Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2019

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2539, ``Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2019.''

H.R. 2539 requires DHS to prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts from TSA and DHS I&A to locations with participating State, local, and regional fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset.

The tragic events of 9/11 thrust the issue of physical security into public domain as never before and set in motion responses that have re- shaped transportation in unforeseen ways.

H.R. 2539 authorizes DHS to develop, through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, a training program to enhance the protection, preparedness, and response capabilities of law enforcement agencies with respect to terrorism and other serious incidents at surface transportation assets.

In addition, threats to health, such as the spread of pandemics, present significant challenges to transport planning and operations.

Railway stations and airports are some of the most densely populated sites anywhere.

From 2009, all the flights originating, bound to or flying over the United States had their list of passengers cross-referenced by a central no-fly list managed by the TSA.

Security involves many steps, from restricting access to airport facilities, fortifying cockpits, the setting of no-fly lists, to the more extensive security screening of passengers.

Screening now involves more rigorous inspections of passengers and their baggage at airports, including restrictions on what can be personally carried in airplanes such as gels and liquids.

Considering the emergence of global supply chains, the emphasis in freight transport security is gradually shifting into a more comprehensive but complex approach.

The large number of ports, the vast fleet of global shipping and the range of products carried in vessels, and the difficulty of detection has made the issue of security in shipping an extremely difficult one to address.

The less regulated and greater international dimensions of the shipping industry have made it vulnerable to security breaches.

We need appropriate security measures to protect the susceptibility of American lives against possible acts of violence and terrorism.

The growth in the use of information technologies and their associated networks have opened new forms of vulnerability as control and management systems can be remotely accessed.

This has resulted in complex interconnected corporate information networks that can be hacked and disrupted.

Trained officials and security experts work arduously to assess and mitigate the safety of passenger flow at transportation hubs.

Taken together, the bill's provisions enhance the capabilities of local transportation security stakeholders to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks and other serious incidents.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2539 to strengthen our nations' ports of transportation to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2539) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize the assignment of certain officers and intelligence analysts from the Transportation Security Administration and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security to locations with participating State, local, and regional fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset in order to enhance the security of such assets, including by improving timely sharing of classified information regarding terrorist and other threats, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2539, the Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2019.

Every day, tens of millions of Americans rely on our Nation's vast transportation surface system. Securing that system must remain one of our top national security priorities.

H.R. 2539 will help bolster situational awareness about threats to these vital systems by requiring DHS to prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts to State, local, and regional fusion centers located in areas with high-risk surface transportation assets.

Further, H.R. 2539 authorizes a training program to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies that protect surface transportation assets.

I would like to thank my colleague, Ms. Barragan, for introducing this important bill. I urge my House colleagues to support H.R. 2539.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from Texas closes.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 2539 would be an important step toward securing some of our country's most important transportation systems.

DHS is faced with an enormous challenge of combating the constantly evolving threats facing our Nation's transportation systems. Timely information sharing about these systems is essential to counter any threat.

Last Congress, a similar measure passed the House with wide bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, terrorists continue to pose a significant threat to transportation systems.

Since 9/11, Congress has supported efforts to strengthen the security of our transportation systems.

Working with the private sector and state and local governments, we have invested substantial resources to prevent attacks and improve our intelligence around potential threats.

Still, terrorists continue to probe critical infrastructure- looking for ``soft targets'' to attack.

Worldwide, increasingly, terrorist have turned their attention to mass transit systems, bus stations, and freight and passenger rail systems.

In America, surface transportation systems transport millions of passengers and tons of freight every day.

In my district, my constituents rely on L.A. Metro rail and bus systems to get them to their offices, doctor's appointments, places of worship, and homes every day.

According to L.A. Metro Monthly Ridership stats, over 31 million riders travel by bus or rail each month.

Due to the high accessibility of transit systems, protecting passengers and personnel is difficult.

Law enforcement agencies rely on credible, timely intelligence to keep systems secure.

My bill seeks to enhance security in two key ways.

First, it requires DHS to prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts to State, local, and regional fusion centers areas with a high-risk surface transportation asset.

Such deployments would help ensure that intelligence relating to threats is shared with appropriate stakeholders in a timely manner, improving the chances of preventing the next attack.

Second, my bill authorizes DHS to develop a training program to enhance the protection, preparedness, and response capabilities of law enforcement agencies that operate at surface transportation assets.

Surface transportation systems are unique in their layouts and use, and training tailored to the uniqueness of these systems would help improve law enforcement capabilities.

This transportation security bill is supported on a bipartisan basis and, when it was considered last month in the Committee on Homeland Security, was approved unanimously.

As such, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 2539, the Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2019. This bill will provide important support to surface transportation security at a time when our transportation sector faces evolving threats.

This bill ensures that the Secretary of Homeland Security will prioritize the assignment of intelligence analysts to fusion centers in areas with high-risk surface transportation assets to bolster security, improve coordination, and enhance information sharing.

This bill underscores the critically important work of State, local, and regional fusion centers in protecting the homeland. These centers analyze current threats and push critical threat information to the front lines.

It is important that Congress pass bills like this to strengthen the relationships among Federal, State, and local jurisdictions so that relevant threat information reaches the right people in a timely manner.

I am pleased by the support of my Democratic colleagues for fusion centers and hope this will lead to quick

passage of another bill, introduced by Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Rogers, H.R. 480, the Homeland Threat Assessment Act.

Keeping transportation systems secure is part and parcel to protecting the American way of life and keeping America moving forward. I commend this legislation for raising the baseline on how the Department of Homeland Security supports the security of surface transportation systems, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained on June 10, 2019 during roll call no. 242, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 542, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I was also unavoidably detained during roll call no. 243, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2539, the Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I was unavoidably detained during roll call no. 244, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 2590, the DHS Overseas Personnel Enhancement Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''