PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 86.
Congressional Research Service
Version 01 · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · Apr 21, 2005
Reducing Crime and Terrorism at America's Seaports Act of 2005 - (Sec. 2) Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) entry by false pretenses to a secure area of a seaport; (2) knowingly failing to obey an order to heave to by an authorized federal law enforcement officer; (3) forcibly interfering with an authorized law enforcement action or providing materially false information during a boarding; and (4) willfully disabling a passenger vessel.
(Sec. 5) Sets penalties for knowingly and intentionally: (1) placing in U.S. navigable waters a device or dangerous substance likely to destroy or damage a vessel or its cargo or likely to interfere with safe navigation or maritime commerce (authorizes the death penalty if death results from such conduct); (2) discharging or releasing into U.S. navigable water or onto an adjoining shoreline any dangerous substance that would endanger human life, health, or welfare or the marine environment; and (3) transporting aboard any vessel explosive, biological, chemical, or radioactive or nuclear material to be used to commit terrorism (authorizes the death penalty if death results from such conduct).
Sets penalties for: (1) knowingly transporting aboard any vessel a terrorist or terror suspect; (2) willfully causing destruction of a vessel or maritime facility; and (3) imparting or conveying false information concerning an attempt made to commit certain criminal acts.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
(Sec. 8) Expands the scope of a prohibition against theft of interstate or foreign shipments. Increases penalties for stowaways on vessels or aircraft. Prohibits bribery affecting port security.
(Sec. 9) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to increase penalties for noncompliance with manifest requirements and to expand the scope of those requirements to cover any responsible party, including non-vessel operating common carriers.
People & committees
Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE] · D–DE
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 86.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Specter with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Specter with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1419)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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