Bonnie Watson Coleman

the cuts that President Trump is seeking would come at the cost of the security of transportation systems in the 12th Congressional District and across the country.

Thank you very much.

Good morning. I would like to thank Chairman Katko for agreeing to hold this hearing today in the capital city of New Jersey: Trenton, New Jersey.

Securing these critical transportation systems requires a layered, risk-based, well-resourced approach.

see something, say something.

Unfortunately, the budget that President Trump proposed for fiscal year 2018 goes in the opposite direction and calls for draconian cuts to almost every relevant Federal program.

The safe and secure operation of transit systems is essential to the social and economic well-being of the people I serve.

A bill focused on securing these aspects of our transportation systems is long past due.

We believe that increased Federal investment in public transportation security by Congress and DHS is critical.

I will be introducing a bill to push back against these reckless cuts.

The Department's response to our most recent findings have been swift.

It's troubling to you, is absolutely troubling for the American citizens who are subjected to this obvious inefficiency.

Each day the President and congressional Republicans are trying to sell the American people a dream that will not become a reality. In addition to running up the deficit, lining the pockets of the very wealthy, and eliminating critical…

I am very concerned about the lack of disclosure around these task forces at many of the agencies.

I'm very interested in that list. Mr. Chairman, I would expect for our side to receive that, to share that information with us as soon as possible.

These are very important considerations that are going to take place, and transparency is very important as well as ensuring that there are no conflicts of interest anywhere in the deliberations of these issues.

Well, Mr. Keckler, let me just say to you that this is a particularly unique situation, and the decisions that they would be considering have a tremendous impact of both positive, I hope, and negative on the constituencies that I define as…

I don't understand that at all.

Does the TSA have the authorities that is needs to ensure that our Nation's surface transportation systems will be secure?

I live in New Jersey, and I am very concerned about the threat to surface transportation systems such as mass transit and passenger rail.

Do you have the capacity to do the things that you have to authority to do?

I also support not draining the aviating fees back into the general fund when indeed you have such a tremendous need and it is such an obvious need and we have a responsibility.

It is our job to see that you have the resources that you need to make sure that as many security procedures and needs are being met to keep us all very, very safe.

I know some of those cuts have been restored through an appropriations process, but we still are grappling with some serious underfunding.

Day after day, the President and congressional Republicans have sought to frame their tax proposal as a tax cut for hardworking middle class families and not a tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, even going so far as to say it will not…