House Democrats seek more money for rail, mass transit security

[The Straight Story]

House Democrats seek more money for rail, mass transit security

By Jonathan Marino
[e-mail]
Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday introduced a bill that would direct billions of dollars more toward rail and mass transit security, citing perceived failures by the White House to place enough funds to protect those modes of transportation.

The Rail and Public Transportation Security Act calls for slightly more than $3 billion to be spent on rail and transit system security during the next six years. The bulk -- $2.4 billion -- would go toward grants. Another $450 million would be allocated for research and development of security technologies and about $158 million would be used to hire and train 1,200 new rail security inspectors. Now, there are just 100 such inspectors.

Committee ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said rail and transit protection has lagged behind air security and state and local offices have footed the bill and responsibilities for protecting essential modes of transportation.

"It will cost substantial sums to implement the security measures needed to prevent a possible attack on U.S. rail and public transportation systems," Thompson said. He was joined in introducing the legislation by Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., and other Democrats. Thompson said he was unfazed by the lack of GOP support at the bill's inception.

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