Extremely Hazardous Materials Transportation Security Act of 2005
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Extremely Hazardous Materials Transportation Security Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue regulations concerning the shipping of extremely hazardous materials that require: (1) physical security measures; (2) Federal, State, and local law enforcement authorities to be informed before such material is transported within, through, or near an area of concern; (3) the creation of response plans for shipments of extremely hazardous materials; (4) the use of currently available technologies and systems to ensure effective communication between transporters of extremely hazardous materials and all entities charged with responding to acts of terrorism involving shipments of such materials; (5) comprehensive training for all individuals involved in the shipping of such materials; and (6) the Secretary to determine whether transportation through or near an area of concern could be made by alternate routes at a lower security risk.
Subjects a person (other than an individual) who violates such a regulation to injunctive relief or a civil penalty of up to $100,000. Authorizes the Secretary to impose administrative penalties.
Sets forth whistleblower protections for persons involved in the shipment of extremely hazardous materials.
Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the security of, and risk of a terrorist attack on, such shipments.
Defines "extremely hazardous material" as material that is toxic by inhalation, extremely flammable, highly explosive, or otherwise designated by the Secretary.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on March 17, 2005. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on March 29, 2005: Referred to the Subcommittee on Management, Integration, and Oversight.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 109th Congress (2005-06), 482 of the 10,701 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.5 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced it on March 17, 2005, and 17 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They are 17 Democrats.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on March 17, 2005, 7847 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 7835 days ago, on March 29, 2005.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 109th Congress has not finished by January 3, 2007 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers