Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 10, 2004
Guarding American Trade Enterprises Act or GATE Act - Amends Federal maritime law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to include within the National Maritime Transportation Security Plan a plan for ensuring that the flow of cargo through U.S. ports is reestablished as efficiently and quickly as possible after a transportation security incident or instance of attempted transport of any implement of terrorism through the port.
Requires (currently authorizes) the Secretary to develop and implement a long-range automated vessel tracking system for all vessels in U.S. waters equipped with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System or equivalent satellite technology. Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees a plan to develop and implement such system no later than December 31, 2004. Authorizes the Secretary to use the nonprofit Maritime Information Services of North America Automated Secure Vessel Tracking System as a pilot program for purposes of long-range vessel tracking.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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