such cargo into the United States. (k) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than September 30, 2007, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall, in consultation with other appropriate government officials and the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, submit a report to the appropriate [[Page S9201]] congressional committee on the effectiveness of, and the need for any improvements to, the Container Security Initiative. The report shall include-- (A) a description of the technical assistance delivered to, as well as needed at, each designated seaport; (B) a description of the human capital management plan at each designated seaport; (C) a summary of the requests made by the United States to foreign governments to conduct physical or nonintrusive inspections of cargo at designated seaports, and whether each such request was granted or denied by the foreign government; (D) an assessment of the effectiveness of screening, scanning, and inspection protocols and technologies utilized at designated seaports and the effect on the flow of commerce at such seaports, as well as any recommendations for improving the effectiveness of screening, scanning, and inspection protocols and technologies utilized at designated seaports; (E) a description and assessment of the outcome of any security incident involving a foreign seaport designated under the Container Security Initiative; and (F) a summary and assessment of the aggregate number and extent of trade compliance lapses at each seaport designated under the Container Security Initiative. (2) Updated report.--Not later than September 30, 2010, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall, in consultation with other appropriate government officials and the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, submit an updated report to the appropriate congressional committees on the effectiveness of, and the need for any improvements to, the Container Security Initiative. The updated report shall address each of the elements required to be included in the report provided for under paragraph (1). (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security to carry out the provisions of this section-- (1) $144,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; (2) $146,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and (3) $153,300,000 for fiscal year 2010. Subtitle B--Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism SEC. 211. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner is authorized to establish a voluntary government-private sector program (to be known as the ``Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism'' or ``C- TPAT'') to strengthen and improve the overall security of the international supply chain and United States border security, and to facilitate the movement of secure cargo through the international supply chain, by providing benefits to participants meeting or exceeding the program requirements. Participants in C-TPAT shall include tier 1 participants, tier 2 participants, and tier 3 participants. (b) Minimum Security Requirements.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall review the minimum security requirements of C-TPAT at least once every year and update such requirements as necessary. SEC. 212. ELIGIBLE ENTITIES. Importers, customs brokers, forwarders, air, sea, land carriers, contract logistics providers, and other entities in the international supply chain and intermodal transportation system are eligible to apply to voluntarily enter into partnerships with the Department under C-TPAT. SEC. 213. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. An applicant seeking to participate in C-TPAT shall-- (1) demonstrate a history of moving cargo in the international supply chain; (2) conduct an assessment of its supply chain based upon security criteria established by the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, including-- (A) business partner requirements; (B) container security; (C) physical security and access controls; (D) personnel security; (E) procedural security; (F) security training and threat awareness; and (G) information technology security; (3) implement and maintain security measures and supply chain security practices meeting security criteria established by the Commissioner; and (4) meet all other requirements established by the Commissioner in consultation with the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee. SEC. 214. TIER 1 PARTICIPANTS IN C-TPAT. (a) Benefits.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall offer limited benefits to a tier 1 participant who has been certified in accordance with the guidelines referred to in subsection (b). Such benefits may include a reduction in the score assigned pursuant to the Automated Targeting System of not greater than 20 percent of the high risk threshold established by the Secretary. (b) Guidelines.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall update the guidelines for certifying a C- TPAT participant's security measures and supply chain security practices under this section. Such guidelines shall include a background investigation and extensive documentation review. (c) Time Frame.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall complete the tier 1 certification process within 90 days of receipt of an application for participation in C-TPAT. SEC. 215. TIER 2 PARTICIPANTS IN C-TPAT. (a) Validation.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall validate the security measures and supply chain security practices of a tier 1 participant in accordance with the guidelines referred to in subsection (c). Such validation shall include on-site assessments at appropriate foreign locations utilized by the tier 1 participant in its supply chain and shall, to the extent practicable, be completed not later than 1 year after certification as a tier 1 participant. (b) Benefits.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall extend benefits to each C-TPAT participant that has been validated as a tier 2 participant under this section, which may include-- (1) reduced scores in the Automated Targeting System; (2) reduced examinations of cargo; and (3) priority searches of cargo. (c) Guidelines.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall develop a schedule and update the guidelines for validating a participant's security measures and supply chain security practices under this section. SEC. 216. TIER 3 PARTICIPANTS IN C-TPAT. (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall establish a third tier of C-TPAT participation that offers additional benefits to participants who demonstrate a sustained commitment to maintaining security measures and supply chain security practices that exceed the guidelines established for validation as a tier 2 participant in C-TPAT under section 215 of this Act. (b) Criteria.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall designate criteria for validating a C- TPAT participant as a tier 3 participant under this section. Such criteria may include-- (1) compliance with any additional guidelines established by the Secretary that exceed the guidelines established pursuant to section 215 of this Act for validating a C-TPAT participant as a tier 2 participant, particularly with respect to controls over access to cargo throughout the supply chain; (2) voluntary submission of additional information regarding cargo prior to loading, as determined by the Secretary; (3) utilization of container security devices and technologies that meet standards and criteria established by the Secretary; and (4) compliance with any other cargo requirements established by the Secretary. (c) Benefits.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, in consultation with the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee and the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee, shall extend benefits to each C-TPAT participant that has been validated as a tier 3 participant under this section, which may include-- (1) the expedited release of a tier 3 participant's cargo in destination ports within the United States during all threat levels designated by the Secretary; (2) in addition to the benefits available to tier 2 participants-- (A) further reduction in examinations of cargo; (B) priority for examinations of cargo; and (C) further reduction in the risk score assigned pursuant to the Automated Targeting System; (3) notification of specific alerts and post-incident procedures to the extent such notification does not compromise the security interests of the United States; and (4) inclusion in joint incident management exercises, as appropriate. (d) Deadline.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall designate appropriate criteria pursuant to subsection (b) and provide benefits to validated tier 3 participants pursuant to subsection (c). SEC. 217. CONSEQUENCES FOR LACK OF COMPLIANCE. (a) In General.--If at any time a C-TPAT participant's security measures and supply chain security practices fail to meet any of the requirements under this subtitle, the Commissioner may deny the participant benefits otherwise available under this subtitle, in whole or in part. (b) False or Misleading Information.--If a C-TPAT participant knowingly provides false or misleading information to the Commissioner during the validation process provided for under this subtitle, the Commissioner shall suspend or expel the participant from C-TPAT for an appropriate period of time. The Commissioner may publish in the Federal Register a list of participants who have been suspended or expelled from C-TPAT pursuant to this subsection, and may make such list available to C-TPAT participants. (c) Right of Appeal.-- (1) In general.--A C-TPAT participant may appeal a decision of the Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a). Such appeal shall be filed with the Secretary not later than 90 days after the date of the decision, and the Secretary shall issue a determination not later than 180 days after the appeal is filed. (2) Appeals of other decisions.--A C-TPAT participant may appeal a decision of [[Page S9202]] the Commissioner pursuant to subsection (b). Such appeal shall be filed with the Secretary not later than 30 days after the date of the decision, and the Secretary shall issue a determination not later than 180 days after the appeal is filed. SEC. 218. REVALIDATION. The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall develop and implement-- (1) a revalidation process for tier 2 and tier 3 participants; (2) a framework based upon objective criteria for identifying participants for periodic revalidation not less frequently than once during each 5-year period following the initial validation; and (3) an annual plan for revalidation that includes-- (A) performance measures; (B) an assessment of the personnel needed to perform the revalidations; and (C) the number of participants that will be revalidated during the following year. SEC. 219. NONCONTAINERIZED CARGO. The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall consider the potential for participation in C-TPAT by importers of noncontainerized cargoes that otherwise meet the requirements under this subtitle. SEC. 220. C-TPAT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT. (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall establish sufficient internal quality controls and record management to support the management systems of C-TPAT. In managing the program, the Secretary shall ensure that the program includes: (1) Strategic plan.--A 5-year plan to identify outcome- based goals and performance measures of the program. (2) Annual plan.--An annual plan for each fiscal year designed to match available resources to the projected workload. (3) Standardized work program.--A standardized work program to be used by agency personnel to carry out the certifications, validations, and revalidations of participants. The Secretary shall keep records and monitor staff hours associated with the completion of each such review. (b) Documentation of Reviews.--The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall maintain a record management system to document determinations on the reviews of each C- TPAT participant, including certifications, validations, and revalidations. (c) Confidential Information Safeguards.--In consultation with the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall develop and implement procedures to ensure the protection of confidential data collected, stored, or shared with government agencies or as part of the application, certification, validation, and revalidation processes. SEC. 221. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STAFFING PLAN. The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, shall-- (1) develop a staffing plan to recruit and train staff (including a formalized training program) to meet the objectives identified in the strategic plan of the C-TPAT program; and (2) provide cross-training in post-incident trade resumption for personnel who administer the C-TPAT program. SEC. 222. ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL. In each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2009, the Commissioner shall increase by not less than 50 the number of full-time personnel engaged in the validation and revalidation of C-TPAT participants (over the number of such personnel on the last day of the previous fiscal year), and shall provide appropriate training and support to such additional personnel. SEC. 223. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) C-TPAT.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security to carry out the provisions of sections 211 through 221 to remain available until expended-- (1) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; (2) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and (3) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2010. (b) Additional Personnel.--In addition to any monies hereafter appropriated to the United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, there are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of meeting the staffing requirement provided for in section 222, to remain available until expended-- (1) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; (2) $17,600,000 for fiscal year 2008; (3) $27,300,000 for fiscal year 2009; (4) $28,300,000 for fiscal year 2010; and (5) $29,200,000 for fiscal year 2011. SEC. 224. REPORT TO CONGRESS. In connection with the President's annual budget submission for the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary shall report to the appropriate congressional committees on the progress made by the Commissioner to certify, validate, and revalidate C-TPAT participants. Such report shall be due on the same date that the President's budget is submitted to the Congress. Subtitle C--Miscellaneous Provisions SEC. 231. PILOT INTEGRATED SCANNING SYSTEM. (a) Designations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall designate 3 foreign seaports through which containers pass or are transshipped to the United States for the establishment of pilot integrated scanning systems that couple nonintrusive imaging equipment and radiation detection equipment. The equipment may be provided by the Megaports Initiative of the Department of Energy. In making the designations under this paragraph, the Secretary shall consider 3 distinct ports with unique features and differing levels of trade volume. (b) Collaboration and Cooperation.--The Secretary shall collaborate with the Secretary of Energy and cooperate with the private sector and the foreign government of each country in which a foreign seaport is designated pursuant to subsection (a) to implement the pilot systems. (c) Implementation.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall achieve a full-scale implementation of the pilot integrated screening system, which shall-- (1) scan all containers destined for the United States that transit through the port; (2) electronically transmit the images and information to the container security initiative personnel in the host country and customs personnel in the United States for evaluation and analysis; (3) resolve every radiation alarm according to established Department procedures; (4) utilize the information collected to enhance the Automated Targeting System or other relevant programs; and (5) store the information for later retrieval and analysis. (d) Report.--Not later than 120 days after achieving full- scale implementation under subsection (c), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of State, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees, that includes-- (1) an evaluation of the lessons derived from the pilot system implemented under this subsection; (2) an analysis of the efficacy of the Automated Targeting System or other relevant programs in utilizing the images captured to examine high-risk containers; (3) an evaluation of software that is capable of automatically identifying potential anomalies in scanned containers; (4) an analysis of the need and feasibility of expanding the integrated scanning system to other container security initiative ports, including-- (A) an analysis of the infrastructure requirements; (B) a projection of the effect on current average processing speed of containerized cargo; (C) an evaluation of the scalability of the system to meet both current and future forecasted trade flows; (D) the ability of the system to automatically maintain and catalog appropriate data for reference and analysis in the event of a transportation disruption; (E) an analysis of requirements to install and maintain an integrated scanning system; (F) the ability of administering personnel to efficiently manage and utilize the data produced by a non-intrusive scanning system; (G) the ability to safeguard commercial data generated by, or submitted to, a non-intrusive scanning system; and (H) an assessment of the reliability of currently available technology to implement an integrated scanning system. (e) Implementation.--As soon as practicable and possible after the date of enactment of this Act, an integrated scanning system shall be implemented to scan all containers entering the United States prior to arrival in the United States. SEC. 232. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND COORDINATION. (a) Inspection Technology and Training.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Energy, and appropriate representatives of other Federal agencies, may provide technical assistance, equipment, and training to facilitate the implementation of supply chain security measures at ports designated under the Container Security Initiative and at other foreign ports, as appropriate. (2) Acquisition and training.--Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Secretary may-- (A) lease, loan, provide, or otherwise assist in the deployment of nonintrusive inspection and handheld radiation detection equipment at foreign land and sea ports under such terms and conditions as the Secretary prescribes, including nonreimbursable loans or the transfer of ownership of equipment; and (B) provide training and technical assistance for domestic or foreign personnel responsible for operating or maintaining such equipment. (b) Actions and Assistance for Foreign Ports.--Section 70110 of title 46, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking the section header and inserting the following: ``Sec. 70110. Actions and assistance for foreign ports'' ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(e) Assistance for Foreign Ports.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Energy, shall identify foreign assistance programs that could facilitate implementation of port security antiterrorism measures in foreign countries. The Secretary shall establish a program to utilize the programs that are capable of implementing port security antiterrorism measures at ports in [[Page S9203]] foreign countries that the Secretary finds, under section 70108, to lack effective antiterrorism measures. ``(2) Caribbean basin.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of State and in consultation with the Organization of American States and the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall place particular emphasis on utilizing programs to facilitate the implementation of port security antiterrorism measures at the ports located in the Caribbean Basin, as such ports pose unique security and safety threats to the United States due to-- ``(A) the strategic location of such ports between South America and the United States; ``(B) the relative openness of such ports; and ``(C) the significant number of shipments of narcotics to the United States that are moved through such ports.''. (c) Report on Security at Ports in the Caribbean Basin.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on the security of ports in the Caribbean Basin. (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)-- (A) shall include-- (i) an assessment of the effectiveness of the measures employed to improve security at ports in the Caribbean Basin and recommendations for any additional measures to improve such security; (ii) an estimate of the number of ports in the Caribbean Basin that will not be secured by January 1, 2007; (iii) an estimate of the financial impact in the United States of any action taken pursuant to section 70110 of title 46, United States Code, that affects trade between such ports and the United States; and (iv) an assessment of the additional resources and program changes that are necessary to maximize security at ports in the Caribbean Basin; and (B) may be submitted in both classified and redacted formats. (d) Clerical Amendment.--The chapter analysis for chapter 701 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 70110 and inserting the following: ``70110. Actions and assistance for foreign ports.''. TITLE III--ADMINISTRATION SEC. 301. OFFICE OF CARGO SECURITY POLICY. (a) Establishment.--Subtitle C of title IV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 231 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 431. OFFICE OF CARGO SECURITY POLICY. ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department an Office of Cargo Security Policy (referred to in this section as the `Office'). ``(b) Purpose.--The Office shall-- ``(1) coordinate all Department policies relating to cargo security; and ``(2) consult with stakeholders and coordinate with other Federal agencies in the establishment of standards and regulations and to promote best practices. ``(c) Director.-- ``(1) Appointment.--The Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall-- ``(A) be appointed by the Secretary; and ``(B) report to the Assistant Secretary for Policy. ``(2) Responsibilities.--The Director shall-- ``(A) advise the Assistant Secretary for Policy in the development of Department-wide policies regarding cargo security; ``(B) coordinate all policies relating to cargo security among the agencies and offices within the Department relating to cargo security; and ``(C) coordinate the cargo security policies of the Department with the policies of other executive agencies.''. (b) Designation of Liaison Office of Department of State.-- The Secretary of State shall designate a liaison office within the Department of State to assist the Secretary, as appropriate, in negotiating cargo security related international agreements. (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 430 the following: ``Sec. 431. Office of cargo security policy.''. SEC. 302. REAUTHORIZATION OF HOMELAND SECURITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In General.--Section 311(j) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 191(j)) is amended by striking ``3 years after the effective date of this Act'' and inserting ``on December 31, 2008''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be effective as if enacted on the date of the enactment of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.). (c) Advisory Committee.--The Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology shall utilize the Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee, as appropriate, to provide outside expertise in advancing cargo security technology. SEC. 303. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION EFFORTS IN FURTHERANCE OF MARITIME AND CARGO SECURITY. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall-- (1) direct research, development, test, and evaluation efforts in furtherance of maritime and cargo security; (2) coordinate with public and private sector entities to develop and test technologies and process innovations in furtherance of these objectives; and (3) evaluate such technologies. (b) Coordination.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Undersecretary for Science and Technology, the Assistant Secretary for Policy, the Chief Financial Officer, and the heads of other appropriate offices or entities of the Department, shall ensure that-- (1) research, development, test, and evaluation efforts funded by the Department in furtherance of maritime and cargo security are coordinated within the Department and with other appropriate Federal agencies to avoid duplication of efforts; and (2) the results of such efforts are shared throughout the Department and with other Federal, State, and local agencies, as appropriate. TITLE IV--AGENCY RESOURCES AND OVERSIGHT SEC. 401. OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE. Section 2 of the Act of March 3, 1927 (44 Stat. 1381, chapter 348; 19 U.S.C. 2072), is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d) Office of International Trade.-- ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the United States Customs and Border Protection an Office of International Trade that shall be headed by an Assistant Commissioner. ``(2) Transfer of assets, functions, and personnel; elimination of offices.-- ``(A) Office of strategic trade.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006, the Commissioner shall transfer the assets, functions, and personnel of the Office of Strategic Trade to the Office of International Trade established pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Office of Strategic Trade shall be abolished. ``(B) Office of regulations and rulings.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006, the Commissioner shall transfer the assets, functions, and personnel of the Office of Regulations and Rulings to the Office of International Trade established pursuant to paragraph (1) and the Office of Regulations and Rulings shall be abolished. ``(C) Other transfers.--The Commissioner is authorized to transfer any other assets, functions, or personnel within the United States Customs and Border Protection to the Office of International Trade established pursuant to paragraph (1). Not later than 30 days after each such transfer, the Commissioner shall notify the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives of the specific assets, functions, or personnel, that were transferred, and the reason for such transfer. ``(e) International Trade Policy Committee.-- ``(1) Establishment.--The Commissioner shall establish an International Trade Policy Committee, to be chaired by the Commissioner, and to include the Deputy Commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner in the Office of Field Operations, the Assistant Commissioner in the Office of International Affairs, the Assistant Commissioner in the Office of International Trade, and the Director of the Office of Trade Relations. ``(2) Responsibilities.--The International Trade Policy Committee shall-- ``(A) be responsible for advising the Commissioner with respect to the commercial customs and trade facilitation functions of the United States Customs and Border Protection; and ``(B) assist the Commissioner in coordinating with the Assistant Secretary for Policy regarding commercial customs and trade facilitation functions. ``(3) Annual report.--Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, the International Trade Policy Committee shall submit a report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives. The report shall-- ``(A) detail the activities of the International Trade Policy Committee during the preceding fiscal year; and ``(B) identify the priorities of the International Trade Policy Committee for the current fiscal year. ``(f) International Trade Finance Committee.-- ``(1) Establishment.--The Commissioner shall establish an International Trade Finance Committee, to be chaired by the Commissioner, and to include the Deputy Commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner in the Office of Finance, the Assistant Commissioner in the Office of International Trade, and the Director of the Office of Trade Relations. ``(2) Responsibilities.--The Trade Finance Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the operation of all programs and systems that are involved in the assessment and collection of duties, bonds, and other charges or penalties associated with the entry of cargo into the United States, or the export of cargo from the United States, including the administration of duty drawback and the [[Page S9204]] collection of antidumping and countervailing duties. ``(3) Annual report.--Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Trade Finance Committee shall submit a report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives. The report shall-- ``(A) detail the activities and findings of the Trade Finance Committee during the preceding fiscal year; and ``(B) identify the priorities of the Trade Finance Committee for the current fiscal year. ``(g) Definition.--In this section, the term `Commissioner' means the Commissioner responsible for the United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security.''. SEC. 402. RESOURCES. Section 301 of the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 (19 U.S.C. 2075) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(h) Resource Allocation Model.-- ``(1) Resource allocation model.--Not later than June 30, 2007, and every 2 years thereafter, the Commissioner shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a Resource Allocation Model to determine the optimal staffing levels required to carry out the commercial operations of United States Customs and Border Protection, including commercial inspection and release of cargo and the revenue functions described in section 412(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 212(b)(2)). The model shall comply with the requirements of section 412(b)(1) of such Act and shall take into account previous staffing models and historic and projected trade volumes and trends. The Resource Allocation Model shall apply both risk-based and random sampling approaches for determining adequate staffing needs for priority trade functions, including-- ``(A) performing revenue functions; ``(B) enforcing antidumping and countervailing laws; ``(C) protecting intellectual property rights; ``(D) enforcing provisions of law relating to trade in textiles and apparel; ``(E) conducting agricultural inspections; ``(F) enforcing fines, penalties and forfeitures; and ``(G) facilitating trade. ``(2) Personnel.-- ``(A) In general.--Not later than September 30, 2007, the Commissioner shall ensure that the requirements of section 412(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 212(b)) are fully satisfied and shall report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives regarding the implementation of this subparagraph. ``(B) Customs and border protection officers.--The initial Resource Allocation Model required pursuant to paragraph (1) shall provide for the hiring of a minimum of 725 additional Customs and Border Protection Officers. The Commissioner shall hire such additional officers, subject to the appropriation of funds to pay for the salaries and expenses of such officers, of which the Commissioner shall assign-- ``(i) 1 additional officer at each port of entry in the United States; and ``(ii) the balance of the additional officers authorized by this subsection among ports of entry in the United States. ``(C) Assignment.--In assigning such officers pursuant to subparagraph (B), the Commissioner shall consider the volume of trade and the incidence of nonvoluntarily disclosed customs and trade law violations in addition to security priorities among such ports of entry. ``(D) Redistribution.--Not later than September 30, 2008, the Director of Field Operations in each Field Office may, at the request of the Director of a Service Port reporting to such Field Office, direct the redistribution of the additional personnel provided for pursuant to subparagraph (B) among the ports of entry reporting to such Field Office. The Commissioner shall promptly report any redistribution of personnel pursuant to subparagraph (B) to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Committee on Finance of the Senate, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives. ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to any monies hereafter appropriated to United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, there are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of meeting the requirements of paragraph (2)(B), to remain available until expended-- ``(A) $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. ``(B) $132,000,000 for fiscal year 2009. ``(C) $137,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. ``(D) $142,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. ``(E) $147,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. ``(4) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Commissioner shall report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives on the resources directed to commercial and trade facilitation functions within the Office of Field Operations for the preceding fiscal year. Such information shall be reported for each category of personnel within the Office of Field Operations. ``(5) Regulations to implement trade agreements.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006, the Commissioner shall designate and maintain not less than 5 attorneys within the Office of International Trade established pursuant to section 2 of the Act of March 3, 1927 (44 Stat. 1381, chapter 348; 19 U.S.C. 2072) with primary responsibility for the prompt development and promulgation of regulations necessary to implement any trade agreement entered into by the United States. ``(6) Definition.--As used in this subsection, the term `Commissioner' means the Commissioner responsible for United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security.''. SEC. 403. NEGOTIATIONS. Section 629 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1629) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(h) Customs Procedures and Commitments.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, the United States Trade Representative, and other appropriate Federal officials, shall work through appropriate international organizations including the World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Maritime Organization, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, to align, to the extent practicable, customs procedures, standards, requirements, and commitments in order to facilitate the efficient flow of international trade. ``(2) United states trade representative.-- ``(A) In general.--The United States Trade Representative shall seek commitments in negotiations in the WTO regarding the articles of GATT 1994 that are described in subparagraph (B) that make progress in achieving-- ``(i) harmonization of import and export data collected by WTO members for customs purposes, to the extent practicable; ``(ii) enhanced procedural fairness and transparency with respect to the regulation of imports and exports by WTO members; ``(iii) transparent standards for the efficient release of cargo by WTO members, to the extent practicable; and ``(iv) the protection of confidential commercial data. ``(B) Articles described.--The articles of the GATT 1994 described in this subparagraph are the following: ``(i) Article V (relating to transit). ``(ii) Article VIII (relating to fees and formalities associated with importation and exportation). ``(iii) Article X (relating to publication and administration of trade regulations). ``(C) GATT 1994.--The term `GATT 1994' means the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade annexed to the WTO Agreement. ``(3) Customs.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner and in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, shall work with the WCO to facilitate the efficient flow of international trade, taking into account existing international agreements and the negotiating objectives of the WTO. The Commissioner shall work to-- ``(A) harmonize, to the extent practicable, import data collected by WCO members for customs purposes; ``(B) automate and harmonize, to the extent practicable, the collection and storage of commercial data by WCO members; ``(C) develop, to the extent practicable, transparent standards for the release of cargo by WCO members; ``(D) develop and harmonize, to the extent practicable, standards, technologies, and protocols for physical or nonintrusive examinations that will facilitate the efficient flow of international trade; and ``(E) ensure the protection of confidential commercial data. ``(4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `Commissioner' means the Commissioner responsible for the United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security.''. SEC. 404. INTERNATIONAL TRADE DATA SYSTEM. Section 411 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1411) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d) International Trade Data System.-- ``(1) Establishment.-- ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury (in this section, referred to as the `Secretary') shall oversee the establishment of an electronic trade data interchange system to be known as the `International Trade Data System' (ITDS). The ITDS shall be implemented not later than the date that the Automated Commercial Environment (commonly referred to as `ACE') is implemented. ``(B) Purpose.--The purpose of the ITDS is to eliminate redundant information requirements, to efficiently regulate the flow of commerce, and to effectively enforce laws and regulations relating to international trade, by establishing a single portal system, operated by the United States Customs and Border Protection, for the collection and distribution of standard electronic import and export data required by all participating Federal agencies. ``(C) Participation.-- ``(i) In general.--All Federal agencies that require documentation for clearing or licensing the importation and exportation of cargo shall participate in the ITDS. ``(ii) Waiver.--The Director of the Office of Management and Budget may waive, in [[Page S9205]] whole or in part, the requirement for participation for any Federal agency based on the national security interests of the United States. ``(D) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with and assist agencies in the transition from paper to electronic format for the submission, issuance, and storage of documents relating to data required to enter cargo into the United States. ``(2) Data elements.-- ``(A) In general.--The Interagency Steering Committee (established under paragraph (3)) shall, in consultation with the agencies participating in the ITDS, define the standard set of data elements to be collected, stored, and shared in the ITDS. The Interagency Steering Committee shall periodically review the data elements in order to update the standard set of data elements, as necessary. ``(B) Commitments and obligations.--The Interagency Steering Committee shall ensure that the ITDS data requirements are compatible with the commitments and obligations of the United States as a member of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the entry and movement of cargo. ``(C) Coordination.--The Secretary shall be responsible for coordinating operation of the ITDS among the participating agencies and the office within the United States Customs and Border Protection that is responsible for maintaining the ITDS. ``(3) Interagency steering committee.--There is established an Interagency Steering Committee (in this section, referred to as the `Committee'). The members of the Committee shall include the Secretary (who shall serve as the chairperson of the Committee), the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the head of each agency participating in the ITDS. The Committee shall assist the Secretary in overseeing the implementation of, and participation in, the ITDS. ``(4) Report.--The Committee shall submit a report before the end of each fiscal year to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives. Each report shall include information on-- ``(A) the status of the ITDS implementation; ``(B) the extent of participation in the ITDS by Federal agencies; ``(C) the remaining barriers to any agency's participation; ``(D) the consistency of the ITDS with applicable standards established by the World Customs Organization and the World Trade Organization; ``(E) recommendations for technological and other improvements to the ITDS; and ``(F) the status of the development, implementation, and management of the Automated Commercial Environment within the United States Customs and Border Protection..''. SEC. 405. IN-BOND CARGO. Title IV of the Tariff Act of 1930 is amended by inserting after section 553 the following: ``SEC. 553A. REPORT ON IN-BOND CARGO. ``(a) Report.--Not later than June 30, 2007, the Commissioner shall submit a report to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Finance, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committees on Homeland Security, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means of the House of Representatives that includes-- ``(1) a plan for closing in-bond entries at the port of arrival; ``(2) an assessment of the personnel required to ensure 100 percent reconciliation of in-bond entries between the port of arrival and the port of destination or exportation; ``(3) an assessment of the status of investigations of overdue in-bond shipments and an evaluation of the resources required to ensure adequate investigation of overdue in-bond shipments; ``(4) a plan for tracking in-bond cargo within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE); ``(5) an assessment of whether any particular technologies should be required in the transport of in-bond cargo; ``(6) an assessment of whether ports of arrival should require any additional information regarding shipments of in- bond cargo; ``(7) an evaluation of the criteria for targeting and examining in-bond cargo; and ``(8) an assessment of the feasibility of reducing the transit time for in-bond shipments, including an assessment of the impact of such a change on domestic and international trade. ``(b) Definition.--The term `Commissioner' means the Commissioner responsible for the United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security.''. SEC. 406. SENSE OF THE SENATE. It is the sense of the Senate that nothing in sections 2, 106, 111 through 113, and 201 through 232 of this Act shall be construed to affect the jurisdiction of any Standing Committee of the Senate. ______ SA 4920. Mr. BURNS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5385, making appropriations for the military quality of life functions of the Department of Defense, military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR For an additional amount for ``Wildland Fire Management'' under the heading ``DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR'' of title I of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-54), $125,000,000 for the conduct of emergency wildfire suppression activities of the Secretary of the Interior, to be made available beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and to remain available until expended: Provided, That the amount provided under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of S. Con. Res. 83 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007, as made applicable in the Senate by section 7035 of Public Law 109-234. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE For an additional amount for ``Wildland Fire Management'' under the heading ``DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'' of title III of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-54), $175,000,000 for the conduct of emergency wildfire suppression activities of the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to be made available beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and to remain available until expended: Provided, That the amount provided under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of S. Con. Res. 83 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007, as made applicable in the Senate by section 7035 of Public Law 109-234. SA 4921. Mr. DeMINT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 4954, to improve maritime and cargo security through enhanced layered defenses, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: TITLE --NATIONAL ALERT SYSTEM SECTION --100. TABLE OF CONTENTS. The table of contents for this title is as follows: Sec. --100. Table of contents. Title --National Alert System Sec. --101. Short title. Sec. --102. National Alert System. Sec. --103. Implementation and use. Sec. --104. Coordination with existing public alert systems and authority. Sec. --105. National Alert Office. Sec. --106. National Alert System Working Group. Sec. --107. Research and development. Sec. --108. Grant program for remote community alert systems. Sec. --109. Public familiarization, outreach, and response instructions. Sec. --110. Essential services disaster assistance. Sec. --111. Definitions. Sec. --112. Existing interagency activities. Sec. --113. Funding. SEC. --101. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act''. SEC. --102. NATIONAL ALERT SYSTEM. (a) Establishment.--There is established a National Alert System to provide a public communications system capable of alerting the public on a national, regional, or local basis to emergency situations requiring a public response. (b) Functions.--The National Alert System-- (1) will enable any Federal, State, tribal, or local government official with credentials issued by the National Alert Office under section --103 to alert the public to any imminent threat that presents a significant risk of injury or death to the public; (2) will be coordinated with and supplement existing Federal, State, tribal, and local emergency warning and alert systems; (3) will be flexible enough in its application to permit narrowly targeted alerts in circumstances in which only a small geographic area is exposed or potentially exposed to the threat; and (4) will transmit alerts across the greatest possible variety of communications technologies, including digital and analog broadcasts, cable and satellite television, satellite and terrestrial radio, wireless communications, wireline communications, and the Internet to reach the largest portion of the affected population. (c) Capabilities.--The National Alert System-- (1) shall incorporate multiple communications technologies and be designed to adapt to, and incorporate, future technologies for communicating directly with the public; (2) shall include mechanisms and technologies to ensure that members of the public with disabilities and older individuals (as defined in section 102(35) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002(35))) are able to receive alerts and information provided through the National Alert System; (3) may not interfere with existing alert, warning, priority access, or emergency communications systems employed by Federal, [[Page S9206]] State, tribal, or local emergency response personnel and shall incorporate existing emergency alert technologies, including the NOAA All-Hazards Radio System, digital and analog broadcast, cable, and satellite television and satellite and terrestrial radio; (4) shall not be based upon any single technology or platform, but shall be designed to provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (5) shall incorporate technologies to alert effectively underserved communities (as determined by the Commission under section --108(a) of this title); (6) when technologically feasible shall be capable of providing information in languages other than, and in addition to, English where necessary or appropriate; and (7) shall be designed to promote local and regional public and private partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response. (d) Reception of Alerts.--The National Alert System shall-- (1) utilize multiple technologies for providing alerts to the public, including technologies that do not require members of the public to activate a particular device or use a particular technology to receive an alert provided via the National Alert System; and (2) provide redundant alert mechanisms where practicable so as to reach the greatest number of people regardless of whether they have access to, or utilize, any specific medium of communication or any particular device. (e) Emergency Alert System.--Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall-- (1) ensure the President, Secretary of Homeland Security, and State Governors have access to the emergency alert system; and (2) ensure that the Emergency Alert System can transmit in languages other than English. SEC. --103. IMPLEMENTATION AND USE. (a) Authority To Access System.-- (1) In general.--Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Alert Office shall establish a process for issuing credentials to Federal, State, tribal, or local government officials with responsibility for issuing safety warnings to the public that will enable them to access the National Alert System. The Office shall approve or disapprove a request for credentials within 60 days of request by the Federal department or agency, the governor of the State or the elected leader of a federally recognized Indian tribe. (2) Requests for credentials.--Requests for credentials from Federal, State, tribal, and local government agencies shall be submitted to the Office by the head of the Federal department or agency, or the governor of the State or the elected leader of a Federally recognized Indian tribe, concerned, for review and approval. (3) Scope and Limitations of Credentials.--The Office shall-- (A) establish eligibility criteria for issuing, renewing, and revoking access credentials; (B) limit credentials to appropriate geographic areas or political jurisdictions; and (C) ensure that the credentials permit use of the National Alert System only for alerts that are consistent with the jurisdiction, authority, and basis for eligibility of the individual to whom the credentials are issued to use the National Alert System. (4) Periodic training.--The Office shall-- (A) establish a periodic training program for Federal, State, tribal, or local government officials with credentials to use the National Alert System; and (B) require such officials to undergo periodic training under the program as a prerequisite for retaining their credentials to use the system. (b) Allowable Alerts.-- (1) In general.--Any alert transmitted via the National Alert System, other than an alert described in paragraph (3), shall meet 1 or more of the following requirements: (A) An alert shall notify the public of a hazardous situation that poses an imminent threat to the public health or safety. (B) An alert shall provide appropriate instructions for actions to be taken by individuals affected or potentially affected by such a situation. (C) An alert shall advise individuals of public addresses by Federal, State, tribal, or local officials when related to a significant threat to public safety and transmit such addresses when practicable and technically feasible. (D) An alert shall notify the public of when the hazardous situation has ended or has been brought under control. (2) Event eligibility regulations.--The director of the National Alert Office, in consultation with the Working Group, shall by regulation specify-- (A) the classes of events or situations for which the National Alert System may be used to alert the public; and (B) the content of the types of alerts that may be transmitted by or through use of the National Alert System, which may include-- (i) notifications to the public of a hazardous situation that poses an imminent threat to the public health or safety accompanied by appropriate instructions for actions to be taken by individuals affected or potentially affected by such a situation; and (ii) when technologically feasible public addresses by Federal, State, tribal, or local officials related to a significant threat to public safety. (3) Opt-in procedures for optional alerts.--The director of the Office may establish a procedure under which licensees who elect to participate in the National Alert System as described in paragraph (d), may transmit localized traffic, weather, community, or other non-emergency alerts via the National Alert System in a manner that enables them to be received only by individuals who take appropriate action to receive such alerts. (c) Access Points.--The National Alert System shall provide-- (1) secure, widely dispersed multiple access points to Federal, State, or local government officials with credentials that will enable them to initiate alerts for transmission to the public via the National Alert System; and (2) system redundancies to ensure functionality in the event of partial system failures, power failures, or other interruptive events. (d) Election To Carry Service.-- (1) Amendment of license.--Within 60 days after the date on which the National Alert Office adopts relevant technical standards based on recommendations of the Working Group, the Federal Communications Commission shall initiate a proceeding and subsequently issue an order-- (A) to allow any licensee providing commercial mobile service (as defined in section 332(d)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)(1))) to transmit National Alert System alerts to all subscribers to, or users of, such service; and (B) to require any such licensee who elects under paragraph (2) not to participate in the transmission of National Alert System alerts, to provide clear and conspicuous notice at the point of sale of any devices with which its service is included, that it will not transmit National Alert System alerts via its service. (2) Election to carry service.-- (A) In general.--Within 30 days after the Commission issues its order under paragraph (1), each such licensee shall file an election with the Commission with respect to whether or not it intends to participate in the transmission of National Alert System alerts. (B) Participation.--If a licensee elects to participate in the transmission of National Alert System alerts, the licensee shall certify to the Commission that it will participate in a manner consistent with the standards and protocols implemented by the National Alert Office. (C) Advertising.--Nothing in this title shall be construed to prevent a licensee from advertising that it participates in the transmission of National Alert System alerts. (D) Withdrawal from or later entry into system.--The Commission shall establish a procedure-- (i) for a participating licensee to withdraw from the National Alert System upon notification of its withdrawal to its existing subscribers; (ii) for a licensee to enter the National Alert System at a date later than provided in subparagraph (A); and (iii) under which a subscriber may terminate a subscription to service provided by a licensee that withdraws from the National Alert System without penalty or early termination fee. (E) Consumer choice technology.--Any licensee electing to participate in the transmission of National Alert System alerts may offer subscribers the capability of preventing the subscriber's device from receiving alerts broadcast by the system other than an alert issued by the President. (3) Expansion of class of licensees participating.--The Commission, in consultation with the National Alert Office, may expand the class of licensees allowed to participate in the transmission of National Alert System alerts subject to such requirements as the Commission, in consultation with the National Alert Office, determines to be necessary or appropriate-- (A) to ensure the broadest feasible propagation of alerts transmitted by the National Alert System to the public; and (B) to ensure that the functionality, integrity, and security of the National Alert System is not compromised. (e) Digital Television Transmission Towers.-- (1) Retransmission capability.--Within 30 days after the date on which the National Alert Office adopts relevant technical standards based on recommendations of the Working Group, the Federal Communications Commission shall initiate a proceeding to require public broadcast television licensees and permittees to install necessary equipment and technologies on, or as part of, any broadcast television digital signal transmitter to enable the transmitter to serve as a backbone for the reception, relay, and retransmission of National Alert System alerts. (2) Compensation.--The National Alert Office established by section --105 shall compensate any such licensee or permittee for costs incurred in complying with the requirements imposed pursuant to paragraph (1). (f) FCC Regulation of Compliance.--Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e), the Federal Communications Commission shall have no regulatory authority under this title except to regulate compliance with this title by licensees and permittees regulated by the Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.). [[Page S9207]] (g) Limitation of Liability.--Any person that participates in the transmission of National Alert System alerts and that meets its obligations under this title shall not be liable to any subscriber to, or user of, such person's service or equipment for-- (1) any act or omission related to or any harm resulting from the transmission of, or failure to transmit, a National Alert System alert to such subscriber or user; (2) for the release to a government agency or entity, public safety, fire service, law enforcement official, or emergency facility of subscriber information used in connection with delivering an alert; or (3) the licensee's or provider's withdrawal from or election not to participate in the National Alert System. (h) Testing.--The director shall establish testing criteria and guidelines for licensees that elect to participate in the transmission of National Alert System alerts. SEC. --104. COORDINATION WITH EXISTING PUBLIC ALERT SYSTEMS AND AUTHORITY. (a) Existing Federal Warning System Coordination.--The director shall work with the Federal Communications Commission and other relevant Federal agencies to ensure that the National Alert System-- (1) complements, rather than duplicates, existing Federal alert systems; and (2) obtains the maximum benefit possible from the utilization of existing research and development, technologies, and processes developed for or utilized by existing Federal alert systems. (b) Existing Alert Authority.--Nothing in this title shall be construed-- (1) to interfere with the authority of a Federal, State, or local government official under any other provision of law to transmit public alerts via the NOAA All-Hazards Radio System, digital and analog broadcast, cable, and satellite television and satellite and terrestrial radio, or any other emergency alert system in existence on the date of enactment of this Act; (2) to require alerts transmitted under the authority described in paragraph (1) to comply with any standard established pursuant to section --103; or (3) to require any Federal, State, or local government official to obtain credentials or undergo training under this title before transmitting alerts under the authority described in paragraph (1). SEC. --105. NATIONAL ALERT OFFICE. (a) Establishment.-- (1) In general.--The National Alert Office is established within the Department of Homeland Security. (2) Director.--The office shall be headed by a director with at least 5 years' operational experience in the management and issuance of warnings and alerts, hazardous event management, or disaster planning. The Director shall serve under and report to the Secretary of Homeland Security or his designee. (3) Staff.--The office shall have a staff with significant technical expertise in the communications industry and emergency public communications. The director may request the detailing, with or without reimbursement, of staff from any appropriate Federal department or agency in order to ensure that the concerns of all such departments and agencies are incorporated into the daily operation of the National Alert System. (b) Functions and Responsibilities.-- (1) In general.--The Office shall administer, operate, and manage the National Alert System. (2) Implementation of working group recommendations.--The Office shall be responsible for implementing the recommendations of the Working Group established by section --106 regarding-- (A) the technical transmission of alerts; (B) the incorporation of new technologies into the National Alert System; (C) the technical capabilities of the National Alert System; and (D) any other matters that fall within the duties of the Working Group. (3) Transmission of Alerts.--In administering the National Alert System, the director of the National Alert Office shall ensure that-- (A) the National Alert System is available to, and enables, only Federal, State, tribal, or local government officials with credentials issued by the National Alert Office under section --103 to access and utilize the National Alert System; (B) the National Alert System is capable of providing geographically targeted alerts where such alerts are appropriate; (C) the legitimacy and authenticity of any proffered alert is verified before it is transmitted; (D) each proffered alert complies with formats, protocols, and other requirements established by the Office to ensure the efficacy and usefulness of alerts transmitted via the National Alert System; (E) the security and integrity of a National Alert System alert from the point of origination to delivery is maintained; and (F) the security and integrity of the National Alert System is maintained and protected. (c) Reports.-- (1) Annual reports.--The director shall submit an annual report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House of Representatives Committee on Science, and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the status of, and plans for, the National Alert System. In the first annual report, the director shall report on-- (A) the progress made toward operational activation of the alerting capabilities of the National Alert System; and (B) the anticipated date on which the National Alert System will be available for utilization by Federal, State, and local officials. (2) 5-year plan.--Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and every 5 years thereafter, the director shall publish a 5-year plan that outlines future capabilities and communications platforms for the National Alert System. The plan shall serve as the long-term planning document for the Office. (d) GAO Audits.-- (1) In general.--The Comptroller General shall audit the National Alert Office every 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act and periodically thereafter and transmit the findings thereof to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House of Representatives Committee on Science, and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. (2) Response report.--If, as a result of the audit, the Comptroller General expresses concern about any matter addressed by the audit, the director of the National Alert Office shall transmit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House of Representatives Committee on Science, and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure describing what action, if any, the director is taking to respond to any such concern. SEC. --106. NATIONAL ALERT SYSTEM WORKING GROUP. (a) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the director of the National Alert Office shall establish a working group, to be known as the National Alert System Working Group. (b) Membership.-- (1) Appointment; chair.--The director shall appoint the members of the Working Group as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act and shall serve as its chair. In appointing members of the Working Group, the director shall ensure that the number of members appointed under paragraph (5) provides appropriate and adequate representation for all stakeholders and interested and affected parties. (2) Federal agency representatives.--Appropriate personnel from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Justice, the National Communications System, the Department of Homeland Security's Preparedness Directorate, the United States Postal Service, and other appropriate Federal agencies shall serve as members of the Working Group. (3) State and local government representatives.--The director shall appoint representatives of State and local governments and representatives of emergency services personnel, selected from among individuals nominated by national organizations representing such governments and personnel, to serve as members of the Working Group. (4) Tribal governments.--The director shall appoint representatives from Federally recognized Indian tribes and National Indian organizations. (5) Subject matter experts..--The director shall appoint individuals who have the requisite technical knowledge and expertise to serve on the Working Group in the fulfillment of its duties, including representatives of-- (A) communications service providers; (B) vendors, developers, and manufacturers of systems, facilities; equipment, and capabilities for the provision of communications services; (C) third-party service bureaus; (D) technical experts from the broadcasting industry; (E) the national organization representing the licensees and permittees of noncommercial broadcast television stations; (F) national organizations representing individuals with special needs; and (G) other individuals with technical expertise that would enhance the National Alert System. (c) Duties of the Working Group.-- (1) Development of system-critical recommendations.--Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Working Group shall develop and transmit to the National Alert Office recommendations for-- (A) protocols, including formats, source or originator identification, threat severity, hazard description, and response requirements or recommendations, for alerts to be [[Page S9208]] transmitted via the National Alert System that ensures that alerts are capable of being utilized across the broadest variety of communication technologies, at National, State, and local levels; (B) procedures for verifying, initiating, modifying, and canceling alerts transmitted via the National Alert System; (C) guidelines for the technical capabilities of the National Alert System; (D) guidelines for technical capability that provides for the priority transmission of National Alert System alerts; (E) guidelines for other capabilities of the National Alert System as specified in this title; (F) standards for equipment and technologies used by the National Alert System; (G) guidelines for the transmission of National System Alerts in languages in addition to English, to the extent practicable; and (H) guidelines for incorporating the National Alert System into comprehensive emergency planning standards for public alert and notification and emergency public communications. (2) Integration of emergency and national alert systems.-- The Working Group shall work with the operators of nuclear power plants and other critical infrastructure facilities to integrate emergency alert systems for those facilities with the National Alert System. (d) Meetings.-- (1) Initial meeting.--The initial meeting of the Working Group shall take place not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Other meetings.--After the initial meeting, the Working Group shall meet at the call of the chair. (3) Notice; open meetings.--Any meetings held by the Working Group shall be duly noticed at least 14 days in advance and shall be open to the public. (e) Resources.-- (1) Federal agencies.--The Working Group shall have reasonable access to-- (A) materials, resources, data, and other information from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Commerce and its agencies, the Department of Homeland Security and its bureaus, and the Federal Communications Commission; and (B) the facilities of any such agency for purposes of conducting meetings. (2) Gifts and grants.--The Working Group may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or grants of services or property, both real and personal, for purposes of aiding or facilitating the work of the Working Group. Gifts or grants not used at the expiration of the Working Group shall be returned to the donor or grantor. (f) Rules.-- (1) Quorum.--One-third of the members of the Working Group shall constitute a quorum for conducting business of the Working Group. (2) Subcommittees.--To assist the Working Group in carrying out its functions, the chair may establish appropriate subcommittees composed of members of the Working Group and other subject matter experts as deemed necessary. (3) Additional rules.--The Working Group may adopt other rules as needed. (g) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Neither the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) nor any rule, order, or regulation promulgated under that Act shall apply to the Working Group. SEC. --107. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. (a) In General.--The Undersecretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology and the director jointly shall establish an extramural research and development program based on the recommendations of the Working Group to support the development of technology that will enable all existing and future providers of communications services and all existing and future communications devices to be utilized effectively with the National Alert System. (b) Functions.--In carrying out subsection (a) the Undersecretary for Science and Technology and the director shall-- (1) fund research and development which may include academia, the private sector, and government laboratories; and (2) ensure that the program addresses, at a minimum-- (A) developing innovative technologies that will transmit geographically targeted emergency messages to the public; (B) enhancing participation in the national alert system; (C) understanding and improving public response to warnings; and (D) enhancing the ability of local communities to integrate the National Alert System into their overall operations management. (c) Use of Existing Programs and Resources.--In developing the program, the Undersecretary for Science and Technology shall utilize existing expertise of the Department of Commerce, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology. SEC. --108. GRANT PROGRAM FOR REMOTE COMMUNITY ALERT SYSTEMS. (a) Grant Program.--The Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall establish a program under which grants may be made to provide for the installation of technologies in remote communities effectively unserved by commercial mobile radio service (as determined by the Federal Communications Commission within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act) for the purpose of enabling residents of those communities to receive National Alert System alerts. (b) Applications and Conditions.--In conducting the program, the Undersecretary-- (1) shall establish a notification and application procedure; and (2) may establish such conditions, and require such assurances, as may be appropriate to ensure the efficiency and integrity of the grant program. (c) Sunset.--The Undersecretary may not make grants under subsection (a) more than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. --109. PUBLIC FAMILIARIZATION, OUTREACH, AND RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS. The director of the National Office, in consultation with the Working Group, shall conduct a program of public outreach to ensure that the public is aware of the National Alert System and understands its capabilities and uses for emergency preparedness and response. The program shall incorporate multiple communications technologies and methods, including inserts in packaging for wireless devices, Internet websites, and the use of broadcast radio and television Non- Commercial Sustaining Announcement Programs. SEC. --110. ESSENTIAL SERVICES DISASTER ASSISTANCE. Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 425. ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `essential service provider' means an entity that-- ``(1) provides-- ``(A) telecommunications service; ``(B) electrical power; ``(C) natural gas; ``(D) water and sewer services; or ``(E) any other essential service, as determined by the President; ``(2) is-- ``(A) a municipal entity; ``(B) a nonprofit entity; or ``(C) a private, for-profit entity; and ``(3) is contributing to efforts to respond to an emergency or major disaster. ``(b) Authorization.--In an emergency or major disaster, the President may use Federal equipment, supplies, facilities, personnel, and other non-monetary resources to assist an essential service provider, in exchange for reasonable compensation. ``(c) Compensation.-- ``(1) In general.--The President shall, by regulation, establish a mechanism to set reasonable compensation to the Federal Government for the provision of assistance under subsection (b). ``(2) Criteria.--The mechanism established under paragraph (1)-- ``(A) shall reflect the cost to the government (or if this is not readily obtainable, the full market value under the applicable circumstances) for assistance provided under subsection (b) in setting compensation; ``(B) shall have, to the maximum degree feasible, streamlined procedures for determining compensation; and ``(C) may, at the President's discretion, be based on a good faith estimate of cost to the government rather than an actual accounting of costs. ``(3) Periodic review.--The President shall periodically review, and if necessary revise, the regulations established pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) to ensure that these regulations result in full compensation to the government for transferred resources. Such reviews shall occur no less frequently than once every 2 years, and the results of such reviews shall be reported to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.''. SEC. --111. DEFINITIONS. In this title: (1) Director.--The term ``director'' means the director of the National Alert Office. (2) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the National Alert Office established by section --105. (3) National alert system.--The term ``National Alert System'' means the National Alert System established by section --102. (4) NOAA.--The term ``NOAA'' means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (5) Non-commercial sustaining announcement program.--The term ``Non-Commercial Sustaining Announcement Program'' means a radio and television campaign conducted for the benefit of a nonprofit organization or government agency using unsold commercial air time donated by participating broadcast stations for use in such campaigns, and for which the campaign's sponsoring organization or agency funds the cost of underwriting programs that serve the public convenience, interest, and necessity, as described in section 307 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 307). (6) Working group.--The term ``Working Group'' means the National Alert System Working Group on the established under section --106. SEC. --112. EXISTING INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES. Nothing in this title shall be construed to require the termination of existing interagency programs or activities, or cooperative or consultative arrangements, related to [[Page S9209]] the provision of notice or information to the public about emergency situations that may require a public response. SEC. --113. FUNDING. Funding for this title shall be provided from the Digital Transition and Public Safety Fund in accordance with section 3010 of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 U.S.C. 309 note). ____________________
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