WASHINGTON –Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins (R-Me.) and Ranking Member Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) Tuesday called for greater funding to protect our ports, rail, and transit systems. Writing to Senators Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and Robert Byrd (D-W.V.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins and Lieberman pointed to growing concerns over the vulnerability of our ports, rail, and transit systems to terrorist attack and urged the Appropriations Committee to increase dedicated funding for these potential targets.
The full text of their letter appears below.
The Honorable Judd Gregg
Chairman
Subcommittee on Homeland Security
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Robert Byrd
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Homeland Security
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senators Gregg and Byrd:
As your Subcommittee sets out to mark-up the FY 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations bill on Tuesday, June 27, 2006, we ask that you dedicate additional funds for port security grants and intercity passenger rail and transit security grants. In the wake of last year’s attacks on London’s transit system, the Madrid attacks of 2004, and the growing concern about the vulnerability of our nation’s ports, we believe that such funding is necessary.
The Dubai Ports World controversy brought much needed attention to the critical issue of port security. While Congress moves forward with legislation to address enhancements to our nation’s maritime security, identified needs in this area remain underfunded. The American Association of Port Authorities identified a funding level of $400 million needed to implement the requirements of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and address port security priorities. The port security funding needs over the next two years are even more critical as the Department of Homeland Security begins to issue Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) cards to maritime workers. While issuing TWIC cards and conducting the required background checks will result in greater security comfort, true physical security at our ports will not be reached without implementing the next step of deploying access control systems. Port authorities and facilities will face significant additional costs to deploy the requisite biometric access control systems and will use their port security grant money to help fund these projects. As the House included $200 million for port security grants in its appropriations bill, we would request the Senate provide dedicated funding at an even higher level.
With respect to transit security, last year’s attacks on London’s transit system and the recent information on a potential attack on the New York subway system again demonstrate that passenger rail and transit systems are attractive targets. Our Committee held an extensive hearing on the subject last September, bearing out the need for additional federal funding for intercity passenger rail and transit security. Fourteen million people rely on mass transit systems in our country every day. We must provide assistance to system owners and operators to continue rapid deployment of security enhancements. As the House recently included $200 million in its FY 2007 bill for intercity passenger rail and transit security grants, we would request the Senate provide at least that level of dedicated funding.
As a show of support for additional funding, the Senate approved our amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution, providing $400 million for port security grants and $200 million for intercity passenger rail and transit security. We appreciate the difficult choices you must make in bringing this bill through conference with the House. Your efforts to fund the Department of Homeland Security make our country safer. We also urge that you not short-change assistance to first responders in order to do so.
Sincerely,
Susan M. Collins
Chairman
Joseph I. Lieberman
Ranking Member