Support Rail Security

Friends,

A few weeks ago, London was shattered by terrorist bombings, which took the lives of more than 50 innocent people and seriously wounded hundreds more. It was a shocking reminder that our rail and transit systems are an attractive target to terrorists. Since 9/11, we've invested over $18 billion in aviation security, but less than $400 million in rail and transit security, despite the fact that millions more Americans ride the rails each day than fly.

I've been fighting for almost four years to make the necessary investments to secure the U.S. rail and transit systems. Finally, the Senate last year passed the Rail Security Act I wrote with Senator John McCain and others. Unfortunately, the Republican Leadership in the House of Representatives let our bill die. Likewise, the Bush Administration refused to seek the needed funding in its budget request to Congress this year.

Recently, Senate Republicans voted 55-43 to kill an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill that I sponsored with Senator Byrd and others to provide $1.365 billion for rail and transit security. In the face of the terrorist attacks targeting the London and Madrid rail and transit systems, this opposition to starting to secure our rail and transit systems is simply irresponsible.

This should not be a partisan issue. It is an American issue.

I urge you to contact your Senator and Congressman to urge them to vote to restore funding for rail and transit security at the upcoming House-Senate conference committee.

It is long past time to act on an issue so important to our national security.

Thank you for helping to make our country safer,

Joe Biden U.S. Senate