To amend title 46, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize maritime transportation security grants based on the risks and vulnerabilities of ports and the proximity of ports to critical infrastructure or urban or sensitive areas.

H.R. 4986 would change how the federal government distributes security funding to the nation’s ports. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize grants for port authorities and local agencies based on specific risk factors, such as a port's vulnerability to threats and its closeness to major cities or critical infrastructure. For citizens, this measure aims to ensure that federal tax dollars are directed toward protecting the highest-risk maritime areas to better prevent disruptions to national trade and public safety.