Homeland Security

DATE=3/23/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS / RAIL SECURITY (L-O)

NUMBER=2-314409

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: In Washington, U-S Senators are urging the Bush administration to do more to boost the security of the nation's railroads in the aftermath of Madrid's deadly train bombings earlier this month. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: Members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee expressed concern that not enough money has been invested in rail security since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Senator John Breaux is a Louisiana Democrat:

/// BREAUX ACT ///

This year, four-point-five billion dollars is budgeted for aviation security, while only approximately 65 million dollars has been set aside for the nation's public transit operations, even though about five times more people use the trains system as take airplanes every day in this country.

/// END ACT ///

Administration officials defended efforts to protect the nation's railways from terrorists. Robert Jamison is the deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Administration:

/// JAMISON ACT ///

We have trained over 46-thousand transit employees to be the front-line eyes and ears to spot suspicious activity that might be able to detect al-Qaida techniques and other types of techniques that are used to case our nation's systems.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Jamison noted that since the Madrid train bombings, many local transit systems in the United States have begun public awareness campaigns to urge passengers to be vigilant to suspicious activity.

Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for Border and Transportation Security at the Homeland Security Department, echoed Mr. Jamison's comments:

/// HUTCHISON OPT ACT ///

I believe we have more protective measures that are in place than what we see in some of the rail transit systems there in Spain.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Hutchinson noted his agency Monday announced it would begin a pilot program for screening rail passengers and their bags for bombs. The new measures include the use of bomb-sniffing dogs on rail and mass transit systems, and plans for technology to detect biological and chemical agents in the air.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are offering their own proposals to increase rail security.

The Commerce Committee is considering a 515 million dollar plan to assess vulnerabilities on the nation's railways, test bag and passenger screening technology, and improve surveillance of railroad facilities.

Committee chairman, Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, says he believes the administration will back the legislation:

/// McCAIN ACT ///

I am somewhat confident the administration recognizes the need for this as well. We may have some differences, I hope we can work them out.

/// END ACT ///

A separate bill offered by Senator Joe Biden, a Delaware Democrat, would spend more than a billion dollars for more police patrols, lighting, fencing and closed-circuit television at rail stations, and would better secure rail tunnels along the busy train route from Boston to Washington. (signed)

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