Department of Homeland Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2025 · Introduced in House (2025-02-26)

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to produce a report on emerging threats and countermeasures related to vehicular terrorism, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · February 26, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Gimenez · Committee: Committee on Homeland Security

SEC. 2. Findings

Congress finds the following:

On January 1, 2025, a devastating vehicular terrorist attack occurred on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, when an assailant inspired by the Islamic State drove a vehicle into a crowd and engaged in a shootout with law enforcement. This tragic incident resulted in the loss of fifteen lives and injuries to at least thirty-five others, including two police officers.
Vehicle-ramming attacks and other vehicular terrorist incidents represent an enduring and evolving threat to public safety in the United States and around the world, targeting innocent civilians and first responders.
These attacks, carried out by both organized terrorist groups and individual actors, often aim to exploit high-density public gatherings, critical infrastructure, and key transportation hubs, causing mass casualties and widespread disruption.
Emerging automotive technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) capabilities, and ride-sharing platforms, create new vulnerabilities that could be leveraged by malicious actors to conduct sophisticated vehicle-based attacks.
The Department of Homeland Security, through agencies like the Transportation Security Administration and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, plays a vital role in detecting, assessing, and mitigating the risks associated with vehicle-based threats.
Strengthened coordination between Federal, State, local, Tribal, territorial, and private sector stakeholders is essential to enhance prevention, preparedness, and response efforts, ensuring the safety of communities across the nation.

SEC. 3. Report on emerging threats and countermeasures related to vehicular terrorism

(a) Report

(1) In general
- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to prevent, deter, and respond to vehicular terrorism.
(2) Elements
- The report under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
  - An assessment of the current and emerging threats posed by vehicular terrorism, as well as the following:
    - (i) An analysis of the methods, tactics, and motivations used by perpetrators of vehicular terrorism.
    - (ii) An evaluation of domestic and international trends in vehicular terrorism.
    - (iii) An identification of potential future threats related to the misuse of connected or autonomous vehicles, Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) -equipped vehicles, ride-sharing services, and advancements in automotive technologies, including cybersecurity threats to underlying software technologies (including artificial intelligence-enabled technologies) powering autonomous vehicles.
  - A review of higher-risk locations and events that may be vulnerable to vehicular terrorism, including the following:
    - (i) Critical infrastructure sites such as the following:
    - Airports.
    - Seaports.
    - Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial government facilities.
    - Power plants.
    - Substations.
    - Oil refineries.
    - Public transportation hubs.
    - Healthcare facilities.
    - (ii) Soft-targets and crowded spaces, including mass gatherings and widely attended events such as parades, concerts, sporting events, political rallies, holiday markets, places of worship, authorized protests, and ceremonial events.
    - (iii) High-density urban areas with limited physical security measures such as pedestrianized city centers, commercial districts, residential neighborhoods, public parks, recreational areas, educational institutions, and tourist destinations.
  - A comprehensive summary of actions taken by the Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to research measures that prevent, deter, and respond to vehicular terrorism, including the following:
    - (i) The identification and coordination with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments and industry partners for the strategic placement of physical barriers, bollards, and other protective infrastructure at higher-risk locations.
    - (ii) The research, testing, and deployment of geofencing, surveillance systems, cybersecurity measures, and other technologies designed to monitor, restrict, and manage vehicle access to such higher-risk locations.

H.R. 1608

Table of contents

SEC. 1. Short title

SEC. 2. Findings