February 8, 2008
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The Honorable Bennie Thompson
Chairman
House Committee on Homeland Security
H2-176 Ford House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
On behalf of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and its 1,500 member organizations, I write to let you know of the funding needs for transit security for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 and to share our views on the recent guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the FY 2008 Transit Security Grants Program (TSGP) guidance.
Consistent with the congressionally authorized level of $750 million for FY 2009 in H.R.1, the 9/11 Commission Recommendation Act of 2007, we requested $750 million for transit security grant funding in FY 2009 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Regrettably, the Bush Administration’s FY 2009 proposal is only $175 million-$225 million less than the $400 million that Congress appropriated for transit security for FY 2008.
We also requested $600,000 to maintain and operate the Public Transit Information Sharing Analysis Center (ISAC) which was authorized under the 9/11 Commission bill under Section 1410(d). In addition, we request $500,000 for DHS grant funding for development of a transit security standards program. These are two important national programs that could significantly enhance transit security at the local level which were not included in the President’s budget.
The Department of Homeland Security released the FY 2008 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) guidance on February 1, 2008. We are very disappointed that the grants distribution process will remain essentially the same as it was in FY 2007. H.R.1 included conference report language that required the DHS to distribute grants directly to transit authorities. However, DHS has chosen to ignore this directive. The states will continue to administer the program and retain 3 percent in management and administrative costs while providing no additional value in the distribution of the grant program.
In addition, the new guidance requires a local cost share. For operational costs, the maximum federal share is 66 percent of the total cost. The FY 2009 guidance reduces the federal share to 50 percent. The guidance also imposes a 25 percent local match for the purchase of equipment, management and administration activities. As you know, there is no local cost share requirement authorized in H.R.1.
Furthermore, the new grants guidance specifically excludes items contained in H.R.1 for consideration of funding such as chemical-biological detection, and redundant Operational Control Centers. We appreciate the flexibility that H.R.1 provided in allowing a broad range of items for consideration of funding, yet DHS is ignoring this legislative language and restricting the use of federal funds.
Safety and security are important priorities for the public transportation industry. Transit systems have taken many steps to improve security prior to 9/11 with minimal federal funding. Since September 11, 2001, public transit agencies in the United States have spent billions of dollars for security, emergency preparedness and related technology from their own budgets. Fighting terrorism is a part of national defense, a federal responsibility. Terrorist acts in Mumbai, London and Madrid make clear the need to strengthen security on U.S. public transit systems. We must act to prevent an occurrence of such terrorist attacks in this country.
We appreciate your support in providing financial resources for the security of our country’s public transportation infrastructure, to distribute the grant funding directly to transit authorities at 100 percent federal share, and to provide flexibility in the consideration of funding for transit authorities. We look forward to working with you on transit security issues in the coming months and thank you for your leadership. Please have your staff contact Tom Yedinak of APTA’s Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4865 or email tyedinak@apta.com if you have any questions about this matter or if we can provide any further information.
Sincerely,
William W. Millar
President
WWM/tjj
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