Norton Gets Priority Funding for D.C. Region and Public Transportation (7/27/07)

Washington, DC--Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who was a chief sponsor of the public transportation and security bill for the past several years, was on the House floor today praising the final homeland security conference report that passed this afternoon. "This bill would be of historic dimensions if it did no more than enact H.R. 1, the 9/11 Commission recommendations," Norton said. "The bill does exactly that and much more - in fact, most of what we have been trying to achieve ever since I joined this committee when it was first established." Norton particularly pointed to a provision of the 9/11 Report that is now law, enacting "base federal funding for emergency preparedness solely on risks and vulnerabilities, putting New York City and Washington, D.C. at the top of the current list. Such assistance should not remain a program for general revenue sharing on pork-barrel spending." The new formula for risk-based allocation of homeland security grants means more risk-based funds and less across the board revenue sharing type funding for state minimum allocations. Norton said, "This is a real victory for grants commensurate with actual real risks, inevitably yielding to greater protection for District of Columbia area residents."

Of major importance, the measure authorizes more than $4 billion over the next five years for security grant programs to enhance the security of mass transit, over-the-road buses, and freight and passenger rail. Norton was the original lead sponsor for public transportation security, which received little funding until today's bill. The billincludes a requirement that the Department of Homeland Security issue regulations to reroute or otherwise secure toxic substances in highly populated jurisdictions, such as the National Capital Region. An additional $20 million for upgrades and security at Union Station also are in the bill.