PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 14, 2001
Airport and Seaport Terrorism Prevention Act - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants for seaport security infrastructure improvements for the construction, acquisition, or deployment of surveillance equipment and technology at U.S. seaports. Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot program to track cargo within the United States, including the development and implementation of anti-tampering standards to ensure that cargo containers cannot be opened or tampered with during shipment. Establishes Domestic Port Security Units which shall consist of teams of personnel trained in antiterrorism activities that can be rapidly deployed to any port threatened with terrorist activity.Amends Federal aviation law to direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require airports to maximize the use of: (1) technology and equipment that is designed to detect potential chemical or biological weapons; and (2) nonintrusive and other inspection and detection technology for screening passengers, baggage, or cargo.Establishes within each of the largest 100 airports an airport security committee which shall be responsible for: (1) conducting and reviewing airport vulnerability assessments; (2) disseminating information that will facilitate law enforcement activities; and (3) conducting an exercise periodically to verify the effectiveness of airport security plans.Sets forth requirements calling for implementation of certain measures to improve air passenger safety and airport security, including: (1) use of technology to detect chemical, biological, or other hazardous substances and biometric technologies that identify individuals based on unique characteristics; and (2) airport personnel background checks and training.
People & committees
Sen. Edwards, John [D-NC] · D–NC
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
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.
Analyze S.1429 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.
Examine S.1429 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.
Examine S.1429 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.
Examine S.1429 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.