[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 1 (Thursday, January 4, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S91-S92]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Biden, and Mr. 
        Lieberman):
  S. 83. A bill to provide increased rail transportation security; to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined today by 
Senators Snowe, Biden, and Lieberman in introducing the Rail Security 
Act of 2007. This legislation is nearly identical to the rail security 
measures approved by the Senate during both the 108th and 109th 
Congresses. Unfortunately, the House of Representatives has yet to act

[[Page S92]]

on rail security legislation. I remain hopeful that rail security will 
be made a top priority for the 110th Congress.
  We have taken important steps and expended considerable resources to 
secure the homeland since 9/11. I think all would agree that air travel 
is safer than it was five years ago. And, we have worked to address 
port security in a comprehensive manner. However, we need to do more to 
better secure other transportation modes, a fact well documented by the 
9/11 Commission. Unfortunately, only relatively modest resources have 
been dedicated to rail security in recent years. As a result, our 
Nation's transit system, Amtrak, and the freight railroads remain 
vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
  The Rail Security Act would authorize a total of almost $1.2 billion 
dollars for rail security. More than half of this funding would be 
authorized to complete tunnel safety and security improvements at New 
York's Penn Station, which is used by over 500,000 transit, commuter, 
and intercity passengers each workday. The legislation would also 
establish a grant program to encourage security enhancements by the 
freight railroads, Amtrak, shippers of hazardous materials, and local 
governments with responsibility for passenger stations. It would help 
to address identified security weaknesses in a manner that also seeks 
to protect the taxpayers' interests.
  As we continue fight the War on Terror, we need to do all we can to 
address our vulnerabilities. We have witnessed the tragic attacks on 
rail systems in other countries, including the cities of London, Mumbai 
and Madrid, and the devastating consequences of those attacks. It is 
essential that we move expeditiously to protect all the modes of 
transportation from potential attack, and this legislation will help to 
do just that.
  As I mentioned earlier, the Senate has consistently supported 
legislation to promote rail security. Most recently, rail security 
provisions were adopted last Fall as part of the port security 
legislation. But again, the House failed to allow these important 
security provisions to move ahead, and the provisions were stripped 
from the conference agreement. As a result, our rail network continues 
to remain vulnerable to terrorist attack. That is unacceptable in my 
judgement.
  I urge the Senate to move quickly to again pass this important 
legislation.
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