[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4978 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4978

To require the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the extent to 
  which security operations at United States seaports are managed by 
       nationals of foreign countries and other related matters.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 2006

   Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas introduced the following bill; which was 
     referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the extent to 
  which security operations at United States seaports are managed by 
       nationals of foreign countries and other related matters.

    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 ``Secure America Port Accountability 
Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. 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).
                                 <all>