December 4, 2025
Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To require the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to establish a pilot project to evaluate the effectiveness of technologies to combat cargo theft, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Cargo Security Innovation Act
.
Sec. 2. Pilot project
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Administrator
The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
(2) Appropriate committees of Congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
(A)
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
(3) Eligible consortium
The term eligible consortium means a consortium—
(A)
consisting of—
(i)
one or more private entities engaged in transportation (as that term is defined in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code), such as—
(I)
owners or operators of an intermodal transportation hub or rail yard;
(II)
motor carriers (as that term is defined in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code);
(III)
rail carriers (as that term is defined in section 10102 of title 49, United States Code);
(IV)
water carriers (as that term is defined in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code); and
(V)
air carriers (as that term is defined in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code);
(ii)
rail police officers (within the meaning of section 28101 of title 49, United States Code), if applicable; and
(iii)
at least 1 State or local law enforcement entity; and
(B)
that, in the determination of the Administrator—
(i)
has the resources and expertise necessary—
(I)
to deploy advanced law enforcement or cargo security technologies at a pilot site; and
(II)
to evaluate the effectiveness of such a technology at combatting cargo theft; and
(ii)
demonstrates capacity for interagency coordination and technology integration.
(4) Foreign entity of concern
The term foreign entity of concern has the meaning given that term in section 40207 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (42 U.S.C. 18741).
(5) Intermodal transportation hub
The term intermodal transportation hub means an airport, land port, or seaport at which cargo can be transferred between different modes of transportation, including rail.
(6) Pilot project
The term pilot project means the pilot project established under subsection (b).
(7) Pilot site
The term pilot site means an intermodal transportation hub or rail yard designated as a pilot site under subsection (c).
(b) Establishment
The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall establish a pilot project to evaluate the effectiveness of advanced law enforcement and cargo security technologies at combatting cargo theft in transit and at and around intermodal transportation hubs and rail yards with elevated levels of cargo theft, including by providing grants to eligible consortia for the deployment and evaluation of those technologies.
(c) Pilot sites
(1) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall designate up to 6 intermodal transportation hubs or rail yards as pilot sites for the deployment and evaluation of technologies under the pilot project.
(2) Pilot site diversity
(A) In general
The Administrator shall ensure geographic and operational diversity of pilot sites.
(B) Requirement
The Administrator may designate not more than 1 pilot site in any 1 State.
(3) Prohibition on foreign technologies
In carrying out the pilot project, the Administrator may not deploy at any pilot site technology produced by a foreign entity of concern.
(d) Grants
(1) In general
Individuals and entities associated with a pilot site may form an eligible consortium for purposes of pursuing a grant under the pilot project for such pilot site.
(2) Grant applications
An eligible consortium desiring a grant under the pilot project shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require.
(3) Use of funds
An eligible consortium may use a grant provided under the pilot project for—
(A)
technology acquisition and deployment;
(B)
personnel training and capacity building;
(C)
interoperability with Federal data;
(D)
oversight and technical evaluation; and
(E)
such other activities as the Administrator determines necessary.
(e) Accountability
An eligible consortium that receives a grant under the pilot project shall maintain such records as the Administrator may require to facilitate an effective audit relating to the receipt of the grant, the use of grant amounts, or outsourcing activities.
(f) Report
Not later than 2 years after the date on which technology is first deployed at a pilot site under the pilot project, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes—
(1)
a description of the technologies deployed at each pilot site as of the date of submission of the report;
(2)
an evaluation of the effectiveness of those technologies in reducing cargo theft;
(3)
a description of any outcomes or lessons learned from the deployment and evaluation of those technologies;
(4)
a cost-benefit analysis for each of those technologies;
(5)
technology-related data generated under the pilot project in a machine-readable format; and
(6)
recommendations for scaling or modifying the pilot project.
(g) Sunset
For each pilot site, the pilot project shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the initial deployment of technology at that pilot site under the pilot project.
(h) GAO evaluation
Not later than 1 year after the pilot project is terminated at all pilot sites pursuant to subsection (g), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot project.