Bill Text: NJ AR195 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass "Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-06-08 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR195 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR195-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass "Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging Congress to pass the "Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act."
Whereas, The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for transportation security in the United States, including air, rail, transit, maritime, and highway travel; and
Whereas, While considerable resources have been allocated to air travel security following the events of September 11, 2001, Congressional oversight and independent audits have raised concern about the TSA's approach to protecting rail, transit, maritime, and highway travelers; and
Whereas, In response to these concerns and with bipartisan support, Senator Thune introduced a bill to enact the "Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act,"; and
Whereas, In order to improve surface transportation and maritime security, the bill requires the TSA to assess the risk of terrorist attacks on surface transportation facilities such as rail stations; and
Whereas, The risk assessment is to include consideration of: (1) appropriate intelligence; (2) security breaches and attacks at domestic and international transportation facilities; (3) the vulnerabilities associated with specific modes of transportation; (4) current and prospective allocation of agency and stakeholder resources to mitigate threats; (5) the systems and practices designed to mitigate the identified vulnerabilities; and (6) the vetting and security training of frontline employees in surface transportation and maritime systems, as well as individuals with access to sensitive or secure areas of transportation networks; and
Whereas, Additionally, the bill directs the TSA to implement a risk-based security model for protecting surface transportation facilities and provides grant funding for the use of increased passenger manifest data to better identify rail passengers in an emergency; and
Whereas, With its many miles of highways and railways, busy ports, and geographic location on the eastern seaboard, New Jersey is particularly vulnerable to threats to the transportation network; and
Whereas, On September 18, 2016 a backpack containing explosive devices was discovered outside of the train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey and this incident may be linked to the placement of explosive devices in Seaside Park, New Jersey and New York City; and
Whereas, Securing the nation's surface transportation and maritime security is of utmost importance and urgency to the residents of this State and nation; now, therefore,
Be It
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the President and the Congress of the United States to enact the "Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act."
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, every sponsor of the "Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act," and every member of Congress from New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges the President and the United States Congress to enact the "Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act."
Congressional oversight and independent audits have raised concern about the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) approach to protecting rail, transit, maritime, and highway travelers. The bill requires the TSA to assess the risk of terrorist attacks on surface transportation facilities, such as rail stations.
Under the provisions of the bill, the risk assessment is to include consideration of: (1) appropriate intelligence; (2) security breaches and attacks at domestic and international transportation facilities; (3) the vulnerabilities associated with specific modes of transportation; (4) current and prospective allocation of agency and stakeholder resources to mitigate threats; (5) the systems and practices designed to mitigate the identified vulnerabilities; and (6) the vetting and security training of frontline employees in surface transportation and maritime systems, as well as individuals with access to sensitive or secure areas of transportation networks.
Additionally, the bill directs the TSA to implement a risk-based security model for protecting surface transportation facilities and provides grant funding for the use of increased passenger manifest data to better identify rail passengers in an emergency.
With its many miles of highways and railways, busy ports, and geographic location on the eastern seaboard, New Jersey is particularly vulnerable to threats to the transportation network. The events of September 2016, including when a backpack containing explosives was discovered at the Elizabeth, New Jersey train station, underscore the urgent need for Congress to pass the "Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act" to heighten security for the residents of New Jersey and the nation.
