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S 746 108th Congress Senate

Anti-Terrorism and Port Security Act of 2003

Official title: A bill to prevent and respond to terrorism and crime at or through ports.

Introduced: July 14, 2003 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 14, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8125)
Mar 31, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4572-4577)
Mar 31, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4570-4572)
Mar 31, 2003
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action July 14, 2003

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8125)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Anti-Terrorism and Port Security Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it unlawful to: (1) destroy or interfere with vessels or maritime facilities; (2) put devices in U.S. waters that can destroy a ship or cargo or interfere with safe navigation or maritime commerce; (3) use a dangerous weapon or explosive to try to kill someone on board a passenger vessel; (4) fail to heave to (that is, to slow or stop) a vessel at the direction of a Coast Guard or other authorized Federal law enforcement official seeking to board that vessel, or to interfere with boarding by such an officer; (5) destroy an aid to maritime navigation (such as a buoy or shoal/breakwater light) maintained by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation or the Coast Guard if this would endanger the safe navigation of a vessel; or (6) knowingly discharge or release oil, a hazardous substance, a noxious liquid substance or any other substance (malicious dumping) into U.S. navigable waters or the adjoining shoreline with intent to endanger human life, health, or welfare.

Revises piracy and privateering laws, increasing penalties.

Requires the Attorney General to coordinate port-related crime data collection.

Designates the Captain-of-the-Port as the primary authority for seaport security at each port.

Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to specify mandatory information in cargo manifests, which must be transmitted electronically. Establishes criminal penalties for violations of requirements, and increases civil penalties.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) develop a shipment profiling plan to track containers (including empty containers) and shipments of merchandise to be imported into the United States; (2) submit to Congress a plan for inspecting merchandise and their transportation containers at foreign facilities before importation into the United States; (3) issue final regulations prescribing seaport security requirements, including unauthorized gun and explosives prohibitions, access restrictions, and specifications for biometric ("smart") identification cards for employees and other personnel; and (4) approve minimum standards for high security container seals meeting specified criteria, and award grants to developers of such seals.

Requires Captains-of-the-Port to secure and protect all sensitive information, including maps, blueprints, and information on the Internet.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 746: Anti-Terrorism and Port Security Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-746/
MLA
"S. 746: Anti-Terrorism and Port Security Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-746/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 746, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-746/.
Markdown link
[S. 746: Anti-Terrorism and Port Security Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-746/)
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