Daniel Inouye: “it is hard to believe, but Congress has not made any substantive improvements to the Nation's transportation security…”

“it is hard to believe, but Congress has not made any substantive improvements to the Nation's transportation security systems since 2002. Yet nearly every day, we are provided further reminders that our transportation modes, particularly port, cargo, rail, and public transit, remain vulnerable. Given the urgent need for further improvements, Chairman Stevens and I have joined with the Banking Committee leaders, Senator Shelby and Senator Sarbanes, to advance a comprehensive transportation security bill that reflects the importance of our transportation infrastructure to the quality of life and economic health of the country. Our legislation combines the port, cargo, and rail provisions of our Committee's Transportation Security Improvement Act with the Banking Committee's Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention Act. Together, the combined measure makes significant improvements to our port, cargo, rail, and public transit security nationwide. It is important to note the level of Senate support for our approach. Not only have the elements of our bill been separately and unanimously approved by our respective Committees, our legislation has 42 Senate cosponsors on introduction. That kind of support demonstrates both the necessity of these improvements and the distinct possibility that we can move this bill this year.…”