House Democrats seek more money for rail, mass transit security

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.

"We need to do something whether we have Republican support or not," Thompson said, after a reporter asked how he felt about the bill's chances of success.

Thompson's call for improved rail security comes on the heels of a report assembled by Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee that said for every $9 spent on air travel passengers, just one cent is spent per rail and mass transit traveler. The report also called for mandatory training for rank and file employees and better definitions of what is expected of local and state authorities.

The report convinced enough Democrats that security spending is misaligned that the legislation can be successful, Thompson said.

"We're re-evaluating whether we spent that money in good use," said Brown, who joined Thompson in a conference call with reporters to announce the legislation.

Thompson said discussions with labor unions and transit system officials have shored up support.

Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, which represents millions of transportation trade workers, said his union will back the Democrats' bill.

"The time is now," he said, "for the federal government to stop treating these important modes of transportation like the red-headed stepchild."