---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 1155"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "1155"
heading: "Security awareness program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/1155"
units:
  - "Chapter 4 — Transportation Security"
  - "Subchapter IV — Surface Transportation Security"
  - "Part A — General Provisions"
---

# §1155. Security awareness program

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Administrator](/usc/6/701.md?p=1) shall establish a program to promote surface [transportation](/usc/6/1151.md?p=11) security through the training of surface [transportation](/usc/6/1151.md?p=11) operators and frontline employees on each of the skills identified in [subsection (c)](#c).
- (b) **Application—** The program established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall apply to all modes of surface [transportation](/usc/6/1151.md?p=11), including public [transportation](/usc/6/1151.md?p=11), rail, highway, motor carrier, and pipeline.
- (c) **Training—** The program established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall cover, at a minimum, the skills necessary to recognize, assess, and respond to suspicious items or actions that could indicate a threat to [transportation](/usc/6/1151.md?p=11).
- (d) **Assessment—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/6/701.md?p=1) shall conduct an assessment of current training programs for surface [transportation](/usc/6/1151.md?p=11) operators and frontline employees.
  - (2) **Contents—** The assessment shall identify—
    - (A) whether other training is being provided, either voluntarily or in response to other Federal requirements; and
    - (B) whether there are any gaps in existing training.
- (e) **Updates—** The [Administrator](/usc/6/701.md?p=1) shall ensure the program established under [subsection (a)](#a) is updated as necessary to address changes in risk and terrorist methods and to close any gaps identified in the assessment under [subsection (d)](#d).
- (f) **Suspicious activity reporting—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall maintain a national telephone number for an individual to use to report suspicious activity under this section to the Administration.
  - (2) **Procedures—** The [Administrator](/usc/6/701.md?p=1) shall establish procedures for the Administration—
    - (A) to review and follow-up, as necessary, on each report received under [paragraph (1)](#f-1); and
    - (B) to share, as necessary and in accordance with law, the report with appropriate Federal, [State](/usc/6/1151.md?p=9), local, and tribal [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2).
  - (3) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this section may be construed to—
    - (A) replace or affect in any way the use of 9–1–1 services in an [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6); or
    - (B) replace or affect in any way the security training program requirements specified in sections [1137](/usc/6/1137.md), [1167](/usc/6/1167.md), and [1184](/usc/6/1184.md) of this title.
- (g) **Definition of frontline employee—** In this section, the term “frontline employee” includes—
  - (1) an employee of a public [transportation](/usc/6/1151.md?p=11) [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) who is a transit vehicle driver or operator, dispatcher, maintenance and maintenance support employee, station attendant, customer service employee, security employee, or transit police, or any other employee who has direct contact with riders on a regular basis, and any other employee of a public [transportation](/usc/6/1151.md?p=11) [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) that the [Administrator](/usc/6/701.md?p=1) determines should receive security training under this section or that is receiving security training under other law;
  - (2) [over-the-road bus](/usc/6/1151.md?p=4) drivers, security [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15), dispatchers, maintenance and maintenance support [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15), ticket agents, other terminal employees, and other employees of an [over-the-road bus](/usc/6/1151.md?p=4) operator or terminal owner or operator that the [Administrator](/usc/6/701.md?p=1) determines should receive security training under this section or that is receiving security training under other law; or
  - (3) security [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15), dispatchers, locomotive engineers, conductors, trainmen, other onboard employees, maintenance and maintenance support [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15), bridge tenders, and any other employees of [railroad carriers](/usc/6/1151.md?p=8) that the [Administrator](/usc/6/701.md?p=1) determines should receive security training under this section or that is receiving security training under other law.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–254, div. K, title I, § 1976, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3616.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the TSA Modernization Act and also as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, and not as part of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

For definitions of “Administrator” and “Secretary” as used in this section, see section 1902 of Pub. L. 115–254, set out as a note under section 101 of Title 49, Transportation.