Arlen Specter: “I seek recognition to offer my support for the amendment to be offered by Senator Casey with regard to homeland security…”

“I seek recognition to offer my support for the amendment to be offered by Senator Casey with regard to homeland security grant timelines. This amendment would lengthen the amount of time available to obligate funds provided in fiscal year 2008 under the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Rail and Transit Security Grant Program from a maximum of 36 months to a maximum of 48 months. I am advised that several transit agencies have encountered problems obligating homeland security grant funding within the current timetable, particularly for large and complex projects such as installing underground emergency communications networks in subway tunnels. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority, SEPTA, in particular, has encountered problems which have thus far prevented it from being able to utilize federal homeland security grant dollars to install an emergency communications network in its 20-mile subway tunnel system which runs underneath portions of the city of Philadelphia. The absence of a communications system capable of functioning underground severely limits the ability of SEPTA and first responders to deal with a potential emergency in Philadelphia's subway tunnels and does not provide an adequate level of protection for the traveling public.”