[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 162 (Wednesday, November 28, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12107-S12109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CLELAND:
  S. 1739. A bill to authorize grants to improve security on over-the-
road buses; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. CLELAND. Madam President, I rise today to introduce a bill to 
help

[[Page S12108]]

secure an often overlooked mode of passenger transportation, intercity 
buses.
  In the wake of the current challenge to our Nation's security, it is 
the duty of Congress to ensure that all modes of passenger 
transportation, especially mass transportation vehicles including 
buses, are safe and secure. Already, buses have been assaulted, and 
innocent passengers have died. While these attacks have not so far been 
directly linked to the tragic events of September 11, I believe 
Congress would be negligent if we do not act on this issue while we 
have this opportunity. Additionally, in many cities, bus terminals 
share facilities with rail and/or air terminals. The Congress has 
addressed airport security and the Senate is working on rail security, 
but this work will not be complete without securing the third 
component. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support my legislation to 
accomplish this goal.
  Clearly, bus service, which transports almost 800 million passengers 
annually, deserves Congress's attention. For many people throughout the 
country, motorcoaches are the only viable means of transportation. 
Greyhound, the largest carrier, and its interline partners serve over 
4,000 communities, roughly 8 times more than either the airlines or 
Amtrak. Many of the other bus companies that serve these communities 
are small businesses with fewer than ten motorcoaches, and these 
businesses, in particular, are more affected by the decrease in 
passenger demand due to concerns over safety. While many of these 
companies have already spent their own funds to upgrade security, they 
need help to finish the job so that people will feel comfortable 
returning to bus travel.
  One of the main elements of my legislation provides grants for the 
installation of adequate communications equipment to alert law 
enforcement personnel if there is an onboard problem. Not only would an 
alarm be sounded to law enforcement but also current technology would 
be employed to report the precise location of the bus in question. 
Speedy deployment to deal with problems as they are happening could 
save lives. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, CVSA, an 
association of State, provincial and Federal law enforcement officials, 
believes that improved communication capability is among the top goals 
to improve the safety and security of passenger buses.
  The legislation also will provide grants for research into methods to 
protect the drivers. Some of the recent security incidents involve 
compromising the safety of the driver. We must find out what options 
are available to protect and secure the drivers so that a bus can be 
stopped safely if there are problems. Additionally, these grants can be 
used to maintain the integrity of bus terminals, facilities, and 
coaches, and conduct passenger screening, among other things.
  This legislation also dedicates $3-5 million annually in funding to 
the Secretary of Transportation to evaluate and coordinate current 
public and private efforts to improve bus security and safety by 
establishing ``best practices,'' including efforts to isolate the 
driver and to detect potential chemical and biological elements. 
Portions of this funding could also be used to support additional 
research and development initiatives, and the recommendations developed 
could be applied to both over-the-road and transit buses.
  This funding is not a government ``handout'' to an industry that has 
not been acting on its own to improve its facilities, but rather it 
will supplement ongoing efforts. Since September 11, Greyhound has 
spent at least $5 million on enhanced security. Steps taken include 
screening of passengers and baggage at selected terminals; requiring 
ticket identification; providing cell phones to drivers as an interim 
emergency communications system; increasing security personnel in 
terminals; prohibiting passengers from sitting in the first row of 
seats behind the driver, and establishing information and 
communications systems to aid and coordinate with law enforcement. My 
legislation would supplement and expand these initial efforts and 
assist with implementing these measures at additional terminals.
  My legislation also provides needed assistance to an industry that is 
struggling along with other segments of the travel and tourism sector. 
After the October 3 Nashville accident that resulted in 7 passenger 
fatalities, Greyhound's passenger sales dropped 15 percent and remain 
well below last year's levels. According to a survey conducted by the 
Travel Business Roundtable, intercity bus transportation is the only 
mode of transportation that dropped in ``safety perception'' when 
compared with air, auto, rail, and cruise travel. Incorporating the new 
security costs, which are necessary to bring passengers back, while 
revenue is down, will make it difficult for bus companies to maintain 
current service levels. This Federal support will allow bus companies 
to dedicate resources to continuing service to smaller communities 
rather than reducing schedules to cut costs.
  Additionally, this legislation instructs the Department of Labor to 
ensure that grants under this section are certified in an expeditious 
manner in accordance with its guidelines for processing grants to bus 
operators. As provided for under the Department's existing guidelines, 
previously certified arrangements for assistance to intercity bus 
operators applicable to applicants for security improvement grants, 
shall be the basis for processing such grants by the Department. The 
Secretary of Transportation will have the discretion to administer this 
program directly or through a security administration that may be 
established at the Department of Transportation.
  This bus security legislation is supported by the American Bus 
Association, Greyhound, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Coach 
USA, and the Amalgamated Transit Union. Protecting bus passengers is a 
vital part of ensuring a vibrant transportation industry, and it is the 
third component to the safe passenger transportation equation. I urge 
my Senate colleagues, all of whom have many communities in your state 
served by intercity buses, to support this legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1739

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EMERGENCY OVER-THE-ROAD BUS SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 311 of title 49, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``Sec.  31109. Over-the-road bus security grant program

       ``(a) In General.--
       ``(1) Fund established.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
     shall establish an Over-the-road Bus Security Fund account in 
     the Treasury into which the Secretary of the Transportation 
     shall deposit amounts appropriated under paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
     Transportation $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and 
     $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, for deposit into the 
     account established under paragraph (1). Amounts deposited 
     into the account shall remain available until expended.
       ``(b) Grant Program.--Without further appropriation, 
     amounts in the Over-the-road Bus Security Fund account are 
     available to the Secretary of Transportation for direct 
     grants to persons engaged in the business of providing over-
     the-road bus transportation for system-wide security 
     upgrades, including the reimbursement of extraordinary 
     security-related costs determined by the Secretary to have 
     been incurred by such operators since September 11, 2001, 
     including--
       ``(1) establishing an emergency communications and 
     notification system linked to law enforcement or emergency 
     response personnel;
       ``(2) protecting or isolating the driver;
       ``(3) implementing and operating passenger screening 
     programs at terminals and on over-the-road buses (as defined 
     in section 3038(a)(3) of the Transportation Equity Act for 
     the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 nt));
       ``(4) acquiring, upgrading, installing, or operating 
     equipment, software, or accessorial services for collection, 
     storage, or exchange of passenger and driver information 
     through ticketing systems or otherwise, and information links 
     with government agencies;
       ``(5) constructing or modifying terminals, garages, 
     facilities, or over-the-road buses to assure their security;
       ``(6) training employees in recognizing and responding to 
     terrorist threats, evacuation procedures, passenger screening 
     procedures, and baggage inspection;
       ``(7) hiring and training security officers;
       ``(8) installing cameras and video surveillance equipment 
     on over-the-road buses and at terminals, garages and over-
     the-road bus facilities; and

[[Page S12109]]

       ``(9) creating a program for employee identification and 
     background investigation.
       ``(c) Applications.--To receive a grant under subsection 
     (b), an applicant shall submit an application, at such time, 
     in such manner, in such form, and containing such 
     information, as the Secretary may require, and a plan that 
     meets the requirements of subsection (c) for the project to 
     be funded, in whole or in part, by the grant.
       ``(d) Plan Required.--The Secretary may not make a grant 
     under subsection (b) for a system-wide security upgrade 
     project until the applicant has submitted to the Secretary, 
     and the Secretary has approved, a plan for the project, and 
     the applicant has submitted to the Secretary such additional 
     information as the Secretary may require in order to ensure 
     full accountability for the obligation or expenditure of 
     grant amounts.
       ``(e) Federal Standards.--Section 5333 of this title 
     applies to any work financed with a grant under this section 
     to the same extent as if it were financed with a grant under 
     chapter 53 of this title. The application of that section 
     does not affect or discharge any other responsibility of the 
     Secretary under this title with respect to work financed by a 
     grant under this section.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) The chapter analysis for chapter 311 of title 49, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (A) by striking ``state'' in the heading for subchapter I; 
     and
       (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 31108 
     the following:

``31109. Over-the-road bus security grant program.''.

     SEC. 2. BUS SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation may use 
     not less than $3,000,000 and not more than $5,000,000 of the 
     amounts deposited in the Over-the-road Bus Security Fund 
     account established under section 31109 of title 49, United 
     States Code, for research and development of security 
     recommendations for over-the-road buses (as defined in 
     section 3038(a)(3) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 
     21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 nt)), including--
       (1) a review of actions already taken to address identified 
     security issues by both public and private entities;
       (2) research on engine shut-off mechanisms, chemical and 
     biological weapon detection technology, and the feasibility 
     of compartmentalization of the driver; and
       (3) compilation, review, and dissemination of industry best 
     practices.
       (b) Consultation With Industry, Labor, and Other Groups.--
     In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult 
     with over-the-road bus management and labor representatives, 
     public safety and law enforcement officials, and the National 
     Academy of Sciences.
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