Lowey Praises Committee Passage of Comprehensive Rail and Public Transportation Security Act

Lowey Praises Committee Passage of Comprehensive Rail and Public Transportation Security Act

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today joined her colleagues on the House Committee on Homeland Security passing the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, which would address critical transportation shortcomings in our overall homeland security strategy.

"For 11.3 million Americans, riding the rails and using mass transit are a part of the daily routine," Lowey said. "Yet inexplicably, the Administration continues to dangerously under-fund rail security measures, ignoring clear risks to our infrastructure and Americans everywhere. The bill the House Homeland Security Committee passed today addresses a number of critical concerns, and I look forward to its passage by the full House."

The bill, H.R. 1401, would require a national rail and public transportation security plan, clarifying roles and responsibilities of federal, state and local agencies, in addition to strengthening intelligence sharing.

It would also authorize $600 million per year for FY08-FY11 for a grant program dedicated to rail security and a total of $3.36 billion over fiscal years FY08-FY11 for a grant program dedicated to public transportation security. The grants would be distributed based on priorities established by the Department of Homeland Security.

Also, the bill would authorize $140 million in grants for Amtrak to improve tunnels in the Northeast corridor, including improvements to six tunnels in New York City.

In contrast, the President's budget request for FY07 only allocated $41.4 million in the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA's) budget for surface transportation security - less than one percent of TSA's overall budget.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny18_lowey/hsr031307.html