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119th Congress

Title 6 — Domestic Security

Part B · Chapter 4 — Transportation Security

§ 1164. Systemwide Amtrak security upgrades

Statutory text

(a)

In general

(1)

Grants

Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, is authorized to make grants to Amtrak in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(2)

General purposes

The Secretary may make such grants for the purposes of—

(A)

protecting underwater and underground assets and systems;

(B)

protecting high-risk and high-consequence assets identified through systemwide risk assessments;

(C)

providing counterterrorism or security training;

(D)

providing both visible and unpredictable deterrence; and

(E)

conducting emergency preparedness drills and exercises.

(3)

Specific projects

The Secretary shall make such grants—

(A)

to secure major tunnel access points and ensure tunnel integrity in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington, DC;

(B)

to secure Amtrak trains;

(C)

to secure Amtrak stations;

(D)

to obtain a watchlist identification system approved by the Secretary, or to connect to the National Terrorism Screening Center watchlist;

(E)

to obtain train tracking and interoperable communications systems that are coordinated with Federal, State, and local agencies and tribal governments to the maximum extent possible;

(F)

to hire, train, and employ police and security officers, including canine units, assigned to full-time security or counterterrorism duties related to railroad transportation;

(G)

for operating and capital costs associated with security awareness, preparedness, and response training, including training under section 1167 of this title, and training developed by universities, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit employee labor organizations, for railroad employees, including frontline employees;

(H)

for live or simulated exercises, including exercises described in section 1166 of this title;

(I)

for improvements to passenger verification systems;

(J)

for improvements to employee and contractor verification systems, including identity verification technology; or

(K)

for improvements to the security of Amtrak computer systems, including cybersecurity assessments and programs.

(b)

Conditions

The Secretary shall award grants to Amtrak under this section for projects contained in a systemwide security plan approved by the Secretary developed pursuant to section 1162 of this title. Not later than 5 business days after awarding a grant to Amtrak under this section, the Secretary shall transfer the grant funds to the Secretary of Transportation to be disbursed to Amtrak.

(c)

Equitable geographic allocation

The Secretary shall ensure that, subject to meeting the highest security needs on Amtrak’s entire system and consistent with the risk assessment required under section 1161 of this title and Amtrak’s vulnerability assessment and security plan developed under section 1162 of this title, stations and facilities located outside of the Northeast Corridor receive an equitable share of the security funds authorized by this section.

(d)

Availability of funds

(1)

In general

Out of funds appropriated pursuant to section 114(w) 1 of title 49, there shall be made available to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to carry out this section—

(A)

$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;

(B)

$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;

(C)

$175,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and

(D)

$175,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

(2)

Availability of appropriated funds

Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.

Footnotes

  1. 1 See References in Text note below.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Pub. L. 110–53 title XV § 1514 · 121 Stat. 266

    Enacted · 6 U.S.C. § 1164

    Pub. L. 110–53, title XV, § 1514, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 435

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Pub. L. 110–53, title XV, § 1514, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 435

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    SEC. 1514. SYSTEMWIDE AMTRAK SECURITY UPGRADES. (a) In General.— (1) Grants.— Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, is authorized to make grants to Amtrak in accordance with the provisions of this section. (2) General purposes.— The Secretary may make such grants for the purposes of— (A) protecting underwater and underground assets and systems; (B) protecting high-risk and high-consequence assets identified through systemwide risk assessments; (C) providing counterterrorism or security training; (D) providing both visible and unpredictable deterrence; and (E) conducting emergency preparedness drills and exercises. (3) Specific projects.— The Secretary shall make such grants— (A) State listing. District of Columbia. to secure major tunnel access points and ensure tunnel integrity in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington, DC; (B) to secure Amtrak trains; (C) to secure Amtrak stations; (D) to obtain a watchlist identification system approved by the Secretary; (E) to obtain train tracking and interoperable communications systems that are coordinated with Federal, State, and local agencies and tribal governments to the maximum extent possible; (F) to hire, train, and employ police and security officers, including canine units, assigned to full-time security or counterterrorism duties related to railroad transportation; (G) for operating and capital costs associated with security awareness, preparedness, and response training, including training under section 1517, and training developed by universities, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit employee labor organizations, for railroad employees, including frontline employees; and (H) for live or simulated exercises, including exercises described in section 1516. (b) Conditions.— The Grants. Secretary shall award grants to Amtrak under this section for projects contained in a systemwide security plan approved by the Secretary developed pursuant to section 1512. Not later Deadline. than 5 business days after awarding a grant to Amtrak under this section, the Secretary shall transfer the grant funds to the Secretary of Transportation to be disbursed to Amtrak. (c) Equitable Geographic Allocation.— The Secretary shall ensure that, subject to meeting the highest security needs on Amtrak’s entire system and consistent with the risk assessment required under section 1511 and Amtrak’s vulnerability assessment and security plan developed under section 1512, stations and facilities located outside of the Northeast Corridor receive an equitable share of the security funds authorized by this section. (d) Availability of Funds.— (1) In general.— Out of funds appropriated pursuant to section 114(w) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 1503 of this title, there shall be made available to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to carry out this section— (A) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; (B) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; (C) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and (D) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. (2) Availability of appropriated funds.— Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.

  2. TSA Modernization Act

    Pub. L. 115–254 § 1973(b)(1) · 132 Stat. 3187

    Inserted · 6 U.S.C. § 1164(a)(3)(D)

    Pub. L. 115–254, § 1973(b)(1), inserted “, or to connect to the National Terrorism Screening Center watchlist” after “Secretary”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (a)(3)(D). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1973(b)(1), inserted “, or to connect to the National Terrorism Screening Center watchlist” after “Secretary”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) in subparagraph (D) by inserting “, or to connect to the National Terrorism Screening Center watchlist” after “Secretary”;

  3. TSA Modernization Act

    Pub. L. 115–254 § 1973(b)(2) · 132 Stat. 3187

    Added · 6 U.S.C. § 1164(a)(3)(I)(K)

    Pub. L. 115–254, § 1973(b)(2)–(4), added subpars. (I) to (K)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (a)(3)(I) to (K). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1973(b)(2)–(4), added subpars. (I) to (K).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (2) in subparagraph (G), by striking “; and” at the end and inserting a semicolon;

3 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 114(w) of title 49, referred to in subsec. (d)(1), was redesignated section 114(v) of title 49 by Pub. L. 115–254, div. K, § 1904(b)(1)(I), , 132 Stat. 3545.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(3)(D). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1973(b)(1), inserted “, or to connect to the National Terrorism Screening Center watchlist” after “Secretary”.

Subsec. (a)(3)(I) to (K). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1973(b)(2)–(4), added subpars. (I) to (K).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Passenger Rail Vetting

Pub. L. 115–254, div. K, title I, § 1974, , 132 Stat. 3615, provided that:

“(a)

In General.—

Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Amtrak Board of Directors submits a request to the Administrator [of the Transportation Security Administration], the Administrator shall issue a decision on the use by Amtrak of the Transportation Security Administration’s Secure Flight Program or a similar passenger vetting system to enhance passenger rail security.

“(b)

Considerations.—

In making a decision under subsection (a), the Administrator shall—

“(1)

consider the technological, privacy, operational, and security impacts of such a decision; and

“(2)

describe such impacts in any strategic plan developed under subsection (c).

“(c)

Strategic Plan.—

If the Administrator decides to grant the request by Amtrak under subsection (a), the decision shall include a strategic plan for working with rail stakeholders to enhance passenger rail security by—

“(1)

vetting passengers using terrorist watch lists maintained by the Federal Government or a similar passenger vetting system maintained by the Transportation Security Administration; and

“(2)

where applicable and in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, assessing whether the vetting process should be integrated into preclearance operations established under section 813 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. 4432).

“(d)

Notices.—

The Administrator shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress [Committees on Commerce, Science and Transportation and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives] of any decision made under subsection (a) and the details of the strategic plan under subsection (c).

“(e)

Rule of Construction.—

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the Administrator’s authority to set the access to, or terms and conditions of using, the Secure Flight Program or a similar passenger vetting system.”

Credits

2007–2018 · 2 acts
  1. 2007Pub. L. 110–53, title XV, § 1514, , 121 Stat. 435
  2. 2018Pub. L. 115–254, div. K, title I, § 1973(b), , 132 Stat. 3614.
Show as published

(Pub. L. 110–53, title XV, § 1514, , 121 Stat. 435; Pub. L. 115–254, div. K, title I, § 1973(b), , 132 Stat. 3614.)

Parsed from the official OLRC USLM XML in data/usc_all/usc06.xml · release point 119-108 · OLRC build 2026-09-09

USLM identifier /us/usc/t6/s1164