H.R. 4474: Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-11-28 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-11-28 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017

Plain summary

Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017 This bill reauthorizes for FY2018-FY2022 (1) the public transportation security grant program, (2) the law enforcement reimbursement agreement program, (3) visible intermodal prevention and response teams, (4) explosives detection canine teams, and (5) surface transportation security inspectors. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall (1) establish a law enforcement officer reimbursement agreement program, and (2) increase by at least 200 the number of state and local law enforcement-led explosives detection canine teams trained and certified by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dedicated to surface transportation security. DHS shall annually develop risk-based priorities based on risk assessments that consider threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences. The TSA may establish a task force to identify and develop an innovative technology or capability with the potential to enhance transportation security. DHS shall (1) prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts from the TSA and DHS to locations with participating fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset, (2) ensure there exists a national mechanism for an individual to report suspicious activity in a transportation facility, and (3) submit an assessment of threats to the transportation sector. A "fusion center" is a collaborative effort of two or more agencies that provide resources, expertise and information to the center with the goal of maximizing their ability to detect, prevent, investigate, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity. DHS shall (1) establish a working group to promote collaborative engagement between DHS and stakeholders to develop non-binding recommendations for enhancing security in public areas of transportation facilities, and (2) disseminate best practices to enhance security against the threat of a vehicle-based terrorist attack.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] · 19 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] reported raising $955,740 (2023–2024). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr4474.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr4474 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115