By Ron Thaniel
August 5, 2002

Addressing aviation security as a key component of the Conference's homeland security legislative priorities, the mayors called on Congress to appropriate all funds necessary to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) so it can meet deadlines in the law.

On Friday, July 26, the House approved a controversial provision that has provoked considerable disagreement in the Homeland Security Bill that gives airports an additional year to install devices to detect explosives in baggage, extending the deadline to December 31, 2003. The White House had not sought the extension, advocated by House Majority Leader Richard K. Armey (TX). Largely over this issue and the issue of management flexibility, many Democrats voted against the bill, which passed 295 to 132.

Immediately after the House vote approving the baggage screening extension, Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn, Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Aviation Security Task Force, said "This is a critical time in our effort to get TSA the funds it needs and has requested in the FY03 budget, and I fear that any extension in the deadlines at this time will only make it easier for Congress to short change this essential program."

Including the baggage flexibility provision in the Senate's Homeland Security Bill appears uncertain. Maine Senator Olympia Snowe said, "I don't think we for a moment can think we can relax our standards and our deadlines." Arizona Senator John McCain said "We should be focusing on how we-re going to be implementing the law, how we-re going to ensure the safety of every passenger and every plane."

The Senate will not vote on its bill to create a Department of Homeland Security, including the baggage flexibility issue, until it returns from summer recess after Labor Day.

Mayor Hahn will pursue an Aviation Security Task Force conference call in August on the issue of baggage deadline flexibility and other related aviation security concerns.

Amtrak: Securing Amtrak Secures the Nation's Economy

On Thursday, the Mayors reviewed a report prepared by North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays detailing Amtrak's immediate and long-term financial crisis that threatens to cripple the nation's transportation infrastructure and economy. Understanding that a shutdown of Amtrak would have a direct effect on the nation's commuter rail network stranding over 750,000 riders who rely on both Amtrak and commuter rail service every day, the Mayors endorsed as an economic security legislative priority Amtrak's federal appropriation request of $1.2 billion in FY03 to maintain the national system in the coming year.

In his report, Mayor Hays states "A federal commitment of $1.2 billion is the minimum necessary to maintain the current system while the Administration and Congress deal with the long-term financial challenges and reforms as part of the Amtrak reauthorization." "The events of the past number of weeks have demonstrated how vital Amtrak is to our transportation system and our economy," said Hays.

The Administration has requested $521 million for Amtrak in the FY03 budget; even though, Department of Transportation Inspector General Kenneth M. Mead has said that $521 million would allow Amtrak to do little more than shut down.

Addressing Amtrak's long-term financial issues, the Mayors endorsed Senator Ernest F. Hollings- National Rail Defense Act that authorizes $4.6 billion annually for development of passenger rail and $1.3 billion in one-time security improvements and fully funds the existing long-distance Amtrak trains.