The U.S. House of Representatives voted 400 to 15 on Monday to pass a bill that aims to stop what its author, Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.), calls the growing terror threat of “vehicle-based attacks.”
H.R. 1608 cites the Jan. 1 attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, in which the attacker drove into a crowd and then shot at police officers. The attacker killed 14 people and injured dozens of others.
The bill calls on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to submit a classified report to Congress within 180 days assessing “the current and emerging threats posed by vehicular terrorism.”
That includes identifying possible threats in the future due to “misuse” of self-driving cars and ride-sharing services.
The department would also be directed to detail “strategic placement” of physical barriers, geofencing and other technologies “designed to monitor, restrict and manage vehicle access” and “vehicle immobilization systems and remote disablement technologies.”
Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said the department must take “decisive steps to prevent future attacks,” particularly as the United States prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
