S. 846Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Transit Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act

Introduced March 14, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:18 AM UTC

The Transit Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act changes federal funding rules for public‑transportation rail projects. It bars the use of federal assistance to buy rail vehicles from manufacturers that are U.S.‑based but owned or controlled by companies in non‑market‑economy countries, with limited exceptions. It also requires transit agencies receiving federal aid to certify they have a written cybersecurity plan for rail rolling stock and operations, following NIST and other federal standards.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits federal financial assistance from being used to award contracts for rail rolling stock to manufacturers that are incorporated in the U.S. but owned, controlled, or otherwise related to companies in non‑market‑economy countries identified by the USTR, except for pre‑enactment contracts and where only a minority investment exists.
  • Requires transit agencies that receive federal assistance to certify they will not award contracts to such prohibited manufacturers, with the same limited exceptions.
  • Adds a cybersecurity certification requirement: agencies must develop, maintain, and execute a written plan to identify and reduce cybersecurity risks, use NIST voluntary standards, conduct third‑party testing of hardware and software, and align with standards from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-41.

June 4, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 14, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

March 14, 2019

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

April 9, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

April 9, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-41.

June 4, 2019

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 846 on the floor

1 Republican
Rob Portman
Sen. Rob PortmanR-OH · Apr 9, 2019

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that S. 846, the Transit Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act, be discharged from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the bill be…

Bill Text

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Latest
Reference Change SenateIssued April 9, 2019

II

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 846

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 14, 2019

Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Risch, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Inhofe, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Cassidy, and Ms. Smith) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

April 9, 2019

Committee discharged; referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to limit certain rolling stock procurements, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Transit Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act.

2.

Limitation on certain rolling stock procurements

Section 5323 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(u)

Limitation on certain rolling stock procurements

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (5), financial assistance made available under this chapter shall not be used in awarding a contract or subcontract to an entity on or after the date of enactment of this subsection for the procurement of rolling stock for use in public transportation if the manufacturer of the rolling stock—

(A)

is incorporated in or has manufacturing facilities in the United States; and

(B)

is owned or controlled by, is a subsidiary of, or is otherwise related legally or financially to a corporation based in a country that—

(i)

is identified as a nonmarket economy country (as defined in section 771(18) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1677(18))) as of the date of enactment of this subsection;

(ii)

was identified by the United States Trade Representative in the most recent report required by section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2242) as a priority foreign country under subsection (a)(2) of that section; and

(iii)

is subject to monitoring by the Trade Representative under section 306 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2416).

(2)

Exception

For purposes of paragraph (1), the term otherwise related legally or financially does not include a minority relationship or investment.

(3)

International agreements

This subsection shall be applied in a manner consistent with the obligations of the United States under international agreements.

(4)

Certification for rail rolling stock

(A)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (5), as a condition of financial assistance made available in a fiscal year under section 5337, a recipient that operates rail fixed guideway service shall certify in that fiscal year that the recipient will not award any contract or subcontract for the procurement of rail rolling stock for use in public transportation with a rail rolling stock manufacturer described in paragraph (1).

(B)

Separate certification

The certification required under this paragraph shall be in addition to any certification the Secretary establishes to ensure compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1).

(5)

Exception

This subsection, including the certification requirement under paragraph (4), shall not apply to the award of a contract or subcontract made by a public transportation agency with a rail rolling stock manufacturer described in paragraph (1) if the manufacturer and the public transportation agency have a contract for rail rolling stock that was executed before the date of enactment of this subsection.

.

3.

Cybersecurity certification for rail rolling stock and operations

Section 5323 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 2, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(v)

Cybersecurity certification for rail rolling stock and operations

(1)

Certification

As a condition of financial assistance made available under this chapter, a recipient that operates a rail fixed guideway public transportation system shall certify that the recipient has established a process to develop, maintain, and execute a written plan for identifying and reducing cybersecurity risks.

(2)

Compliance

For the process required under paragraph (1), a recipient of assistance under this chapter shall—

(A)

utilize the approach described by the voluntary standards and best practices developed under section 2(c)(15) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)(15)), as applicable;

(B)

identify hardware and software that the recipient determines should undergo third-party testing and analysis to mitigate cybersecurity risks, such as hardware or software for rail rolling stock under proposed procurements; and

(C)

utilize the approach described in any voluntary standards and best practices for rail fixed guideway public transportation systems developed under the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security, as applicable.

(3)

Limitations on statutory construction

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to interfere with the authority of—

(A)

the Secretary of Homeland Security to publish or ensure compliance with requirements or standards concerning cybersecurity for rail fixed guideway public transportation systems; or

(B)

the Secretary of Transportation under section 5329 to address cybersecurity issues as those issues relate to the safety of rail fixed guideway public transportation systems.

.