Overview
Title
To amend title 46, United States Code, to require a State to enter into a data sharing agreement with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Transportation in order to be eligible for the port security grant program and the port infrastructure development program.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to make sure that if states want to get money to help keep ports and airports safe, they need to share car information with important people. But, it doesn't explain how they will keep this information safe.
Summary AI
The bill, H. R. 6923, is aimed at amending title 46 of the United States Code. It requires states to have data-sharing agreements with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Transportation to be eligible for the port security grant program, the port infrastructure development program, and certain airport improvement programs. These agreements would mandate states to provide information on registered motor vehicles upon request, including registration, title, and vehicle identification numbers. The legislation is introduced by Ms. Malliotakis and referred to relevant committees for further consideration.
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AnalysisAI
Overview of the Bill
H.R. 6923, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, seeks to amend title 46 of the United States Code. The bill proposes that states must enter into data sharing agreements with the federal government to qualify for certain grants tied to port security and infrastructure development. This requirement extends to providing vehicle-related data to the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Transportation. The aim is to enhance the federal government’s ability to manage port security effectively through improved access to pertinent vehicle information.
Significant Issues
One of the primary concerns presented by this bill is its potential to disadvantage states currently lacking the requisite data sharing agreements. Without these agreements in place, state access to federal funds could be delayed, affecting their capacity to enhance port security and infrastructure.
Privacy and data security are significant issues raised by the lack of clearly defined criteria or safeguards within the bill. The absence of specified measures for protecting the personal information of vehicle owners could be troubling, as it remains unclear how the data will be managed or secured.
Furthermore, the obligation for states to uniformly provide vehicle information does not consider variations in state infrastructure or capacity to handle such data sharing. This oversight might create disparities among states, with some potentially struggling more than others to comply.
The phrase "identifying information," including registration, title, and vehicle identification number, is not exhaustively defined in the bill. This ambiguity could lead to misunderstandings regarding the nature and scope of data expectations from the states.
Lastly, the bill does not outline the consequences for states that fail to comply with the data sharing agreement post-approval of grants. This omission could create regulatory uncertainties.
Impact on the Public
The public might experience indirect effects of this bill through enhanced or delayed improvements in port security and infrastructure. States that efficiently establish data sharing agreements could benefit from increased federal support, fostering more robust security measures at ports. Conversely, those unable to finalize such agreements might lag, potentially affecting local economies and security measures.
The broader public could have concerns about how their personal information, specifically vehicle data, is handled as the bill does not provide clarity on data security. The potential for increased federal involvement in handling personal data might raise privacy concerns among citizens.
Impact on Stakeholders
State Governments will be directly affected, as they must decide whether to form these data sharing agreements to access federal funds. Those with the resources and infrastructure to meet these requirements promptly stand to benefit. In contrast, states struggling with these resources might face delays and budgetary constraints.
Federal Agencies, particularly the Departments of Homeland Security and Transportation, might benefit from improved data access, potentially enhancing their operational efficiency in managing port security.
Vehicle Owners might be concerned about the privacy of their data, given the lack of specific metrics addressing data protection. Transparent communication from governments about how the data will be used and protected could mitigate public concern.
This proposed legislation underscores the balance between strengthening security capabilities and managing privacy and data security concerns. As the bill progresses through the legislative process, these issues must be addressed to ensure successful implementation and public confidence.
Issues
The requirement for states to have a data sharing agreement in place as a condition for receiving port security and infrastructure grants (Section 2) could potentially disadvantage states currently lacking such agreements, leading to delays in fund allocation. This could affect states financially and in their ability to enhance port security and infrastructure.
The bill does not specify the criteria or safeguards that would govern the data sharing agreements (Section 2), which raises potential concerns about privacy and data security for citizens, as there is no clear indication of how personal vehicle information will be protected.
The obligations placed on the states to provide motor vehicle identifying information (like registration, title, and vehicle identification number) are uniform across different grants (Section 2), which does not account for variations in state capacity or infrastructure to implement such agreements, potentially leading to disparities among states.
The language regarding 'identifying information...including registration, title, and vehicle identification number' (Section 2) is somewhat vague and could benefit from further detail on what additional information might be required, which could impact transparency and understanding of data sharing expectations.
The text does not address potential consequences or actions if a state fails to comply with the data sharing agreement requirements post-grant approval (Section 2), which could create legal and regulatory ambiguities.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill provides its short title, which is the “States Helping Apprehend Rogue Exports Act.”
2. State department of motor vehicle data sharing agreements Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines that to be eligible for certain federal grants related to ports, airports, and maritime security, states must have agreements to share motor vehicle registration information with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Transportation. These agreements ensure that, upon request, states will provide identifying details like registration, title, and vehicle identification numbers of vehicles registered within their borders.