Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5131, the Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018, as amended.

As you may be aware, TSA was created in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11. While the impetus behind its creation was the threat to aviation security, TSA is responsible for securing all transportation modes, including surface transportation assets such as railroads, mass transit, pipelines, buses, and ports. Given the persistent threats facing aviation in the post-9/11 era, TSA's main focus has been securing the aviation sector. However, in recent years, threats emanating against surface transportation modes, especially mass transit hubs, have steadily increased.

Attacks against these surface targets often require less sophistication than attacks against aviation, making them especially attractive to lone wolves or homegrown violent extremists.

Surface transportation systems are also a very attractive target due to their large volume of daily ridership and open infrastructure. The most recent example of an attack targeting surface is the attempted suicide bombing in December 2017 at New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Given the current threat environment, a review of TSA's approach to securing all transportation modes and an assessment of the degree to which surface transportation security should be prioritized is certainly warranted. Specifically, this bill mandates a GAO review of the national strategy for transportation security, the development of risk-based priorities for all transportation modes, and a feasibility assessment of utilizing security technologies for surface transportation assets.

Furthermore, the bill requires TSA to disseminate best practices for enhancing security against vehicle-based terrorist attacks and authorizes a surface-focused Innovation Task Force.

Finally, the bill requires a threat assessment of certain security technologies tied to foreign countries and a strategy for TSA's surface transportation inspectors. In the face of emerging threats, it is imperative that Congress ensure TSA is adequately executing its mission to protect all transportation modes, not just aviation.

I thank the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, Mrs. Watson Coleman, for authoring this legislation, as well as the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Katko, for his support and leadership on this issue.

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