Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
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	Press Releases July 27, 2005   SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY LEADERS CALL FOR INCREASED MASS TRANSIT SECURITY FUNDING   Washington, DC – The leaders of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee are calling for increased funding for mass transit security. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) are pressing the leaders of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee to dedicate additional funds for transportation security programs, as they negotiate the Homeland Security Appropriations bill. “The recent attacks in London again demonstrate that transit systems are attractive targets, and it is crucial that steps be taken to mitigate the potential of another terrorist attack from occurring in the United States,” said the Senators in a joint letter to Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Robert Byrd (D-WV). “Fourteen million people rely on mass transit systems in our country every day. We must provide assistance to system owners and operators to continue rapid deployment of security enhancements.” The House has included $150 million in its Fiscal Year 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations bill for intercity passenger rail and transit security grants. The Senate version of the bill provided $100 million. Senators Collins and Lieberman urge appropriators to direct “at least” $150 million toward mass transit security grants. Congress allocated $150 million for this purpose last year. The Senators also stressed that an increase in mass transit security funding should “not short change assistance to first responders in order to do so.” Chairman Collins and Ranking Member Lieberman announced last week that the Committee has begun an examination of the vulnerabilities of America’s mass transit systems, steps that are being and should be taken to ensure that these systems are as secure as possible, including the development and deployment of high tech solutions, what the federal government’s role should be in this effort, and what we can learn from terrorist incidents abroad. The Senators plan to hold a hearing on this topic sometime after the August recess.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 July 2005 Press Releases June   |  August   --   2004   |  2006     July 27 current Press Release   July 27 - Mining Reclamation is Poorly Managed By BLM   July 22 - Senators Collins and Lieberman Criticize TSA For Violating Privacy Laws While Testing Passenger Prescreening System   July 22 - Senators Collins, Lieberman Launch Investigation Into Mass Transit Security In the U.S.   July 22 - Lieberman Disagrees With Decision On Air Traffic Specialists   July 21 - Lieberman Says BLM Disregards Its Obligation To Protect the Environment From Oil and Gas Drilling Damage   July 20 - LIEBERMAN EXPECTS MORE FROM DHS CYBERSECURITY EFFORTS   July 18 - NEW HAVEN TO GET MORE THAN $37 MILLION FOR TRANSIT SECURITY, DODD AND LIEBERMAN ANNOUNCE   July 13 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN QUESTION INDUSTRY AND OTHER EXPERTS ON PRIORITIES FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO MAKE CHEMICAL FACILITIES MORE SECURE   July 12 - LIEBERMAN CALLS ON CONGRESS/ADMINISTRATION TO BETTER FUND A RANGE OF HOMELAND SECURITY NEEDS   July 12 - SENATE APPROVES COLLINS-LIEBERMAN FIRST RESPONDER GRANT FORMULA, DOUBLES RISK-BASED HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING   July 11 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN OFFER FIRST RESPONDER GRANT LEGISLATION AS AMENDMENT TO HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL   July 11 - DHS IS FAILING IN ITS CYBER-SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES   July 10 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN RELEASE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE SAFEGUARDS IN FEMA'S DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM   July 8 - DODD, LIEBERMAN URGE DHS TO EXPEDITE DISTRIBUTION OF RAIL AND TRANSIT SECURITY FUNDS
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Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510