May 17, 2005: NORTON GETS ANACOSTIA RIVER FUNDS & PRESSES RAIL SECURITY BEFORE RULES COMMITTEE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2005

NORTON GETS ANACOSTIA RIVER FUNDS &
PRESSES RAIL SECURITY BEFORE RULES COMMITTEE

Washington, DC—The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that Norton was able to get Senate approval for almost $4 million to continue her efforts to clean up the Anacostia River. The federal funding to address stormwater discharge and stormwater overflow was included in a special program in the transportation highway bill. Norton said that she believes that she will be able to keep the funding in the final version of the bill when it goes to a House-Senate conference committee on which she serves. The Congresswoman is a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Also today, Norton pressed another of her priorities: securing authorization funding for her Safe TRAINS (Transit, Rail Awareness and Investments for Security) Act. The Congresswoman went to the Rules Committee this afternoon to try to get her Safe TRAINS amendment included in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authorization bill, the first time the DHS bill will be fully authorized. Norton told the Rules Committee that $15 billion has been spent on aviation security since 9-11 while funding for rail security is under $400 million, yet most Americans travel by rail.

"Most Members of Congress may travel by plane, but most Americans use subways, rail, light rail, ferries, buses, and other ground public transportation," Norton said. Last year, the federal government spent more than $4 billion on aviation security and but just $150 million on transit security. Norton, a member of the Homeland Security Committee, said that the bombings of commuter trains in Madrid and the ultra hazardous rail car collision in South Carolina cry out for more funds for public transportation. Norton said that she is especially concerned about the vulnerability of urban transit hubs like Union Station here in the District. Even if her amendment for rail funding is not made in order, Norton will go to the floor tomorrow when the bill is debated to assure that "this huge hole in U.S. security is exposed and we finally begin to take care of it," she said.