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H.R. 5131: Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018

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H.R. 5131: Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018

115th Congress · introduced 2018-02-27 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2018-02-27 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 126 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR5131 (2018-03-22), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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 Security Improvement Act of 2018

Plain summary

Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018 (Sec. 3) The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must evaluate the extent to which the 2016 Biennial National Strategy for Transportation Security is reflected in federal transportation security programs. (Sec. 4) This bill establishes programs and reporting requirements to identify risks to facilities, equipment, or systems used to provide public transportation (surface transportation assets). It requires the Department of Homeland Security to: develop risk-based priorities informed by an analysis of terrorist and cyber attack scenarios, submit to Congress a feasibility assessment of employing new technologies to enhance surface transportation security, disseminate best practices to protect against the threat of a vehicle-based terrorist attack, and report on threats to transportation security posed by the use of security technologies by foreign countries. (Sec. 9) The bill authorizes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a task force to identify and develop an innovative technology to enhance transportation security. The TSA must also submit to Congress and the GAO a strategy to guide operations of surface transportation security inspectors.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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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] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5131, Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018 (2018-03-22)

Cosponsors on this site

Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS)

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.

Recorded votes

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

Record fed-us-cong115-hr5131 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115