The FAST PASS Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to study ways to speed up the movement of critical cargo, such as medical supplies or emergency goods, through ports and marine terminals during federally declared emergencies. Within one year of enactment, the Secretary must launch this study, which will examine how to identify and prioritize critical cargo, move it efficiently through ports and across other transportation modes, and minimize disruptions to non-critical shipments. The Secretary must consult with the Department of Health and Human Services and other relevant agencies, seek public input through the Federal Register, and submit a report with findings and recommendations to Congress within two years. The bill also allows the Secretary to create voluntary pilot programs to test these expedited cargo strategies, but bars any pilot program from introducing fully automated, remotely operated cargo equipment or causing job losses at ports. Importantly, the legislation does not override existing port labor agreements, meaning current workforce protections and contracts remain intact. This bill mainly affects federal transportation officials, port operators, shipping companies, and port labor unions, with no new large-scale funding beyond what's needed to conduct the study and any pilot programs.
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