[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 90 (Wednesday, July 12, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1395-E1396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSIT SECURITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2006

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, strengthening and enhancing the safety and 
security of our Nation's public transportation network is an urgent and 
critical need. Worldwide public transportation systems have been shown 
to be vulnerable targets for terrorist attacks, as exhibited by 
yesterday's horrific train bombing in India, which claimed at least 200 
lives and injured at least 700 more.
  I believe passenger rail and public transportation providers face a 
difficult challenge: To provide affordable, efficient, and safe 
transportation services in an open and readily accessible environment.
  Our Nation's public transportation systems provide more than 9.5 
billion transit trips annually on all modes of transit service. In 
addition, Amtrak provides service to more than 25 million passengers 
annually on 21,000 miles of routes. The extensiveness of these systems 
and the sheer volume of passengers who rely on public transportation 
make these systems an attractive target for terrorists.
  Yet since September 11, 2001, the Nation has focused its attention 
primarily on aviation security. As a result, we have made a great deal 
of progress in aviation, but much still needs to be done for other 
modes of transportation. I am aware of the many initiatives taken by 
public transportation providers and Amtrak to enhance the safety and 
security of their passengers. I am also well aware of the security 
initiatives that the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal 
Railroad Administration, and the Transportation Security 
Administration, TSA, have embarked upon, but those efforts are not 
enough. This year, the United States will spend $4.7 billion on 
aviation security. In contrast, the TSA has spent only $387.5 million 
in grants on public transportation security over the last four years, 
even though five times as many people take trains as planes every day.
  This House just passed legislation that will provide $200 million for 
rail and transit security. Thanks to the efforts of the Gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and other Members, that's more than we have 
done in the past, but more funding is needed to ensure our Nation's 
passenger rail and public transportation systems are safe and secure.
  Amtrak alone has requested more than $100 million in security 
upgrades and nearly $600 million for fire and life-safety improvements 
to tunnels on the Northeast Corridor in New York, Maryland, and 
Washington, DC. The American Public Transit Association, which 
represents transit agencies and commuter railroads, has identified an 
estimated $6 billion in security needs to fully modernize and maintain 
the security of public transit systems. The lack of funding for safety 
and security measures endangers the Nation's critical public 
transportation infrastructure.
  The incapacity or destruction of the Nation's transportation systems 
and assets would have a debilitating impact on our security, national 
economic stability, national public health, and safety. Our 
transportation stakeholders, State and local governments and private 
providers

[[Page E1396]]

of public transportation, and the traveling public are depending on us 
to help provide significant safety and security improvements for public 
transportation.
  I therefore urge the House's immediate consideration of H.R. 2351, 
which will protect the safety and security of our Nation's rail and 
transit systems and the passengers, workers, and communities that are 
served by them.

                          ____________________