Jack Reed: “the purpose of our amendment is not necessarily to impede any deployment of technology. It simply recognizes that even…”

“the purpose of our amendment is not necessarily to impede any deployment of technology. It simply recognizes that even if this technology is deployed, tested, or evaluated in 6 stations or 100 stations, the cost of implementing this system and other systems--the amendment talks about protecting transportation facilities, not just subway lines, but buses and interurban transportation, all types and modes of transportation--even if you could deploy, the cost would be significant. Our amendment asks that this budget recognize those significant costs. Again, there is no question that the chairman has tried his best to come up with the resources to try to meet this need. But the need is so staggering--billions and billions of dollars. The funds in this bill devoted to transit security is so meager that our amendment simply tries to strike a balance. The $100 million would go to help systems buy equipment and train personnel. All of that is necessary. We also would ask that the Department of Homeland Security issue the plans they have long said they were going to do between the proper transportation and the proper homeland security to coordinate their activities with respect to transit security. I urge the amendment be adopted.”