H.R. 655 authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish such regulations as are deemed necessary to ensure the security of property being transported in interstate or foreign commerce in the areas of proper packaging, proper documentation and labeling, and loss reporting, along with personnel security. Failure to conform to such regulations would result in civil penalties. A representative of the General Accounting Office testified about existing Federal efforts to improve cargo security in interstate and foreign commerce. Generally, the efforts at providing technical assistance, advisory standards on cargo security, and data collection and analysis on cargo thefts are reported to have been ineffective, largely because of transportation industry willingness to absorb theft losses, to rely on insurance payments, and to devise its own security measures. Testimony from a representative of the Department of Transportation argued against the enactment of H.R. 655 because of the Department of Transportation's view that the marketplace should provide the prime motivation for security and the effective management of cargo operations. Further, the regulations proposed under H.R. 655 were said to be difficult and costly to administer. The preferred approach for reducing cargo theft is through the continuation of a field program which provides for effective communication about cargo security measures among all the agencies and participants in the transportation enterprise. Cargo security data collection and analysis efforts by the Department of Transportation are described. In addition to the bill itself, copies are provided of reports and materials relevant to cargo security.