§70122 Waterway Watch Program

Summary

Creates America's Waterway Watch Program inside the Coast Guard. The Secretary must run the program to encourage people to voluntarily report activities that could show someone is planning or carrying out a threat or an act of terrorism (as that term is defined in section 3077 of title 18) against a vessel, facility, port, or waterway. The Secretary may set up a network of individuals and community groups to help the public and industry spot and report suspicious activity and may work, when possible, with federal, state, and local law enforcement. The Secretary may offer training on how to observe and report suspicious activity and how to share reports and coordinate responses with law enforcement. Joining the program must be completely voluntary, cannot be required for other services or programs, and does not have to disclose the reporter’s identity or proprietary location. The Secretary must coordinate with other similar watch programs and send a coordination report with the President’s budget each year to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Homeland Security. Up to $3,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year 2011 through 2016, and those funds remain available until spent.