Date: 2011-06-01
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I have served on the Homeland Security Committee. tragically. since the formation of the select committee and then ultimately the full committee. For many of us who were here in the United States Congress and watched the plane attack the Pentagon and ultimately visited Ground Zero in the early stages are well aware of the need to protect America. As the ranking member of the Transportation Security Committee. working with my colleague from Alabama. the chairman. we well recognize the importance of transportation facilities and modes. For some reason. terrorists are attracted to airlines and freeways and trains. So this amendment is a very simple amendment that I believe provides security to the American public. It was no doubt that after the killing of Osama bin Laden discovered papers suggested that al Qaeda operatives were considering attacking the U.S. rail system on the 10year anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Yes. it was 2010. but if we recall. we were unaware that we were going to be attacked on 9/11. Los Angeles MTA planned security upgrades in response to bin Ladens killing and the discovery of rail attack plans. That is the American publics sensitivity. that we must protect our modes of transportation. My amendment is a simple amendment that restores $5 million to the Transportation Security account at the Presidents submitted request by reducing the Office of the Under Secretary for Management and Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing. Since the demise of Osama bin Laden. it has come to light that al Qaeda had ambitious plans to launch an attack against our Nations mass transit system and their riders. our constituents. Now more than ever we must ensure that our mass transit and surface transportation is secure by developing riskbased policies and programs that devote appropriate resources to securing these systems against a terrorist attack. This amendment would increase the surface transportation security account at TSA by $5 million. bringing the account in line with the Presidents request for FY 2012. In Washington terms. $5 million may not sound like much. but it is a critical increase to the Surface Transportation Security account at TSA. which has historically been underfunded. This account funds frontline homeland security personnel in the form of surface transportation inspectors who. in addition to reviewing regulatory compliance. consult with transit agencies and rail companies in improving security infrastructure and operational protocols. The American public. whether its Amtrak or longdistance rail. need our involvement. We cannot afford to diminish the protection of our rail lines that grandmothers and grandchildren. college students and commuters use. This is a smart investment at a critical time. Be reminded. we got no notice about 9/11. and we will get no notice about attacks on our rail system. To fund this increase. my amendment simply reduces $2.5 million from two different accounts. This is a wise decision at this time to help our communities and mitigate the terrorist threat to our local transit systems. as well as to improve security for passenger and freight rail. Just be the community that would be impacted by a horrific terrorist act. Whether it is through the neighborhoods of Houston. whether its in Los Angeles or the Midwest. all of our communities and constituents are serviced by some form of surface transportation or mass transit. and as we have seen abroad. this mode of transportation is vulnerable to terrorist attack. From Spain to London. they know the truth. and we must stand vigilant. Providing this increased funding for our surface transportation inspectors is a wise investment on behalf of the American people. and I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.