[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 101 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5502-H5506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1150) expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives that the Transportation Security 
Administration should, in accordance with the congressional mandate 
provided for in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission 
Act of 2007, enhance security against terrorist attack and other 
security threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit lines, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1150

       Whereas the Transportation Security Administration is 
     uniquely positioned to lead the efforts to secure our 
     Nation's rail and mass transit lines from the threat of 
     terrorism as a result of expertise developed through over 
     five years of securing our Nation's commercial air 
     transportation system;
       Whereas the successes of the Transportation Security 
     Administration's National Explosives Detection Canine Team 
     Program has furthered the Transportation Security 
     Administration's ability to provide security against 
     terrorist attacks on the Nation's transportation systems by 
     preventing and protecting against explosives threats;
       Whereas each weekday 11,300,000 passengers depend on our 
     Nation's mass transit lines as a means of transportation, and 
     mass transit lines serve as an enticing target for terrorists 
     as evidenced by the March 11, 2004, attack on the Madrid, 
     Spain, mass transit system, the July 7, 2005, attack on the 
     London, England, mass transit system, and the July 11, 2006, 
     attack on the Mumbai, India, mass transit system;
       Whereas each weekday more than 25 million children depend 
     on our Nation's school transportation system, in addition to 
     mass transit systems, to get to and from school and school 
     activities, and the security of these systems must be 
     enhanced to address the threat of terrorism; and
       Whereas securing our Nation's rail and mass transit lines 
     from terrorist attack and other security threats is essential 
     due to their impact on our Nation's economic stability and 
     the continued functioning of our national economy: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Transportation Security Administration 
     should--
       (1) continue to enhance security against terrorist attack 
     and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass 
     transit lines, as well as school transportation systems, 
     including as provided for in the Implementing Recommendations 
     of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53);
       (2) continue development of the National Explosives 
     Detection Canine Team Program, which has proven to be an 
     effective tool in securing against explosives threats to our 
     Nation's rail and mass transit lines, with particular 
     attention to the application of its training standards and 
     the establishment of a reliable source of domestically-bred 
     canines;
       (3) improve upon the success of the Online Learning Center 
     by providing increased person-to-person professional 
     development programs to ensure those responsible for securing 
     against terrorist attacks on our transportation systems are 
     highly trained in both securing against terrorist attacks and 
     professional relations with the traveling public; and
       (4) continue to secure our Nation's mass transit and rail 
     lines against terrorist attack and other security threats, so 
     as to ensure the security of commuters on our Nation's mass 
     transit lines and prevent the disruption of rail lines 
     critical to our Nation's economy, and to give special 
     attention to school transportation systems by working with 
     school administrators, State and local law enforcement, and 
     other representatives in the school transportation industry 
     to keep children safe from terrorist attack.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Daniel E. Lungren) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.


                             General Leave

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Mississippi?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
this measure and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1150 was introduced earlier this year 
by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee. The resolution was marked up and 
adopted unanimously by the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and 
Infrastructure Protection on May 1. The full committee approved it 
unanimously on May 20.
  I would like to congratulate Congresswoman Jackson-Lee who is both

[[Page H5503]]

the sponsor of the resolution and the subcommittee chairwoman. I 
strongly believe that this legislation fits well with the work that the 
committee has done on H.R. 1684, the DHS authorization bill that is 
pending before the Senate. As we approach the 1-year anniversary of 
H.R. 1, the Implementing the 
9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007, there is much still to be 
done to secure rail and mass transit systems in the United States from 
the threat of terrorist attack.
  Each weekday, 11.3 million passengers in 23 States use commuter heavy 
or light rail. History has shown that terrorists view rail and public 
transportation systems as attractive targets. In 2004, terrorist bombs 
tore through Madrid's rail system, killing and maiming hundreds of 
innocent commuters. Next month, of course, marks the third anniversary 
of the terrorist bombings of London's public transportation system. And 
just in the last 2 years, transportation systems in Mumbai, India, were 
attacked twice.
  Since the 9/11 attacks, there has been justifiable attention paid to 
enhancing aviation security. However, the security needs for rail and 
public transportation have, at the same time, been largely neglected. 
Last year, we took steps toward ending the secondary status by passing 
H.R. 1. H.R. 1, now Public Law 110-53, includes wide-range surface 
transportation security provisions and authorizes $3.5 billion for 
transit security and $2 billion for rail security.
  The legislation before us today, House Resolution 1150, renews the 
call for TSA to enhance security against terrorist attack and other 
security threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit lines. 
Specifically, it instructs TSA to strengthen security efforts towards 
rail lines, mass transit lines, and school transportation systems 
across the country. It also directs TSA to build on successful programs 
such as its canine detection and online learning programs, to expand 
the program's reach and to further strengthen transportation security 
across the country. TSA is uniquely positioned to be a leader in 
securing rail and mass transit systems from the threat of terrorism 
because of its experience in protecting commercial aviation.
  Finally, I would note that House Resolution 1150 includes language 
authored by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) that 
gives appropriate consideration to the security needs of school 
transportation systems. This resolution continues the effort by the 
Committee on Homeland Security to raise rail and mass transit security 
to the prominence it deserves. I urge my colleagues to support House 
Resolution 1150.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support 
of House Resolution 1150 and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the chairman has said, we have worked, and the 
executive branch has worked, to enhance the security of this Nation 
since the terrible episode of 9/11. However, I think it would not 
surprise people to understand that we put primary focus on aviation 
safety since that was the means, that is aviation, that was utilized by 
the terrorists on 9/11.
  We have done a good job with it. A couple of years ago, we passed the 
SAFE Port Act, which I think gave tremendous enhancement to the 
security measures that are utilized in our ports. This resolution 
recognizes that we need to do more in the area of rail and mass 
transit. I do not view that at as a criticism of anybody. Rather, I 
view that as a call to arms, so to speak, an urgency imprinted on the 
concern that we have in this area of potential vulnerability.
  I would particularly point to the part of the resolution that states 
that TSA should continue to develop the National Explosives Detection 
Canine Team Program and to utilize it with respect to our Nation's rail 
and mass transit line. One of the things that I think we have realized, 
on both sides of the aisle, is the tremendous capabilities of canines 
and the application of canine teams in a number of different areas of 
security in a number of different transportation modes.
  I would say that I would hope that at some point in time, we might 
also be able to bring to the floor legislation dealing with the 
trucking industry. There is bipartisan commitment to do that. The 
gentleman from Mississippi has had a bill that a number of us have 
worked on, along with the gentlelady from Texas and others, that would 
enhance the security nature of our trucking system and would, at the 
same time, make careful distinctions between security-sensitive 
materials and otherwise hazardous materials. And that distinction would 
therefore not disadvantage certain drivers in the United States that 
otherwise might be prohibited from being able to drive hazardous 
material that is not security sensitive. I know the gentleman from 
Mississippi and the gentlelady from Texas are committed to that. I hope 
that we might be able to see some progress on that in the future as 
well.
  Again, I think this resolution is worthy of support by all in this 
Chamber.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I would reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the 
gentleman that he will see some progress on the trucking legislation in 
the not-too-distant future.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from 
Texas, the author of the resolution, Ms. Jackson-Lee.
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Let me thank the chairman of the full 
committee for his leadership and the consistency of the methodical 
pathway to securing America. That is what we are doing here today. I 
want to acknowledge the ranking member of the committee and my ranking 
member, Mr. Lungren of California, because we have worked together as a 
committee to focus on a number of issues, including chemical security 
and an overview of infrastructure protection and now this legislation.

                              {time}  1200

  I also think it is important to note that we have committed, as the 
chairman has indicated, that we will look at the security measures 
needed for the trucking industry.
  But we should get a sense of the roadmap that is being created here 
on the floor today. And as we look at the bills that we have discussed, 
each one of them are building blocks toward the response to the 9/11 
families, who, day after day after 9/11 told this Congress to get its 
act together, starting first, of course, with the bill of Congresswoman 
Clarke that emphasizes that if we have a watch list, that watch list 
should be a watch list that is both accurate and secure, and that hard 
working Americans have to have their civil liberties protected, so if 
they are on the list by mistake we must avoid or find a process of 
appeal for the mistakes that are being made.
  Then, of course, I think it is noteworthy, as the chairman brought 
forward his bill on biometric, that we found incidences in Chicago 
where these cards that are being used by airport employees were 
fraudulently produced and large numbers of them found, a cache of them 
found in the hands of employees, so that people who are not 
credentialed can get on the airport surface because of this 
fraudulence. So this biometric study is extremely important.
  Having just come back from Boston Logan Airport, we also note that 
the bill by Congresswoman Lowey is very important, so that we are on 
our toes about ensuring that those who are working at these airports 
are not tipped off about testing or having them go through security, so 
that the four corners of airports are secure.
  Now we come full circle, and this legislation, H. Res. 1150, goes 
back again to the heart of the purpose of the 9/11 Commission. It was a 
holistic approach to security, for we have seen the tragedy of being 
lax on airport security.
  And I might imagine that those of you who are visiting the United 
States Congress who might have taken airplanes have gone through 
security, and it might have been a crowded line. But you are adhering 
to the rules because you know that we are working together to secure 
the homeland.
  But the homeland is more than just aviation. It is also rail. And 
this legislation is part of the approach that the Homeland Security 
Committee is taking, and seriously taking, as its responsibilities of 
oversight.
  Each weekday, 11,300,000 passengers depend on our Nation's mass 
transit

[[Page H5504]]

lines as a means of transportation. Our Nation's mass transit lines 
serve as a target for terrorist attacks, as evidenced by the March 11, 
2004, attack on the Madrid, Spain, mass transit system; the July 7, 
2005, attack on the London, England, mass transit system; and the July 
11, 2006, attack on the Mumbai, India, mass transit system.
  These systems are vulnerable, and the TSA Administration through the 
development of its National Explosive Detection Canine Team Program 
furthered its ability to provide security against terrorist attacks on 
the Nation's transportation systems by preventing and protecting our 
explosive threats.
  However, it is important for the administration and the 
Transportation Security Administration to be reminded of the Nation's 
rail and mass transit lines, that they should remain secure from 
terrorist attack, as they are critical in the functioning of our 
Nation's economy and they serve as a means of transportation on a daily 
basis for millions of hard working Americans.
  So this legislation is a wake-up call. It is in fact to remind the 
administration that we have to do more work on transportation security 
inasmuch as we have seen done by others.
  In 1995, the Irish Republican Army waged a long-running terrorist 
campaign against the London Underground.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California). The time 
of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I yield an additional minute to the 
gentlewoman.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Texas is recognized for 
1 additional minute.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Palestinian terrorists have carried out 
suicide bombings on Israeli buses. And so this legislation is to 
emphasize again that attacks on mass transit are possible and therefore 
we should look seriously at providing the security necessary.
  Just recently I held a field hearing in New York to look at the ways 
of the New York transit system and how they were securing their 
particular system, one of the largest in the Nation. We learned that 
the National Explosive Detection Canine Team Program was very 
important, and therefore we want the TSA to continue that. We need TSA 
to continue to develop training programs for frontline workers and 
fulfill the other mandates Congress put in place in the 9/11 bill to 
increase security on rail and mass transit. This resolution is to 
provide that roadmap and to emphasize to TSA how important mass transit 
security is.
  Might I just conclude by suggesting as my colleagues have discussed 
this whole question of energy, just think about a secure mass transit 
that will allow us to engage in a transit system that actually works.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I yield 1 additional minute to the 
gentlewoman.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Texas is recognized for 
1 additional minute.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished chairman.
  A secure mass transit will encourage more Americans to utilize our 
transit and our transportation system that is a public transit system. 
That is what those of us on this side of the aisle believe, a green 
economy, conservation, efficiency. And coming from Texas I would say to 
my good friend from California, we have happily lived with safe and 
secure and environmentally safe drilling and we encourage our very 
strong companies to continue to do so. But, at the same time, the word 
``energy'' is a broad term. Green energy, efficiency, conservation. 
That is what this Congress has to preach to the American public, and 
safe and secure mass transit, of which all of these legislative 
initiatives are planning to do.
  I would ask my colleagues in particular to support the legislation 
presently under consideration dealing with the mass transit resolution 
and all the other bills that have been able to come forward out of 
Homeland Security and under the Subcommittee on Transportation Security 
and Infrastructure Protection.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 
1150, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Transportation Security Administration should, in accordance with the 
congressional mandate provided for in the Implementing Recommendations 
of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, enhance security against terrorist 
attack and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit 
lines, introduced by myself. I rise today to offer this Resolution 
regarding the role of the Transportation Security Administration in 
securing our Nation's rail and mass transit lines.
  This Resolution reaffirms the congressional mandate provided for in 
the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 
that the Transportation Security Administration enhance security 
against terrorist attack and other security threats to our Nation's 
rail and mass transit lines. I am pleased to have Homeland Security 
Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, as an original cosponsor of this 
resolution. Chairman Thompson has been a leader in our efforts to 
secure against terrorist threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit 
lines.
  Madam Speaker, each weekday 11,300,000 passengers depend on our 
Nation's mass transit lines as a means of transportation. Our Nation's 
mass transit lines serve as a target for terrorist attack as evidenced 
by the March 11, 2004, attack on the Madrid, Spain, mass transit 
system, the July 7, 2005, attack on the London, England, mass transit 
system, and the July 11, 2006, attack on the Mumbai, India, mass 
transit system. The Transportation Security Administration has, through 
the development of its National Explosives Detection Canine Team 
Program furthered its ability to provide security against terrorist 
attacks on the Nation's transportation systems by preventing and 
protecting against explosives threats.
  It is imperative that our Nation's rail and mass transit lines remain 
secure from terrorist attack as they are critical to the functioning of 
our Nation's economy and serve as a means of transportation on a daily 
basis for millions of hard working Americans. Successful attacks 
against rail and mass transit targets have been carried out worldwide 
by terrorist looking to create havoc, economic harm, and kill innocent 
people.
  Throughout the world, mass transit systems have long been targets of 
terrorist attacks. Algerian extremists set off bombs on the subways of 
Paris in 1995 and 1996; the Irish Republican Army waged a long-running 
terrorist campaign against the London Underground; Palestinian 
terrorists have carried out suicide bombings on Israel's buses; 
Chechnyan terrorists killed 40 people by bombing the Moscow subway in 
2004; and, in the first terrorist use of a chemical weapon, a Japanese 
cult--Aum Shinrykyo--released sarin gas on a Tokyo subway in 1995.
  Recent events make it clear that the threat continues. On the morning 
of March 11, 2004, ten explosions occurred at the height of the Madrid 
rush hour aboard four commuter trains. On July 7, 2005, during the 
morning peak travel hours, three separate explosions ripped through the 
London Underground and a fourth explosion occurred on a double-decker 
bus. These four explosions, the result of coordinated suicide-bombings 
by British-born Islamic extremists, claimed the lives of 56 people and 
seriously injured hundreds more. Two weeks later, on July 21, 2005, 
another group of terrorists unsuccessfully attempted to attack London's 
mass transit system again. On July 11, 2006 a series of seven bomb 
blasts against the Suburban Railway in Mumbai, formerly known as 
Bombay, capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and India's 
financial capital resulted in 207 lost lives and over 700 injured.
  The recent attacks serve as a harsh reminder of mass transit and rail 
security vulnerabilities. Both mass transit and rail systems are public 
and used by millions of people daily. Because of their size, openness, 
and highly-networked character, there are no obvious checkpoints, like 
those at airports, to inspect passengers and parcels. Passengers are 
strangers, promising attackers anonymity and easy escape.
  And attacks on mass transit--the circulatory systems of urban areas--
can cause widespread fear, severely disrupt economic activity, kill or 
injure large numbers of people, and alter our way of life. An attack on 
our freight rail, either the material being transported, such as 
hazardous materials, or vital commodities, or merely the system itself, 
could severely impact our national economy.
  As a result, both mass transit and rail systems are attractive 
targets. Since September 11, 2001, according to the Memorial Institute 
for the Prevention of Terrorism, mass transit systems have been the 
target of more than 145 terrorist attacks.
  Due to their existence in high-population, high-risk urban areas, 
mass transit systems are also inevitably affected by any terrorist 
attack that may occur within that jurisdiction--regardless of whether 
the transit system was the

[[Page H5505]]

target of the attack. For example, during September 11, 2001, two of 
New York City's busiest transit stations were lost and considerable 
damage occurred to the tunnel structures, endangering hundreds of lives 
underground. Great care was required to evacuate passengers, locate and 
rescue trapped transit cars, and communicate instructions. The damage 
in New York City was so great that in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, 
Congress appropriated $1.8 billion to rebuild the subway infrastructure 
that was damaged in the attacks. I am hopeful that through this 
legislation we can prevent such attacks rather than face the tragic 
consequences of 9/11 again.
  I refuse to sit idly by and allow another 9/11 or Madrid, London, or 
Mumbai bombing to disrupt our Nation and its critical infrastructure--
it is with that conviction that I seek to address these issues. The 
recent world events should serve as a wake-up call that we must do more 
to secure our transportation systems and we must act quickly and 
responsibly. I firmly believe that the legislation before us today will 
take an important step in securing our transportation systems.
  Pursuant to the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, 
ATSA, the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, is responsible 
for the security of all modes of transportation including rail and mass 
transit. TSA, however, has focused the majority of its resources and 
assets on aviation security in the past five years. I could go on with 
other examples, but what these instances show is that clearly it is 
imperative that TSA value rail and mass transit security on equal 
footing with aviation security. We are satisfied with the progress that 
TSA has made with the National Explosion Detection Team Program, but 
more is needed to train frontline employees.
  Congress, recognizing TSA's lack of progress in developing a security 
strategy for all modes of transportation, mandated the development of a 
National Strategy for Transportation Security in the Intelligence 
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, 9/11 Act. This strategy, 
although due April 1, 2005, was not finalized by TSA until September 
2005. Moreover, the document provided by the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) did not meet the requirements set out by Congress, 
especially with regards to rail and mass transit security. Furthermore, 
subsequent congressionally mandated updates were also not met by TSA, 
resulting in the 9/11 Discourse Project giving the TSA a C- for its 
efforts.
  TSA's failure to assume a leadership position on surface 
transportation security is plainly evident. It is time that we take 
action and leadership to help protect the more than 11.3 million 
passengers in 35 metropolitan areas and 22 states who use commuter, 
heavy, or light rail each weekday. There must be substantial penalties 
for those who do not follow the security plans, vulnerability 
assessments, and regulations set out in this legislation.
  H. Res. 1150 is a straightforward resolution, but a very important 
one. Recognizing that TSA is the lead agency for transportation 
security, and all of the hard work Congress did last year to make rail 
and mass transit security programs more robust in the enactment of the 
9/11 bill, we must continue to push TSA to fulfill the mandates for 
rail and mass transit security required by Congress.
  Last month, the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and 
Infrastructure Protection, which I have the privilege of chairing, held 
a field hearing in New York City on efforts to secure rail and mass 
transit. It was a truly edifying experience. We learned much about what 
is being done to secure the New York Transit system and other systems 
across the Nation, and what TSA can do in its leadership role at the 
federal level, to facilitate these efforts. I want to commend TSA on 
its progress with the National Explosives Detection Canine Team 
Program, since most successful attacks on rail and mass transit are 
carried out using IEDs. However, we need TSA to continue to develop 
training programs for frontline workers, and fulfill the other mandates 
Congress put in place in the 9/11 bill to increase security on rail and 
mass transit.
  TSA should reinvigorate their efforts to fulfill the mandates of the 
9/11 bill. TSA has not submitted to the Committee on Homeland Security 
the National Strategy for Public Transportation Security which was 
mandated by the 9/11 bill, along with other deadlines including 
training regulations for frontline workers. TSA must submit this to 
both comply with the law and more importantly to protect Americans.
  I find it completely appalling that this Administration seems to be 
unwilling to act on rail and mass transit security until we are faced 
with another disaster. I shudder to think that if the Washington, DC or 
New York subway systems were attacked, and mass casualties resulted, 
that we would be thinking that more could have been done to prevent 
such a tragedy. We will be desperately trying to figure out how to 
prepare for a disaster that has already happened and holding hearing 
after hearing to find out where we dropped the ball. The time to 
prepare is now, and I am committed to securing our Nation's rail and 
mass transit system expeditiously. We have been blessed thus far that 
our rail and public transportation systems have not been attacked. We 
should make our best efforts to ensure that we do not overlook this 
blessing.
  From the terrorist attacks that have occurred around the world, we 
know that terrorists will target our rail and public transportation 
systems. Despite this admonition, the agency created and funded by 
Congress to address the issue of transportation security has 
consistently dropped the ball when it comes to rail and public 
transportation. We cannot let the lessons of Madrid, London, and Mumbai 
go unheeded. For the sake of the millions of Americans who use our rail 
and mass transit systems everyday to go to work, school, and visit 
friends and family, we have to take charge on this security risk.
  We owe it to the public to safeguard the modes of transportation that 
allow them to carry on with their lives and drive this economy. 
Millions of men and women ride our Nation's rail and public 
transportation systems everyday; we owe it to them to ensure that they 
can do so safely and securely. I hope that through today's hearing and 
our continued efforts on the issue of rail and mass transit security, 
we can resolve the asymmetric way in which we treat aviation versus 
rail security and resolve the substantial threat posed by inadequate 
security on our rail and mass transit system.
  I want to thank my colleagues for all of their hard work and 
dedication to these important issues.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), who has a real interest 
in broadening the scope of this study.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Mississippi 
for yielding.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I thank the 
gentlewoman from Texas for introducing this important piece of 
legislation.
  As has been indicated, every day over 36 million people travel on 
forms of mass transit or public transportation in this country. More 
than 11 million commuters use rail and mass transit, while over twice 
this number, more than 25 million, use public or private school buses 
to travel to and from their schools.
  As a former superintendent of schools of the State of North Carolina, 
I know how important these systems are to delivering our most precious 
cargo, our school children, to and from school safely and securely. 
Just as we have a responsibility to ensure the public can travel on 
rail and mass transit confident of their safety, we have an equal 
responsibility to make sure that our school bus routes are secure.
  I thank Congresswoman Jackson-Lee for her hard work, Chairman 
Thompson for working with me to include this piece of legislation in 
this resolution, and I want to thank Ranking Member King for his help 
also.
  School buses have been targets for terrorists not only in countries 
such as Israel, Thailand, Yemen and African countries, but also Canada 
and the United States. Last year, the FBI warned that members of 
extremist groups have purchased school buses and obtained licenses to 
operate them.
  An attack on a school bus would be devastating, not only in lives 
harmed, but also the psychological and symbolic impact. We owe our 
children and their families no less than that we will be able to 
confidently say that their transportation is secure.
  Earlier this year in a 9/11 bill, Congress required TSA to conduct a 
comprehensive risk assessment on school transportation. They are making 
progress on this goal. We need to make sure that this assessment is 
completed on time and that it is followed with efforts to keep our 
children safe as they travel to and from school activities.
  The provisions of this resolution shows that Congress is serious 
about providing that confidence for rail, for mass transit, as well as 
for school transportation. I urge my colleagues to join me in support 
of H.R. 1150.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers. 
If the gentleman from California has no more speakers, I am prepared to 
close after the gentleman closes.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume to close.
  Madam Speaker, I rise again in support of H. Res. 1150, expressing 
the

[[Page H5506]]

sense of the House of Representatives that TSA should in accordance 
with the congressional mandate provided for in implementing 
recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, enhance security 
against terrorist attack and other security threats to our Nation's 
rail and mass transit lines.
  I think we have already spoken about why this is important, why we 
need to move in this area, as we have moved in effectively in the areas 
of aviation safety and port and marine safety. We cannot leave out any 
element of our overall programs. And I thank the gentleman from 
Mississippi, the chairman, for informing me that we should expect to 
see some action on legislation dealing with the trucking industry, a 
goal that he and I share.
  Madam Speaker, as I have reflected on much of the rail industry, I 
have noticed that they are powered oftentimes by diesel engines. As I 
have reflected on mass transit in most of our intercity and intercity 
communities where we are dealing with buses, I have noted that they 
have been powered by diesel. In some cases for environmental purposes 
we have encouraged the use of natural gas.
  That is why, Madam Speaker, it is disappointing to see that we have 
made it more difficult and more expensive for those who operate those 
buses and operate those trains to continue to operate because of the 
increasingly high energy costs. I have been informed that my home State 
of California has a substantial portion of its electricity that is 
produced by way of natural gas. So when we talk about the need, the 
demand, it seems to me we should also look at the supply side equation 
as well.
  Not even talking about offshore potential for oil and gas, we should 
look at onshore oil and gas and the potential for creating more 
product, American product, for these mass transit systems that we are 
talking about here today with this bill.
  So, if we would just look at total onshore oil and gas, not including 
oil shale, we would find this: Onshore Federal lands contain an 
estimated 31 billion barrels of oil and 231 trillion cubic feet of 
natural gas. I am not misstating that. That is 31 billion barrels of 
oil and 231 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, those figures according 
to the Bureau of Land Management. The Federal Government currently 
denies or restricts by way of congressional mandate, denies or 
restricts access to 92 percent of this oil and 90 percent of this 
natural gas.
  In other words, we are saying to the American people who want to use 
these mass transit systems as well as use their own automobiles, that 
the very source that provides the energy for those modes of 
transportation, that is oil and natural gas, we are going to deny 28.5 
billion barrels of the oil and 207.9 trillion cubic feet of this 
natural gas.
  Now, it is beyond the scope of this bill perhaps to talk about 
heating. We are going to be in winter, even though it seems difficult 
in some of these sweltering summer days or pre-summer days to think 
about that, but we will be in winter when we are talking about the 
heating needs of the American people, and we should look at the price 
of natural gas, as it is going up and on up and up, as are our gas 
prices.
  Only 8 percent, that is 2.48 billion barrels of the oil out of the 
potential 31 billion barrels of oil, and 10 percent of the natural gas, 
23.1 trillion cubic feet of the 231 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, 
are accessible under standard leasing terms.
  So what we have done to the American people by way of congressional 
action is say that we are only going to allow you to have access to 8 
percent of the oil and 10 percent of the natural gas. Or another way of 
saying it is we are going to lock up 92 percent of the oil and 90 
percent of the natural gas, even though you are desperate in terms of 
the impact of energy price increases on your everyday living.

                              {time}  1215

  It's not just at the gas pump, it is as it trickles through or 
ripples through the entire economy. Every bit of food that we buy today 
is transported from somewhere else, so the costs of transportation are 
going to be included in the cost of food to the American people. As we 
talk to the need for us to enhance our security against terrorist 
attack and other security threats to our rail and mass transit lines, 
let's understand the national security implications of denying those 
very lines, rail and mass transit lines, the energy that they need to 
move.
  Again, I support H. Res. 1150 as a bipartisan product of the Homeland 
Security Committee, which, I think we can proudly say, works on a 
bipartisan basis.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much 
time as I may consume.
  House Resolution 1150 sends the right message at the right time. It 
reminds TSA of the House's continued interest in seeing progress on 
securing our rail and mass transit systems.
  Last year we took steps towards that goal by passing H.R. 1 
legislation, that I was proud to author. That landmark Homeland 
Security law took a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges 
of securing rail and mass transit, viewing it as a critical 
infrastructure that is essential to effective operations of our 
national economy.
  Incidentally, with gas over $4 a gallon, America's reliance on these 
systems is only going to increase. Today I am proud to stand here and 
renew the call for meaningful progress and urge passage of H. Res. 
1150.
  Madam Speaker, I urge passage of the resolution, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1150, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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