PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.173 / 109th Congress

Anti-Terrorism and Port Security Act of 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 4, 2005

Anti-Terrorism and Port Security Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it unlawful to: (1) destroy or interfere with vessels or maritime facilities; (2) put destructive devices in U.S. waters; (3) use a dangerous weapon or explosive to try to kill someone on board a passenger vessel; (4) fail to heave to a vessel at the direction of an authorized Federal law enforcement official; (5) destroy an aid to maritime navigation maintained by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation or the Coast Guard if this would endanger safe navigation; or (6) knowingly discharge or release a hazardous substance into U.S. navigable waters or the adjoining shoreline with intent to endanger human life, health, or welfare.

Revises piracy and privateering laws, increasing penalties.

Requires the Attorney General to coordinate port-related crime data collection.

Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.

Read full official summaryShow less

Designates the Captain-of-the-Port as the primary authority for seaport security at each port.

Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to establish criminal penalties for violations of prohibitions against falsity or lack of a cargo manifest, and increases civil penalties.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) develop a shipment profiling plan to track containers and shipments of merchandise to be imported; (2) submit to Congress a plan for inspecting merchandise and their transportation containers at foreign facilities before importation; (3) issue final regulations prescribing seaport security requirements; and (4) approve minimum standards for high security container seals and award grants to seal developers.

Requires Captains-of-the-Port to secure and protect all sensitive information.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Millender-McDonald, Juanita [D-CA-37] · D–CA

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
  • Homeland Security Committee
  • Ways and Means Committee
  • Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

    Actions

    A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

    1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

    2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Security, infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity.

    3. Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

    4. Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

    5. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means, and Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    6. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means, and Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    7. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means, and Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    8. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means, and Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    9. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means, and Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    10. Introduced in House

    11. Introduced in House

    Bill text & related measures

    Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

    Related bills identified by Congress.gov

    No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

    Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

    Explore the bill from different angles

    Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

    Neutral evidence review

    Objective

    Analyze H.R.173 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

    View full prompt & sources
    Fairness and public impact

    Progressive lens

    Examine H.R.173 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

    View full prompt & sources
    Institutions and government scope

    Conservative lens

    Examine H.R.173 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

    View full prompt & sources
    Individual rights and government power

    Liberty lens

    Examine H.R.173 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

    View full prompt & sources