Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 3288, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010

Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 3288, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with significant concerns about section 159 of the Transportation division of this legislation. It requires Amtrak to allow passengers to check their guns when riding the rails.

It is no secret that rail systems are an attractive target for terrorists. In fact, in last year's attack in Mumbai, two terrorists executed a commando-style raid on a major railway station, gunning down 150 innocent commuters. To date, we have been fortunate that no such attacks have occurred on U.S. soil, but with passage of this legislation, securing the Nation's railway systems becomes far more difficult.

Section 159 requires Amtrak to allow passengers to travel with guns without checking them against a terrorist watch list. We all get checked against a terrorist watch list when we fly, regardless of whether we check firearms or not. How can we justify not using the terrorist watch list on people who travel the rail?

Amtrak policy of prohibiting passengers from traveling with guns was established in response to 9/11. With this bill, Congress, in a heavy-handed way, is interfering with Amtrak's security protocols without a single congressional hearing. This bill would abruptly undermine nearly a decade of conscientious efforts by Amtrak to enhance rail security and protect its passengers and employees. I am also concerned that it does not distinguish between checked baggage transported in a separate car and that which is loaded onto the same car as passengers.

Section 159 also lacks safeguards to ensure that State and local gun laws are respected. Specifically, it is silent on the question of preemption, thereby implying that individuals can carry firearms into jurisdictions where it is unlawful to do so.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. McGOVERN. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I would like to also add that, last year, we spent more than twice as much money per passenger on aviation security as we did on rail security. Section 159 will undermine the security of Amtrak's passengers, employees, and infrastructure. I sincerely hope that we do not soon come to regret this hasty and unexamined passage.

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned during debate

on the rule, I have strong objections to section 159 of the Transportation division of this bill.

Over the last decade it has become abundantly clear that rail systems are key targets for terrorists.

And the consequences have been devastating for many of our friends around the globe.

In last year's attack in Mumbai, 2 terrorists executed a ``commando-style'' raid on a major railway station, gunning down 150 innocent commuters.

I am grateful that, thus far, Americans have been spared the horror of an attack on our domestic rail system.

But approving section 159 is to act as though the terrible events in Madrid, Mumbai, and Russia could never happen here.

Amtrak's ban on firearms was instituted in response to September 11th, and re-evaluated after each major terrorist attack since.

Section 159 interferes with Amtrak's carefully developed security protocols and exacerbates the vulnerability of railways without hearings or debate.

Still, I would like to recognize Chairman Olver and Chairman Obey for reaching out to discuss my security concerns and potential changes to proposed language.

Unfortunately, none of those concerns are addressed in the provision that is in the conference package.

The bottom line is that it still forces Amtrak to allow passengers to transport guns as checked baggage without even the most basic safeguards.

For example, section 159 does not distinguish between checked baggage transported in a separate car and that which is loaded onto passenger cars.

Moreover, there is not even language that requires checked baggage to be secure.

This means that guns and ammunition could be loaded onto the same cars as the passengers who are transporting them.

As my colleague from Florida, Chairwoman Brown, stated earlier, it is absolutely critical for everyone to understand that checked baggage on a train is not the same as checked baggage on an airplane.

What is even more puzzling is that section 159 requires Amtrak to allow passengers to travel with guns without checking their names against the terrorist watchlist.

We all know that our names are checked against the watchlist when we fly, even if we don't check firearms.

I do not understand how anyone can justify using the watchlist to protect air passengers but refusing to provide the same protection to rail passengers.

This section also lacks safeguards to ensure that State and local gun laws are respected.

Specifically, it fails to address preemption, with the implication that individuals may carry firearms into jurisdictions where it is unlawful to do so.

Last year, we spent more than twice as much money per-passenger on aviation security as we did on passenger rail security.

Still, Congress saw fit to cut Amtrak's security funding by 20 percent for this year.

And since section 159 creates new problems without providing any additional funding, Amtrak will now face more security obstacles with even fewer resources.

Section 159 will reverse nearly a decade of conscientious efforts by Amtrak to protect its passengers, employees, and infrastructure--and I sincerely hope that we do not soon come to regret its hasty and unexamined passage.

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