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America's Waterway Watch Act

Introduced: May 19, 2010 Introduced by: Thompson, Bennie G. Democratic · Mississippi See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) 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 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 27, 2010
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.
May 20, 2010
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
May 20, 2010
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
May 19, 2010
Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
May 19, 2010
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 19, 2010
Referred to House Homeland Security
May 19, 2010
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

America's Waterway Watch Act - Establishes within the Coast Guard the America's Waterway Watch Program to promote voluntary reporting of activities indicating a threat or act of terrorism against a vessel, facility, port, or waterway.

Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) report to specified congressional committees and to the Comptroller General on the pilot program to test the business processes, technology, and operational impacts required to deploy transportation security card readers at secure areas of the marine transportation system; (2) report to specified congressional committees on the establishment of Interagency Operational Centers for Port Security and on the threat, vulnerability, and consequence of a terrorist attack on gasoline and chemical cargo shipments in port activity areas; (3) establish no less than two maritime security response teams to act as the Coast Guard's counterterrorism and law enforcement response units; (4) increase the number of detection canine teams certified by the Coast Guard for maritime-related security; (5) conduct a program for the mobile biometric identification of suspected individuals, including terrorists, to enhance border security; (6) establish a pilot program to test and deploy preventive radiological or nuclear detection equipment on Coast Guard vessels to enhance border security; (7) establish procedures for fingerprinting applicants for transportation security cards and prepare an assessment of the enrollment sites for such cards; and (8) initiate a national study to identify measures for improving the security of maritime transportation of certain dangerous cargo and coordinate an evaluation of the waterside security of vessels carrying, and waterfront facilities handling, certain dangerous cargo.

Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) study the effects that the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) has on companies that employ seasonal employees; (2) study methods to conduct a background security investigation of an individual who possesses a biometric identification card that complies with International Labor Convention number 185; and (3) report to specified congressional committees regarding background checks and forms of identification required under state and local transportation security programs.

Requires the Commandant of the Coast Guard to promote maritime security and ensure appropriate coverage of maritime security missions within the workforce. Authorizes the Commandant to establish and operate one or more centers of expertise for maritime security.

What's happening now May 27, 2010

Referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5346: To enhance homeland security in the ports and waterways of the United States, and for other purposes.. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-5346/
MLA
"H.R. 5346: To enhance homeland security in the ports and waterways of the United States, and for other purposes.." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-5346/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5346, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-5346/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5346: To enhance homeland security in the ports and waterways of the United States, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-5346/)
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