Providing for Consideration of HR 1401, Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007
Floor Speech
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1401, RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT OF 2007
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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this rule but in support of H.R. 1401, the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act, which will improve the security of our Nation's rail, subway, and bus systems.
I am very disappointed that this rule does not allow any Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee to offer amendments, of which there were several. Two of my committee colleagues, Congressman Daniel E. Lungren and Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, have critically important amendments that would significantly improve this bill.
However, I am pleased to support this bill, which my Homeland Security Committee approved unanimously. I support this bill because it will provide much-needed protections and security improvements for the millions of Americans that travel on our Nation's buses, our subway system, and our train system.
The Rail and Public Transportation Security Act will require Federal officials and transportation providers to assess our vulnerability to terrorist attacks against these public transportation systems and determine ways to improve their security.
I am especially pleased that the bill we are considering today includes two proposals that I made during committee consideration of this measure that I believe will strengthen our security against terrorist attacks on rail and mass transportation systems.
First, the committee adopted an amendment I offered that requires DHS to conduct physical testing of railcars to determine the most likely successful means of attack against them. This is important because no real-world vulnerability testing has been done on the safety of tank cars carrying dangerous toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials. My amendment remedies that by requiring such tests so that we can properly assess their current vulnerabilities and protect them to the most practical extent possible.
My proposal also requires real-world plume modeling analysis for such attacks to help fill the current gaps in our understanding of these vulnerabilities so that we can better protect our constituents and first responders from attacks on tank cars carrying dangerous materials and mitigate their consequences.
Second, this bill incorporates the text of an amendment that I filed during the committee's consideration of H.R. 1401 that requires the security coordinator positions required under section 103 of the bill to be filled by U.S. citizens, a requirement which I think makes sense for several reasons. U.S. citizenship is required for individuals seeking security clearances for access to classified information and materials. I very strongly believe that individuals who will be responsible for coordinating and implementing security plans for our Nation's rail and public transportation systems should be able to access, when appropriate, information to help them do their jobs as effectively as possible.
I think it just makes sense to put American citizens in charge of the security for our country. As we saw during the Dubai Ports debacle, many of our constituents demanded that Americans be in charge of America's security, a position with which I hope we can all agree.
I want to thank full committee Chairman BENNIE THOMPSON, Ranking Member PETER KING, Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee Chairwoman SHEILA JACKSON-LEE, and subcommittee Ranking Member DAN LUNGREN for their hard work and open-mindedness in crafting this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, we have rightly focused much of our time, attention, and resources on securing our Nation's aviation system in the years since 9/11. I believe it is time that we focus on securing our country's public transportation systems, which so many of our constituents use each day.
This bill is a significant step in that direction. I urge our colleagues to support this bill.
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