[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 13, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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                           SECURE TRAINS ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2005

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I am reintroducing the Secure TRAINS, 
Secure Transit and Railroads Across America and Investment in National 
Security, Act of 2005 for the second time in 2 years, and pleading the 
urgency of passage before Congress goes on its August break. I am 
pleased to have as co-sponsors, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, 
Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure Ranking Member Jim Oberstar, Homeland Security Committee 
Ranking Member Bennie Thompson, and Senior Transportation Committee 
Member and Chair of the Democratic Caucus Bob Menendez. London should 
be too close for congressional comfort while the country's subways, 
buses, rail, light rail and ferries go unprotected. London's tally thus 
far of 52 dead and 700 injured and the Madrid totals of more than 190 
killed and 1,800 injured could be far worse here, considering the 
abysmal state of passenger and freight preparedness across the United 
States today.
  Instead of direct passage, I tried to get the Homeland Security 
Committee, on which I serve, to include Secure TRAINS in the Department 
of Homeland Security, DHS, authorization bill, passed by the House in 
May, but my bill was defeated on a party line vote. I managed to get 
two amendments requiring DHS to develop passenger security best 
practices for mass transportation operators, and to develop a national 
plan for public outreach and awareness for employees and I passengers. 
However, the key provisions of the bill and of another I cosponsored 
for freight hazmat security protection were defeated because the 
President's budget did not fund them.
  President Bush's 2006 budget eliminated dedicated funding for mass 
transportation altogether, instead forcing mass transit into the 
Targeted Infrastructure Protection Program, TIPP, to compete with other 
transportation sectors, such as ports, which already receive at least 
some dedicated funding. Last year, Congress provided only $150 million 
for mass transportation security grants, but this year the Senate 
Appropriations Committee already has reduced these grants by $100 
million.
  I can only ask, rhetorically, whether the administration and Congress 
know what the people ride each day. Approximately 16 times as many 
passengers use public transportation as use airlines--9 billion 
passenger trips annually on public transportation--but 90 percent of 
transportation security funding has gone to air travel, after the fact, 
after the catastrophe. We are breaking our post-9/l1 promise not to be 
caught flat footed again because we have let the record stand at $21 
billion for air travel security and $550 million for public 
transportation security all told. Secure TRAINS at a little over $3.8 
billion modestly increases investment in public transportation and 
freight security.
  Unlike much of the wasteful, open-ended funding for homeland security 
in the period following 9/11, most of the funding in Secure TRAINS 
would be available through grants. Thus, the Homeland Security 
Committee's formula based on threat, vulnerability and consequences 
would be applied with far greater financial efficiency and efficacy. 
The bill provides for first-line commonsense security, including 
cameras, communication systems, explosive detection, and security 
upgrades on tracks and in tunnels. The bill also includes whistleblower 
provisions I have been unable to get in prior bills. If stockbrokers 
and accountants can be protected by Sarbanes-Oxley, it's time we gave 
the same whistleblower protection to employees charged with keeping 
trains and buses secure.
  We must not go on August vacation leaving subways, busses and rail as 
they were last week when London was attacked for the first time since 
World War II. This is the third time I have tried to get this bill 
passed. We must let it become three strikes and you're out.

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