46 U.S.C. § 70122 — Waterway Watch Program

(a) Program Established — This creates the America's Waterway Watch Program inside the Coast Guard. (b) Purpose — The Secretary must run the Program to encourage voluntary reports of activity that might mean someone is preparing, or about to, break the law by threatening or committing terrorism (as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 3077) against a vessel, facility, port, or waterway. (c) Information; Training — (1) The Secretary may build a network of people and community groups that help the public and industry recognize these activities, encourage voluntary reporting, and improve awareness in the nation's ports and waterways — working with federal, state, and local law enforcement where practical. (2) The Secretary may train people in (A) spotting and reporting these activities, and (B) sharing those reports and coordinating the response with federal, state, and local law enforcement. (d) Voluntary Participation — Joining the Program: (1) is entirely voluntary; (2) is never required to get, or stay eligible for, any other government service, assistance, or program; and (3) does not require anyone to reveal who is reporting, or — for privacy reasons — where they are. (e) Coordination — The Secretary must coordinate this Program with similar watch programs. Each year, at the same time as the President's budget, the Secretary must send the Senate Commerce Committee and House Homeland Security Committee a report on how this Program and similar Department of Homeland Security programs are coordinated. (f) Authorization of Appropriations — Congress could spend $3,000,000 a year for fiscal years 2011 through 2016 on this Program, and that money stays available until it is spent.