[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 185 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 THE APPROPRIATIONS PACKAGE AND AMTRAK

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                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2009

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, today, the House will 
consider the end of year appropriations package. In that package, is a 
one-page provision that risk undermining nearly a decade of rail 
security efforts by Amtrak. It requires Amtrak to allow passengers at 
stations that accept checked baggage to check their guns.
  There are those who argue that this is a reasonable provision which 
would simply grant rail travelers the same opportunities as aviation 
travelers. These people fundamentally miss the point.
  The challenges of securing rail are very different than securing 
aviation. Airports are controlled environments with screeners, 
checkpoints and multiple law enforcement agencies, rail stations are 
not. Airline passengers are watch listed, rail passengers are not. Guns 
that are checked on planes are stored away from passengers. Under this 
provision, guns could be ``checked'' in the same car as the passenger. 
This provision is bad security of policy and puts Amtrak passengers and 
staff and anyone else in rail stations at risk.

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