Introduction of the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2006

INTRODUCTION OF THE RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT OF 2006

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, next month marks the first anniversary of the London mass transit bombings. On July 7 and, subsequently, July 21, Americans watched in shock as terrorists struck at the heart of our ally's mass transit and bus systems, killing 56 people and injuring more than 700 others. The July 7 attack started at the heart of rush hour, with three bombs exploding at 8:50 a.m. on London's Underground subway system. Less than an hour later at 9:47 a.m., as London's subway system was completely shut down, an explosion tore through the back of the number 30 Hackney to Marble Arch bus. The victims of these attacks were ordinary people, not that different from many Americans, who were going about their usual routine of commuting to work, school, or tourist sites.

After the bombings, Congress called on the Administration to move quickly to reinforce our Nation's rail and mass transit systems to prevent such an attack from happening on American soil. Yet, nearly a year later, the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have failed to produce a comprehensive strategy to secure America's rail and mass transit systems. In addition, the Department and TSA continue to focus almost exclusively on aviation security, spending $9 per air passenger, as compared to only one penny per rail/mass transit security passenger.

The Department has made excuses for this failure by stating that mass transit security is a shared responsibility between Federal, State, and local partners, and that the Federal Government has provided significant support for the past three years. This ``partnership,'' however, has long left state and local governments paying the check without really knowing what they are paying for and why.

The Department's failures extend beyond its ability to get along with state and local Governments. The Department has not actively engaged the private sector and frontline employees of the rail and mass transit systems. These men and women are the eyes and ears of these systems, yet the Administration has not adequately consulted with them on its initiatives. Nor has the Administration ensured that they are trained to respond to a terrorist event.

Finally, the Federal Government has not moved forward with critical plans to secure our Nation's rail and mass transits. Instead, the Administration continues to approach the problem with piecemeal solutions instead of developing an overarching strategy that could be used to guide initiatives. Similarly, the Administration also has failed to devote significant resources and manpower to rail and mass transit research and development (R&D). Technology will play an important role in deterring and preventing future chemical, biological, or chemical attacks.

The Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2006 will make our Country more secure by mandating that the Department of Homeland Security take concrete and decisive steps to secure our Nation's rail and public transportation systems. This bill requires a National Rail and Public Transportation Security Plan which will supplement the existing National Strategy for Transportation Security. This plan will (1) clarify roles and responsibilities of Federal, State, and local agencies in securing rail and public transportation systems; (2) strengthen intelligence sharing, (3) lay out plans for public outreach and education initiatives; (4) create a framework for resuming operations in the event of an attack; (5) include a strategy and timeline for research and development of new security technologies; and (6) describe lessons learned from past attacks.

The bill also requires the creation of Area Rail and Public Transportation Security Plans. Modeled after the Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans required under current law for regions with several ports, these area plans will strengthen security planning in regions where there are more than one rail or public transportation entity, such as in the New York-New Jersey area.

Furthermore, the bill requires Rail and Public Transportation Systems to submit vulnerability assessments and security plans to the Department for approval. Modeled after the vulnerability assessments and security plans that ports already have to submit under current law, these provisions will ensure that rail and public transportation systems adequately evaluate their risks and vulnerabilities and are taking steps to address any security weaknesses. The Secretary must approve or disapprove each vulnerability assessment and security plan. Vulnerability assessments and security plans must be reviewed and updated at least every five years.

These plans will be useless unless enforced. For that reason, this bill gives the Secretary the authority to issue administrative and civil penalties for violations and to seek criminal penalties for knowing and intentional violations.

Information and intelligence sharing must also be improved. This bill will fix the current problems by requiring the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, to issue a Rail and Public Transportation Strategic Information Sharing Plan to strengthen the intelligence updates provided to rail and public transportation systems.

Another critical component to this bill is its provisions improving training and exercises. If an attack does occur in the United States, proper training and exercises could make the difference between life and death for front-line workers, first responders, and passengers. This bill requires rail and public transportation systems to train their employees on how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to a terrorist attack. It also establishes a Rail and Public Transportation Security Exercise Program to test the preparedness of rail and public transportation systems for a terrorist attack.

It will cost substantial sums to implement the security measures needed to prevent a possible attack on U.S. rail and public transportation systems. This bill authorizes $400 million per year over the next 6 years for a grant program dedicated to rail and public transportation security. In addition, this bill authorizes $150 million over the next 3 years for advanced research and development that will find solutions to the security threats faced by rail and public transportation systems. Finally, the bill authorizes $26.4 million per year over the next 6 years to hire 200 new rail security inspectors per year. There are only 100 rail security inspectors at the present time.

The security gap remaining in rail and public transportation is still a major threat to our Nation. The Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2006 will take substantial steps to close that security gap. I hope this Congress moves quickly to pass this bill.

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