Jackson Lee Begins Look Into Rail Security Issues As Subcommitte Chair

[Statement from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston)]

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Subcommittee Chairwoman for the Homeland Security Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection subcommittee, released the following statement:

“Today I held a hearing today entitled an ‘Update on Federal Rail and Public Transportation Security Efforts.’ I am optimistic that this Subcommittee will be active, effective, and bipartisan in its approach to securing our nation’s transportation system and critical infrastructure. The purpose of today’s hearing was to receive an update on federal government initiatives and improvements in rail and mass transit security in order to assess our nation’s preparedness as it relates to future terrorist threats and attacks to our rail and mass transit infrastructure.

“As important as commuter modes are to delivering Americans to their jobs, similarly, freight rail is vitally important to our nation’s economy.  Rail moves 40 percent of the nation’s freight and contribute billions of dollars each year to the economy.  While there are 562 common carrier freight railroads operating in the U.S., there are seven Class I railroads, which account for 68 percent of the freight, 89 percent of the employees and 93 percent of the revenue.

“Attacks on mass transit - the circulatory systems of urban areas - can cause widespread fear, severely disrupt economic activity, kill or injure large numbers of people, and alter our way of life.  An attack on our freight rail, either the material being transported (such as hazardous materials, or vital commodities), or merely the system itself, could severely impact our national economy.

“I find it completely appalling that this Administration seems to be unwilling to act on rail and mass transit security until we are faced with another disaster. I shudder to think that if the Washington, D.C. or New York subway systems were attacked, and mass casualties resulted, that we would be thinking that more could have been done to prevent such a tragedy. We will be desperately trying to figure out how to prepare for a disaster that has already happened and holding hearing after hearing to find out where we dropped the ball.  The time to prepare is now, and I am committed to securing our nation’s rail and mass transit system expeditiously.  We have been blessed thus far that our rail and public transportation systems have not been attacked. We should make our best efforts to ensure that we do not overlook this blessing.

“We owe it to the public to safeguard the modes of transportation that allow them to carry on with their lives and drive this economy. Millions of men and women ride our nation’s rail and public transportation systems everyday; we owe it to them to ensure that they can do so safely and securely. I hope that through today’s hearing and our continued efforts on the issue of rail and mass transit security, we can resolve the asymmetric way in which we treat aviation versus rail security and resolve the substantial threat posed by inadequately security on our rail and mass transit system.”