I
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4842
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 1, 2006
Ms. Wasserman Schultz (for herself, Mr. Poe, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Nadler, and Mr. McNulty) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and International Relations, 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
A BILL
To ensure the security of United States ports, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Port Security Act of 2006
.
Prohibition on leases of real property and facilities at United States ports by foreign government-owned entities
In general
Section 271(d) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2170(d)) is amended—
by striking Subject to subsection (d)
and inserting the following:
In general
Subject to subsection (e)
; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
Prohibition on leases of real property and facilities at United States ports by foreign government-owned entities
The President shall prohibit any merger, acquisition, or takeover described in subsection (a)(1) that will result in any entity that is owned or controlled by a foreign government leasing, operating, managing, or owning real property or facilities at a United States port.
.
Report required
In general
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report on the leasing, operating, managing, or owning real property or facilities at United States ports by entities that are owned or controlled by foreign governments.
Content
The report required under paragraph (1) shall include—
a list of all entities that are owned or controlled by foreign governments that are leasing, operating, managing, or owning real property or facilities at United States ports;
an assessment of the national security threat posed by such activities; and
recommendations for any legislation in response to such threat.
Increased transparency of mandatory investigations
Section 271(b) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2170(b)) is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
by striking The President
and inserting the following:
In general
The President
;
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
Notification to Congress
Not later than one day after commencing an investigation under paragraph (1), the President shall provide notice of the investigation and relevant information regarding the proposed merger, acquisition, or takeover, including relevant ownership records to—
the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate;
the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Committee on Finance, the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and
the Members of Congress representing the States and districts affected by the proposed transaction.
Notification to public officials of investigations of proposed transactions affecting United States ports
In the case of an investigation under paragraph (1) of a proposed merger, acquisition, or takeover that will result in any entity that is owned or controlled by a foreign government leasing, operating, managing, or owning real property or facilities at a United States port, the President shall, not later than one day after commencing an investigation under paragraph (1), notify the Governors and heads of relevant government agencies of the States in which such ports are located and provide to such Governors and relevant agency heads information regarding the proposed merger, acquisition, or takeover, including relevant ownership records.
Public Comments
Solicitation of public comments
Not later than 7 days after commencing an investigation under paragraph (1), the President shall publish in the Federal Register a description of the proposed merger, acquisition, or takeover, including a solicitation for public comments on such proposed merger, acquisition, or takeover.
Summary of public comments
Not later than 10 days prior to the completion of an investigation under paragraph (1), the President shall publish in the Federal Register a summary of the public comments received pursuant to subparagraph (A).
.
Technical correction
Section 271(e) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2170(e)) is amended by striking subsection (c)
and inserting subsection (d)
.
Effective Date
The amendments made by this Act shall apply to any merger, acquisition, or takeover considered on or after October 1, 2005 under section 271 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2170).