PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Congressional Research Service
Version 36 · Passed House amended · Mar 22, 2018
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:
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
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.
People & committees
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] · D–NJ
Legislative record
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Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 - 5 (Roll no. 126).
House roll call 126 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 - 5 (Roll no. 126).
House roll call 126 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1768-1769)
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5131.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1669-1671; text: CR H1669-1670)
Mr. Bacon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 458.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-602.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-602.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.5131 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.
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