Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 396) to amend the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to clarify certain allowable uses of funds for public transportation security assistance grants and establish periods of performance for such grants, and for other purposes.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 396, the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act.

This legislation, as introduced by my colleague from New York (Mr. Garbarino), seeks to make commonsense adjustments to a DHS grant program that helps keep my constituents safe.

H.R. 396 requires technical changes to the Transit Security Grant Program to allow grant funding to be used for backfill staffing when associated with security training and give transit authorities more time to expend grant funds on security improvements for public transportation systems or infrastructure.

Our transit systems are absolutely vital to daily travel and commerce. According to U.S. Census figures, 56 percent of all New Yorkers rely on public transportation. In New York City, over 5 million people depend on our trains and subways on a normal workday.

Under the TSGP, New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority received about $20 million in fiscal year 2020 to protect riders from acts of terrorism and other targeted violence.

H.R. 396 is informed by feedback from grantees about challenges with the program over the years, and it is intended to ensure that the Transit Security Grant Program remains current, and that funding reaches maximum impact.

Enactment of this bill will help improve a key DHS grant program and better secure our Nation's transportation infrastructure.

Madam Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, New York City has the largest public transit system in the country, and New York City has the greatest vulnerability to terrorism.

I thank my colleague, Congressman Garbarino, for his leadership in advocating for transportation systems across the country.

H.R. 396 is a measure that this country needs. I believe all of us in this body can agree that securing America's transit systems is critical to homeland security, and so too must we invest to make and keep it safe.

Enactment of H.R. 396 would bolster the security of what, in the view of my constituents, is about as critical as critical infrastructure gets and protect these systems and their riders against terrorist attacks and targeted violence.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 396, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 396, the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act.

Whether it is bus systems, ferries, or passenger rail, the Transit Security Grant Program provides needed funds to transit agencies to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism.

Unfortunately, we have already witnessed multiple attacks across the globe: the 2005 bombing of the Tube in London, the 2016 metro station bombing in Brussels, and the 2017 New York Port Authority bombing.

With billions of riders using surface transportation annually, and limited security screening, it should come as no surprise that surface transportation has been and continues to be a terror target. As such, we must ensure that first responders and transit agencies have the tools needed to secure our transit system.

The Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act seeks to address challenges associated with fluctuating periods of performance by codifying the period of performance at 36 months for the majority of eligible projects and extending it to 55 months for vital large-scale capital security projects. This ensures that these major projects can be successfully completed in the allotted time.

Additionally, while Transit Security Grant Program awards can be used to provide personnel with essential security training, recipients of awards are not currently permitted to use the grant program funds to pay for backfilling personnel attending such training. This may, in turn, inhibit some transit agencies from sending their staff to vital security training.

H.R. 396 will permit Transit Security Grant Program funds to be used for this purpose, consistent with other Homeland Security grant programs.

Given the evolving threat landscape, and the continued calls from extremist groups for lone-wolf attacks to target crowded areas, it is imperative that the Transit Security Grant Program provide flexible solutions for grant recipients in order to protect these soft targets and keep everyday commuters safe.

I am proud to continue the great work of former New York Members Dan Donovan and Peter King in introducing this important piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 396, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record an exchange of letters between the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Budget on H.R. 396, the ``Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act''.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Budget,

Washington, DC, April 7, 2021.

Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Thompson: I write to confirm our mutual

understanding regarding H.R. 396, the Transit Security Grant

Program Flexibility Act. H.R. 396 contains provisions that

fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on the

Budget. However, the committee agrees to waive formal

consideration of the bill.

The Committee on the Budget takes this action with the

mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction

over the subject matter contained in this or similar

legislation, and the committee will be appropriately

consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation

moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues

within our jurisdiction. The committee also reserves the

right to seek appointment to any House-Senate conference

convened on this legislation or similar legislation and

requests your support if such a request is made.

Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter

confirming this understanding, and I ask that a copy of our

exchange of letters on this matter be included in the

Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill.

I look forward to continuing to work with you as this measure

moves through the legislative process.

Sincerely,

John Yarmuth,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 120, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 121, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 122, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 123, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 124, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 125, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 126, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 127, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 128, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 129, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 130, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 131, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 132, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 133.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 6 of House Resolution 330, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bills: H.R. 367, H.R. 370, H.R. 396, H.R. 397, H.R. 408, H.R. 490, H.R. 965, H.R. 1251, H.R. 1395, H.R. 1491, H.R. 1528, H.R. 1532, H.R. 1565, H.R. 1602, and H.R. 2523, and agree to H. Res. 124.