GAPS Act

Gauging American Port Security Act or the GAPS Act - Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a study of gaps in U.S. port security and submit to Congress a report (in classified form but with an unclassified annex) that includes a prioritization of such gaps and a plan for addressing them.

Directs the Secretary of DHS to: (1) share relevant information with designated points of contact from federal agencies, state, local, or tribal governments, and port system owners and operators in accordance with rules for the handling of classified information; and (2) help expedite the clearance process if a designated point of contact does not have the necessary security clearance to receive such information.

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1535 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1535

  To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study and 
report to Congress on gaps in port security in the United States and a 
                         plan to address them.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 12, 2013

 Ms. Hahn (for herself and Mr. Poe of Texas) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study and 
report to Congress on gaps in port security in the United States and a 
                         plan to address them.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Gauging American Port Security Act'' 
or the ``GAPS Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY, REPORT, AND PLAN TO ADDRESS GAPS IN PORT SECURITY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland 
Security shall--
            (1) conduct a study of, and submit to the Congress a report 
        on, remaining gaps in port security in the United States; and
            (2) include in such report a prioritization of such gaps 
        and a plan for addressing them.
    (b) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in classified form but shall contain an unclassified annex.

SEC. 3. INFORMATION SHARING.

    The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, in accordance with rules 
for the handling of classified information, share, as appropriate, with 
designated points of contact from Federal agencies and State, local, or 
tribal governments, and port system owners and operators, relevant 
information regarding remaining gaps in port security of the United 
States, prioritization of such gaps, and a plan for addressing such 
gaps. In the event that a designated point of contact does not have the 
necessary security clearance to receive such information, the Secretary 
shall help expedite the clearance process, as appropriate.
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