[DOCID: f:hr716.110]
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110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-716
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EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION SHOULD, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE PROVIDED FOR IN THE IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION ACT OF 2007, ENHANCE SECURITY AGAINST TERRORIST
ATTACK AND OTHER SECURITY THREATS TO OUR NATION'S RAIL AND MASS TRANSIT
LINES
_______
June 17, 2008.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
_______
Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, from the Committee on Homeland Security,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Res. 1150]
The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred
the resolution (H. Res. 1150) expressing the sense of the House
of Representatives that the Transportation Security
Administration should, in accordance with the congressional
mandate provided for in the Implementing Recommendations of the
9/11 Commission Act of 2007, enhance security against terrorist
attack and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass
transit lines, having considered the same, report favorably
thereon with amendments and recommend that the resolution be
agreed to.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 3
Committee Consideration.......................................... 3
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 4
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 4
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 4
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits....................................................... 4
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 4
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 4
Constitutional Authority Statement............................... 4
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 4
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 5
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the enacting resolving clause and insert
the following:
That the Transportation Security Administration should--
(1) continue to enhance security against terrorist attack and other
security threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit lines, as well
as school transportation systems, including as provided for in the
Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public
Law 110-53);
(2) continue development of the National Explosives Detection
Canine Team Program, which has proven to be an effective tool in
securing against explosives threats to our Nation's rail and mass
transit lines, with particular attention to the application of its
training standards and the establishment of a reliable source of
domestically-bred canines;
(3) improve upon the success of the Online Learning Center by
providing increased person-to-person professional development programs
to ensure those responsible for securing against terrorist attacks on
our transportation systems are highly trained in both securing against
terrorist attacks and professional relations with the traveling public;
and
(4) continue to secure our Nation's mass transit and rail lines
against terrorist attack and other security threats, so as to ensure
the security of commuters on our Nation's mass transit lines and
prevent the disruption of rail lines critical to our Nation's economy,
and to give special attention to school transportation systems by
working with school administrators, State and local law enforcement,
and other representatives in the school transportation industry to keep
children safe from terrorist attack.
Amend the preamble to read as follows:
Whereas the Transportation Security Administration is uniquely positioned
to lead the efforts to secure our Nation's rail and mass transit lines from
the threat of terrorism as a result of expertise developed through over
five years of securing our Nation's commercial air transportation system;
Whereas the successes of the Transportation Security Administration's
National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program has furthered the
Transportation Security Administration's ability to provide security
against terrorist attacks on the Nation's transportation systems by
preventing and protecting against explosives threats;
Whereas each weekday 11,300,000 passengers depend on our Nation's mass
transit lines as a means of transportation, and mass transit lines serve as
an enticing target for terrorists as evidenced by the March 11, 2004,
attack on the Madrid, Spain, mass transit system, the July 7, 2005, attack
on the London, England, mass transit system, and the July 11, 2006, attack
on the Mumbai, India, mass transit system;
Whereas each weekday more than 25 million children depend on our Nation's
school transportation system, in addition to mass transit systems, to get
to and from school and school activities, and the security of these systems
must be enhanced to address the threat of terrorism; and
Whereas securing our Nation's rail and mass transit lines from terrorist
attack and other security threats is essential due to their impact on our
Nation's economic stability and the continued functioning of our national
economy: Now, therefore, be it
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
The purpose of H. Res. 1150 is to express the sense of the
House of Representatives that the Transportation Security
Administration should, in accordance with the congressional
mandate provided for in the Implementing Recommendations of the
9/11 Commission Act of 2007, enhance security against terrorist
attack and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass
transit lines.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the passage and
signing of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53), there is much still to be
done to secure rail and mass transit systems in the United
States from the threat of terrorist attack. In light of this,
and with an eye to the bombings of mass transit systems in
Madrid, Spain; London, England; and Mumbai, India that occurred
in recent years, H. Res. 1150 instructs the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) to continue and strengthen
efforts to secure rail lines, mass transit lines, and school
transportation systems across the country and to build on their
successful programs, such as the National Explosives Detection
Canine Team and Online Learning Center programs.
HEARINGS
No Committee hearings were held on H. Res. 1150.
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
H. Res. 1150 was introduced in the House on April 25, 2008,
by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas and Mr. Thompson of Mississippi. H.
Res. 1150 was referred solely to the Committee on Homeland
Security. Within the Committee, the resolution was referred to
the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure
Protection.
The Subcommittee on Transportation Security and
Infrastructure Protection of the Committee on Homeland Security
met, pursuant to notice, in open markup session, a quorum being
present, on Thursday, May 1, 2008, in 311 Cannon House Office
Building to consider H. Res. 1150, expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives that the Transportation Security
Administration should, in accordance the congressional mandate
provided for in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007, enhance security against terrorist
attack and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass
transit lines.
The Subcommittee adopted H. Res. 1150, without amendment,
by voice vote.
The Chairman discharged the Subcommittee on Transportation
Security and Infrastructure Protection from further
consideration of H. Res. 1150 on May 20, 2008.
The Committee on Homeland Security considered H. Res. 1150
on May 20, 2008, and ordered the measure reported to the House
with a favorable recommendation, as amended, by unanimous
consent.
The following amendments were offered:
An amendment offered by Mr. Rogers (#1); on page 3,
line 3, strike ``lines;'' and insert ``line, with
particular attention to the application of its training
standards and the establishment of a reliable source of
domestically-bred canines.''; was AGREED TO by voice
vote.
An amendment offered by Mr. Etheridge (#2); inserting
clauses relating to school transportation systems; was
AGREED TO by voice vote.
COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes
on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto.
No record votes were requested during Committee
consideration.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee has held oversight
hearings and made findings that are reflected in this report.
NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX EXPENDITURES
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.
Res. 1150, would result in no new or increased budget
authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or
revenues.
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, H. Res. 1150, contains the
following general performance goals, and objectives, including
outcome related goals and objectives authorized.
This resolution is intended to send a strong message to the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that the House of
Representatives wants TSA to continue to enhance security
against terrorist attacks on rail and mass transit.
CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED TARIFF
BENEFITS
In compliance with rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of the rule
XXI.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that the
Constitutional authority for this legislation is provided in
Article I, section 8, clause 1, which grants Congress the power
to provide for the common Defense of the United States.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION
This resolution directs the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) to continue enhancing security for rail
and mass transit lines, as well as school transportation
systems, particularly as provided for in the Implementing
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-
53). The resolution directs TSA to continue developing the
National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program, recognizing
its success in the past. This section includes language,
accepted at Full Committee mark-up, which recognizes the
importance of establishing a reliable source of domestically-
bred canines for the program.
The resolution also directs TSA to improve on the success
of its Online Learning Center program by increasing person-to-
person professional development programs to further strengthen
security efforts and relations with the traveling public.
Additionally, TSA is directed to continue securing mass
transit and rail lines against terrorist attacks and other
security threats in order to protect commuters and prevent
disruption of rail lines critical to the U.S. economy, as well
as to protect school transportation systems and the students
that use them.
The Committee strongly supports TSA's capabilities and
desires to TSA to continue to its full capabilities to secure
the Nation as a whole, and transportation systems specifically.
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