[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2539 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2539
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize the
assignment of certain officers and intelligence analysts from the
Transportation Security Administration and the Office of Intelligence
and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security to locations with
participating State, local, and regional fusion centers in
jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset in order to
enhance the security of such assets, including by improving timely
sharing of classified information regarding terrorist and other
threats, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 7, 2019
Ms. Barragan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Homeland Security
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize the
assignment of certain officers and intelligence analysts from the
Transportation Security Administration and the Office of Intelligence
and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security to locations with
participating State, local, and regional fusion centers in
jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset in order to
enhance the security of such assets, including by improving timely
sharing of classified information regarding terrorist and other
threats, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Local Transportation
Security Capabilities Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Public and private sector stakeholders.--The term
``public and private sector stakeholders'' has the meaning
given such term in section 114(u)(1)(C) of title 49, United
States Code.
(2) Surface transportation asset.--The term ``surface
transportation asset'' includes facilities, equipment, or
systems used to provide transportation services by--
(A) a public transportation agency (as such term is
defined in section 1402(5) of the Implementing
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007
(Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1131(5)));
(B) a railroad carrier (as such term is defined in
section 20102(3) of title 49, United States Code);
(C) an owner or operator of--
(i) an entity offering scheduled, fixed-
route transportation services by over-the-road
bus (as such term is defined in section 1501(4)
of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6
U.S.C. 1151(4))); or
(ii) a bus terminal; or
(D) other transportation facilities, equipment, or
systems, as determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 3. THREAT INFORMATION SHARING.
(a) Prioritization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts under
section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h) from
the Transportation Security Administration and, as appropriate, from
the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland
Security, to locations with participating State, local, and regional
fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation
asset in order to enhance the security of such assets, including by
improving timely sharing of classified information regarding terrorist
and other threats.
(b) Intelligence Products.--Officers and intelligence analysts
assigned to locations with participating State, local, and regional
fusion centers under this section shall participate in the generation
and dissemination of transportation security intelligence products,
with an emphasis on terrorist and other threats to surface
transportation assets that--
(1) assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement
agencies in deploying their resources, including personnel,
most efficiently to help detect, prevent, investigate,
apprehend, and respond to terrorist and other threats;
(2) promote more consistent and timely sharing of threat
information among jurisdictions; and
(3) enhance the Department of Homeland Security's
situational awareness of such terrorist and other threats.
(c) Clearances.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make
available to appropriate owners and operators of surface transportation
assets, and to any other person that the Secretary determines
appropriate to foster greater sharing of classified information
relating to terrorist and other threats to surface transportation
assets, the process of application for security clearances under
Executive Order No. 13549 (75 Fed. Reg. 162; relating to a classified
national security information program) or any successor Executive
order.
SEC. 4. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SECURITY TRAINING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with public and private sector stakeholders, may develop,
through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, a training
program to enhance the protection, preparedness, and response
capabilities of law enforcement agencies with respect to terrorist and
other threats at a surface transportation asset.
(b) Requirements.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security develops
the training program described in subsection (a), such training program
shall--
(1) be informed by current information regarding terrorist
tactics;
(2) include tactical instruction tailored to the diverse
nature of the surface transportation asset operational
environment; and
(3) prioritize training officers from law enforcement
agencies that are eligible for or receive grants under sections
2003 or 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 604
and 605) and officers employed by railroad carriers that
operate passenger service, including interstate passenger
service.
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