Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007

Floor Speech

RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT OF 2007

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Mr. SALAZAR. I thank the gentleman from Mississippi for yielding, and I want to recognize the chairman and the ranking member for their exceptional leadership on this critical issue.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1401, the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, and urge its swift passage.

Horrific terrorist events around the world have forced us to focus on rail security. This bill is an important and necessary step towards protecting our Nation's rail and surface transportation safety.

My district is home to the world-renowned Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. TTCI's Emergency Response Training Center conducts hands-on hazmat training for first responders and is known in the field as the premier graduate school for surface transportation hazmat training.

My good friend and fellow Coloradan, Mr. Perlmutter, highlighted in committee the critical role that TTCI plays in advancing rail security, research and development and hazmat training.

By making TTCI the sixth member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, it will add a critical component to the consortium that is now missing. TTCI is the only facility in the Nation that has the experience and assets necessary to test new emergency response and recovery techniques. Adding TTCI to the consortium will help fulfill the goals of this bill, making our rail lines safer from homeland security threats by enabling the facility to accelerate its already outstanding work in the field of rail security.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the investment in rail and public transportation security and passage of this much-needed bill.

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