Cargo Security Innovation Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3376
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-07T12:03:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Cargo Security Innovation Act (S. 3376) aims to address cargo theft by directing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to create a pilot program. This program tests advanced technologies to improve security for cargo during transport and at key locations like ports and rail yards, helping to reduce theft and enhance overall supply chain safety.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms, including the TSA Administrator, relevant congressional committees (Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation; House Transportation and Infrastructure), "eligible consortium" (a partnership of private transportation companies, rail police if applicable, and at least one state or local law enforcement agency with expertise in technology deployment), "foreign entity of concern" (entities from certain countries posing security risks, as defined in existing law), and "intermodal transportation hub" (facilities like airports, land ports, or seaports where cargo switches between transport modes, including rail).
- Pilot Project Establishment: The TSA Administrator, working with the Secretary of Transportation, must set up the pilot within one year of the bill's enactment. It involves granting funds to eligible consortia to deploy and test law enforcement and cargo security technologies at sites with high theft rates.
- Pilot Sites: Up to six sites (intermodal hubs or rail yards) will be selected for geographic and operational diversity, with no more than one per state. Technologies from foreign entities of concern are banned.
- Grants: Eligible consortia apply for grants to cover technology purchase and installation, staff training, data sharing with federal systems, evaluations, and related activities.
- Accountability: Grant recipients must keep records for audits by TSA to track fund use.
- Reporting Requirements: Within two years of first technology deployment at a site, TSA submits a report to Congress detailing deployed technologies, their effectiveness against theft, lessons learned, cost-benefit analyses, machine-readable data, and recommendations for expansion or changes.
- Sunset Clause: The pilot ends three years after initial technology deployment at each site.
- GAO Review: One year after all sites close, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) evaluates the program's overall success and reports to Congress.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new pilot program under TSA authority, with no explicit amendments to prior laws. It builds on existing transportation definitions (e.g., from Title 49 of the U.S. Code) but adds specific requirements for technology testing, grant funding, and prohibitions on certain foreign technologies, creating fresh mechanisms for cargo security innovation without altering core statutes.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: TSA gains responsibility for program administration, consultations, and reporting, potentially increasing workload and budget needs. The Department of Transportation provides input, while GAO conducts an independent review. Congressional committees oversee progress.
- Citizens and Economy: Reduced cargo theft could lower costs for businesses and consumers by protecting goods in transit, benefiting supply chains for everyday items like electronics or food. It may indirectly improve public safety by curbing organized crime linked to theft.
- International Relations: The ban on technologies from "foreign entities of concern" (e.g., those tied to adversarial nations) reinforces U.S. security priorities, potentially straining trade or tech partnerships with those countries but aligning with broader national security efforts.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: TSA (leads implementation), Department of Transportation (advisory role), and GAO (evaluation).
- Private Sector: Transportation companies (e.g., truck, rail, water, and air carriers; hub operators) that join consortia for grants and testing.
- Law Enforcement: Rail police and state/local agencies, required in consortia for coordination and expertise.
- Congress: Specified committees receive reports and influence future scaling.
- Broader Economy: Shippers, retailers, and consumers impacted by cargo theft reductions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Authorizes federal grants and technology deployments, ensuring compliance through audits; the foreign entity ban ties into existing infrastructure laws, promoting secure supply chains without new regulatory burdens.
- Constitutional: Supports federal commerce clause powers over interstate transportation; no apparent conflicts with states' rights, as sites are diverse and local law enforcement is involved.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Senators Blackburn and Klobuchar) suggests broad support for supply chain security; the pilot's focus on evaluation allows data-driven decisions, potentially leading to permanent programs if successful, amid rising concerns over theft in logistics.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Cargo Security Innovation Act — issued 2025-12-04 — PDF (7 pages)