[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 154 (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1497-E1498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         KNOW THE CBRN TERRORISM THREATS TO TRANSPORTATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 2015

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
3350, the ``Know the CBRN Terrorism Threats to Transportation Act,'' 
which requires the Department of Homeland Security's Office of 
Intelligence and Analysis to conduct a terrorism threat assessment 
regarding the ground transportation of chemical, biological, nuclear, 
and radiological (CBRN) materials.
  As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee and the Ranking 
Member of the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, 
Homeland Security, and Investigations, I appreciate the significance of 
this bill.
  On September 11, 2001, 2,977 people were killed after terrorists 
hijacked four commercial aircraft and used three of them as guided 
missiles to destroy much of the complex that made up the New York City 
Twin Towers as well as a wing of the Pentagon.
  The fourth plane was crashed into a field in Shanksville, 
Pennsylvania as passengers heroically attempted to retake the plane 
from the control of hijackers.
  Since September 11, 2001, security experts have warned of 
vulnerabilities that exist should terrorists plan to attack a chemical 
facility located within the United States or worse yet, gain unlawful 
access to a facility, pipelines, or transit routes and steal chemicals 
for a mass attack against civilians.
  Transportation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear 
(CBRN) materials across our borders and within the United States may 
become targets for terrorists who seek to do us harm.
  The 18th Congressional District of Texas, which I serve, is home to 
some of the world's largest petrochemical producers, which employ 
thousands of Houston area residents.
  Chemicals are a vital and common presence in the lives of our 
nation's citizens, but we often forget how dangerous they can be under 
the wrong conditions.
  On April 17, 2013, the small town of West, Texas felt the power and 
destructive force of ammonium nitrate when an accidental fire ignited 
what is believed to have been between 140 to 160 tons of the chemical.
  This was no terrorist attack, but a very tragic accident.
  The accident in the town of West, Texas reminded all of us who 
represent districts that count chemical plants or their owners and 
operators as constituents--how important it is to protect the transport 
of these products from theft or misuse by terrorists.
  Ports, railways, pipelines, and trucks are critical to the domestic 
transport of chemical products.
  U.S. seaports, like the Port of Houston, are vulnerable to terrorist 
attacks.
  Ports serve as America's gateway to the global economy since the 
nation's economic prosperity rests on the ability of containerized and 
bulk cargo arriving unimpeded at U.S. ports to support the rapid 
delivery system that underpins the manufacturing and retail sectors.
  A central component of national security is the ability of our 
international ports to move goods into and out of the country.
  According to the Department of Commerce in 2012, Texas exports 
totaled $265 billion.
  The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public 
and private facilities located just a few hours' sailing time from the 
Gulf of Mexico.
  In 2012, ship channel-related businesses contributed 1,026,820 jobs 
and generated more than $178.5 billion in statewide economic activity.
  In 2014, the Port of Houston was ranked among U.S. ports:
  1. 1st in foreign tonnage;
  2. 1st among Texas ports with 46% of market share by tonnage and 95% 
market share in containers by total TEUS in 2014;
  3. 1st among Gulf Coast container ports, handling 67% of U.S. Gulf 
Coast container traffic in 2014; and
  4. 2nd in U.S. port in terms of total foreign cargo value (based on 
U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Census)
  The Government Accountability Office (GAO), reports that the Port of 
Houston and its waterways and vessels, are part of an economic engine 
handling more than $700 billion in cargo annually.
  The Port of Houston houses approximately 100 steamship lines offering 
services that link Houston with 1,053 ports in 203 countries.
  The Port of Houston is home to a $15 billion petrochemical complex, 
the largest in the nation and second largest in the world.
  With the nation's largest petrochemical complex supplying over 40 
percent of the nation's base petrochemical manufacturing capacity, what 
happens at the Port of Houston affects the entire nation.
  In 2004, nearly 155 million tons of chemicals were transported by 
rail in North America, which constitutes 1.75 million rail cars of 
hazardous materials.
  The volume of hazardous materials moving by rail more than doubled 
since 1980 indicates that rail has become an integral part of the 
tremendous increase in the transport of hazardous materials.
  According to the Texas Department of Transportation approximately 
2,200 trains per week travel within the Houston regional rail network, 
which is comprised of more than 800 miles of mainline tracks and 21 
miles of railroad bridges.
  I support this bill because we must protect the American people 
against potential terrorism through the unconventional use of 
biological, chemical or radiological materials that have a beneficial 
commercial or industrial purpose.
  Without the proper precautions and security measures major U.S. 
cities such as Houston, Texas may be vulnerable to chemical, 
biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks by terrorist.
  H.R. 3350 addresses many problems by requiring the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to conduct a terrorism threat assessment of the 
transportation of chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological 
materials through the United States land borders and within the United 
States.
  In order to enforce the required threat assessment the Under 
Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis shall consult with the 
Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, the 
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border protection, and the heads of 
other Federal departments and agencies, as deemed appropriate to ensure 
that such terrorism threat assessment is informed by current 
information about homeland security threats.
  Congress must take forward action as threats of chemical and 
biological terrorism rise and terrorist groups actively seeking 
hazardous chemicals in order to inflict harm against American citizens.

[[Page E1498]]

  I urge my colleagues to support me on H.R. 3350 in order to assess 
threats to our transportation infrastructure.

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