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July 12, 2005
The Honorable Judd Gregg
Chairman
Subcommittee on Homeland Security
Senate Committee on Appropriations
135 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Gregg:
I write on behalf of the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) more than 1,500 member organizations regarding the conference on the Fiscal Year 2006 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill, H.R. 2360.
We think it is important to note at the outset that since September 11, 2001, transit authorities have spent significant amounts of their own resources for transit security with very little federal assistance. An APTA survey has identified $6 billion in additional transit security needs. In light of the ongoing terrorist attacks in London and the many other terrorist attacks on transit, our transit system members have identified a need for significant increases in federal funding for transit security in the areas of communication, surveillance, detection systems, personnel, and training. We believe it is critically important that the federal government, in its key national security role, lead the effort to protect its citizens. In 2002, the Government Accountability Office found that over one-third of terrorist attacks worldwide were against transit systems. While we understand and support the federal government's commitment to aviation security, we believe that more should be done to protect public transportation which is used thirty-two million times every day by Americans. With $18 billion in federal funds spent on aviation security since 9/11, clearly more than $250 million needs to be spent on transit security.
Last week, the Senate achieved a 53-45 bipartisan majority to increase transit security funding to $1.2 billion. Your amendment, if passed, would have provided $200 million for transit and rail security, an additional $100 million in funding over the Subcommittee-approved bill. Clearly, a majority of members feel that the federal government should be spending more to address the transit security needs of this country, and we urge the conferees to substantially fund transit security beyond the House funding level of $150 million.
Further, we recommend that DHS funding go directly to transit agencies rather than through the State Administrating Agencies, as is now the case. Requiring the funds to go directly from DHS to transit authorities means they will be made available in a more efficient and timely manner. We also believe that any transit security program should include funding for capital, operations, and research.
We appreciate your support on this important matter. If you have any questions about these issues, please have your staff contact Tom Yedinak of APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4865 or email tyedinak@apta.com.
Sincerely yours,
William
W. Millar
President
WWM/tjj
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