[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4977 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4977

   To place a 2-year moratorium on certain contracts to conduct port 
        operations in the United States, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 2006

    Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas (for herself, Mr. Hall, Mr. Reyes, Mr. 
Crowley, Mr. Cuellar, Mr. Baca, and Mr. Ortiz) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
  Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on International 
   Relations and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To place a 2-year moratorium on certain contracts to conduct port 
        operations in the United States, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Save America's Ports Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. MORATORIUM ON CERTAIN CONTRACTS TO CONDUCT PORT OPERATIONS IN 
              THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) Moratorium.--During the 2-year period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act, no contract providing for the operation of 
any seaport or other point of entry into the United States may be 
entered into, modified, altered, or transferred, if a party to the 
contract is or would be--
            (1) a government which the Secretary of State has 
        determined, for purposes of section 6(j) of the Export 
        Administration Act of 1979, section 620A of the Foreign 
        Assistance Act of 1961, section 40 of the Arms Export Control 
        Act, or other provision of law, is a government that has 
        repeatedly provided support for acts of international 
        terrorism;
            (2) a foreign terrorist organization designated under 
        section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
            (3) any foreign person determined, pursuant to Executive 
        Order 13224, to have committed, or to pose a significant risk 
        of committing, acts of terrorism; or
            (4) any other entity that is owned or controlled by a 
        government described in paragraph (1), an organization 
        described in paragraph (2), or persons described in paragraph 
        (3), or any combination thereof.
    (b) Clarification.--For purposes of this section, the operation of 
a seaport or port of entry includes--
            (1) operations at such seaport or point of entry relating 
        to--
                    (A) the import or export of cargo, or the movement 
                of cargo in connection with such import or export; or
                    (B) the arrival or departure of passengers 
                traveling by vessel or aircraft; and
            (2) the operation, at such seaport or port of entry, of any 
        enterprise selling concessions or other items.

SEC. 3. STUDY AND REPORT BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the 
following:
            (1) The extent to which security operations at United 
        States seaports are managed by nationals of foreign countries, 
        including--
                    (A) an identification of the foreign countries 
                involved;
                    (B) the general responsibilities and authorities 
                that the contracts accord to the foreign nationals; and
                    (C) the extent to which the contracts make it 
                possible for the foreign nationals to engage in 
                activities that could impact on the security of the 
                ports.
            (2) Any incident in which foreign nationals described in 
        paragraph (1) have been charged with, or convicted of, criminal 
        conduct involving security operations at United States 
        seaports.
            (3) A review of United States contracts to manage or supply 
        United States seaports, taking effect after December 31, 2001, 
        with respect to the vulnerability of such seaports to threats 
        to the national security of the United States, including an 
        examination of--
                    (A) the number of such contracts awarded, including 
                the bid the number of international parties represented 
                in the contracts;
                    (B) the extent of oversight before the contract was 
                awarded and during the length of the contract; and
                    (C) the relationship, if any, between the security 
                breaches at the United States seaports and the 
                ownership or management of the seaports.
            (4) A review of the vulnerability of the ten largest United 
        States seaports to threats to the homeland security of the 
        United States, including threats involving enemy infiltration, 
        cargo shipping, and passenger safety, among others.
    (b) Report.--Not later than July 30, 2006, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a report on the results of the study required by 
subsection (a).

SEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT BY SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct a 
study on the status of security operations at the ten largest United 
States seaports.
    (b) Report.--Not later than July 30, 2006, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the results of the study 
required by subsection (a).
                                 <all>