[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 193 (Monday, November 17, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4681-H4682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY VEHICULAR TERRORISM PREVENTION AND
MITIGATION ACT OF 2025
Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 1608) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to
produce a report on emerging threats and countermeasures related to
vehicular terrorism, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1608
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 ``Department of Homeland
Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On January 1, 2025, a devastating vehicular terrorist
attack occurred on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana,
when an assailant inspired by the Islamic State drove a
vehicle into a crowd and engaged in a shootout with law
enforcement. This tragic incident resulted in the loss of 14
lives and injuries to at least thirty-five others, including
two police officers.
(2) Vehicle-ramming attacks and other vehicular terrorist
incidents represent an enduring and evolving threat to public
safety in the United States and around the world, targeting
innocent civilians and first responders.
(3) These attacks, carried out by both organized terrorist
groups and individual actors, often aim to exploit high-
density public gatherings, critical infrastructure, and key
transportation hubs, causing mass casualties and widespread
disruption.
(4) Emerging automotive technologies, such as autonomous
vehicles, Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)
capabilities, and ride-sharing platforms, create new
vulnerabilities that could be leveraged by malicious actors
to conduct sophisticated vehicle-based attacks.
(5) The Department of Homeland Security, through agencies
like the Transportation Security Administration and the
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, plays a
vital role in detecting, assessing, and mitigating the risks
associated with vehicle-based threats.
(6) Strengthened coordination between Federal, State,
local, Tribal, territorial, and private sector stakeholders
is essential to enhance prevention, preparedness, and
response efforts, ensuring the safety of communities across
the nation.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON EMERGING THREATS AND COUNTERMEASURES
RELATED TO VEHICULAR TERRORISM.
(a) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, in coordination with the Administrator of the
Transportation Security Administration and the Director of
the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
on the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to prevent,
deter, and respond to vehicular terrorism.
(2) Elements.--The report under paragraph (1) shall include
the following:
(A) An assessment of the current and emerging threats posed
by vehicular terrorism, as well as the following:
(i) An analysis of the methods, tactics, and motivations
used by perpetrators of vehicular terrorism.
(ii) An evaluation of domestic and international trends in
vehicular terrorism.
(iii) An identification of potential future threats related
to the misuse of connected or autonomous vehicles, Advanced
Driver Assistance System (ADAS) -equipped vehicles, ride-
sharing services, and advancements in automotive
technologies, including cybersecurity threats to underlying
software technologies (including artificial intelligence-
enabled technologies) powering autonomous vehicles.
(B) A review of higher-risk locations and events that may
be vulnerable to vehicular terrorism, including the
following:
(i) Critical infrastructure sites such as the following:
(I) Airports.
(II) Seaports.
(III) Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial
government facilities.
(IV) Power plants.
(V) Substations.
(VI) Oil refineries.
(VII) Public transportation hubs.
(VIII) Healthcare facilities.
(ii) Soft-targets and crowded spaces, including mass
gatherings and widely attended events such as parades,
concerts, sporting events, political rallies, holiday
markets, places of worship, public demonstrations, and
ceremonial events.
(iii) High-density urban areas with limited physical
security measures such as pedestrianized city centers,
commercial districts, residential neighborhoods, public
parks, recreational areas, educational institutions, and
tourist destinations.
(C) A comprehensive summary of actions taken by the
Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security
Administration, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency to research measures that prevent, deter, and
respond to vehicular terrorism, including the following:
(i) The identification and coordination with State, local,
Tribal, and territorial governments and industry partners for
the strategic placement of physical barriers, bollards, and
other protective infrastructure at higher-risk locations.
(ii) The research, testing, and deployment of geofencing,
surveillance systems, cybersecurity measures, and other
technologies designed to monitor, restrict, and manage
vehicle access to such higher-risk locations.
(iii) The creation of real-time response strategies and
operational plans to neutralize vehicular terrorism,
including ongoing research into best practices for threat
detection, incident management, and threat containment.
(D) An evaluation of the Department's engagement with
private and public sector stakeholders to address risks of
vehicular terrorism, including the following:
(i) Collaboration with vehicle rental companies, ride-
sharing platforms, vendors of connected, autonomous, and ADAS
technologies, freight operators, and automotive
manufacturers.
(ii) Development of industry-specific best practices to
prevent the misuse of vehicles.
(iii) Protocols for sharing threat intelligence and
security guidance with private sector partners.
(E) A description of the Department's coordination efforts
with Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial law
enforcement agencies to prevent vehicular terrorism,
including the following:
(i) Mechanisms for sharing threat intelligence and
situational awareness.
(ii) Guidance provided to such law enforcement agencies
regarding implementing countermeasures, such as traffic
control measures and rapid vehicle containment protocols.
(iii) Joint exercises and training programs to enhance
interagency preparedness and response.
(iv) Efforts to equip law enforcement, first responders,
and private sector partners with the knowledge and skills to
recognize and respond to vehicular terrorism, including the
development of specialized curricula addressing emerging
threats, such as connected or autonomous vehicles and other
advanced technologies.
(v) Outreach efforts to ensure that smaller jurisdictions
have access to necessary training resources and public safety
awareness tools.
(F) Recommendations for the research, development, and
deployment of technologies to detect, deter, and mitigate
vehicular terrorism, including the following:
(i) Vehicle immobilization systems and remote disablement
technologies.
(ii) Predictive analytics and threat detection software
that incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning
algorithms to identify and flag in real time anomalous or
suspicious vehicle behavior, as well as associated
technologies to disable or divert a vehicle before it becomes
a threat.
(iii) Innovations in cybersecurity to prevent the hacking
or misuse of connected, autonomous, or ADAS-equipped
vehicles.
(G) A description of the Department's engagement with
privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties stakeholders to
ensure all countermeasures and technologies, including
artificial-intelligence and machine learning algorithms,
deployed to prevent vehicular terrorism are implemented in a
manner that respects individual rights and freedoms.
[[Page H4682]]
(H) A review of the Department's public awareness
initiatives focused on the following:
(i) Educating the public on recognizing suspicious vehicle-
related behavior and reporting potential threats.
(ii) Building trust and fostering collaboration between
communities and law enforcement agencies.
(iii) Enhancing resilience by encouraging community-based
security measures.
(I) Such other elements as the Secretary of Homeland
Security considers appropriate.
(3) Form.--The report under paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in classified form, but may include an unclassified
executive summary.
(4) Publication.--The unclassified executive summary of the
report required under paragraph (1) shall be published on a
publicly accessible website of the Department of Homeland
Security.
(b) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days after the submission
of the report under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall provide to the appropriate congressional
committees a briefing on the findings, conclusions, and
recommendations of such report.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate.
(2) Vehicular terrorism.--The term ``vehicular terrorism''
means an action that utilizes automotive transportation to
commit terrorism (as such term is defined in section 2(18) of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(18))).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Garbarino) and the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Hernandez)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1608.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1608, the Department
of Homeland Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act
of 2025.
Following the vehicular terrorism incident in New Orleans on New
Year's Day and as the U.S. prepares to host several major sporting
events starting next year, it is more important than ever that the
Department of Homeland Security take a leading role in addressing the
threat of vehicular terrorism.
This legislation will require DHS to conduct a comprehensive
assessment of emerging threats and potential countermeasures.
Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1608, the Department of
Homeland Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act of
2025.
In the early morning on New Year's Day this year, an assailant
carried out a devastating truck attack against pedestrians in New
Orleans, killing 14 victims plus the perpetrator and injuring at least
57 others.
This attack is the latest in a string of attacks using vehicles to
inflict significant harm.
H.R. 1608 would enhance the Department of Homeland Security's efforts
to address threats posed by vehicular terrorism.
Madam Speaker, I support the bill's advancement, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gimenez).
Mr. GIMENEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my
bill, H.R. 1608, the Department of Homeland Security Vehicular
Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2025.
On New Year's Day 2025, our Nation was shaken by a horrific ISIS-
inspired attack in New Orleans that took the lives of 14 innocent
people and injured dozens more.
This tragedy is a stark reminder that vehicles are increasingly being
weaponized as instruments of terror. H.R. 1608 directs the Department
of Homeland Security to confront the growing threat of vehicle-based
attacks. It mandates a comprehensive assessment of current and emerging
tactics, including the potential misuse of autonomous vehicles,
rideshare platforms, and connected vehicle technologies.
Further, the bill strengthens coordination between Federal, State,
and local governments and the private sector to better safeguard public
gatherings, critical infrastructure, and high-density urban areas.
I thank Congressman Troy Carter, who represents the community
devastated by the New Year's Day attack, for his partnership and
leadership on this effort.
This practical and bipartisan legislation is about honoring the lives
we lost by doing everything possible to prevent and mitigate future
attacks. With major events on the horizon, including America250, the
FIFA World Cup, and the Los Angeles Olympics, we must ensure every
necessary security measure is in place to protect the millions of
visitors and attendees these events will bring.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1608.
Mr. HERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am
prepared to close.
This bill will help make life easier for all Americans by pushing DHS
to advance its efforts to prevent vehicular terrorism.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. In closing,
I, again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1608, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1608, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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