Panel backs bill aimed at regulating truck cargo

The House Homeland Security Economic Security Subcommittee unanimously approved a bill Thursday that would establish regulations for the trucking industry, but Republicans defeated a Democratic amendment that would have required additional security measures for the shipment of dangerous materials.

The bill directs the Homeland Security Department to designate which materials being transported throughout the United States by truck should be considered security sensitive. The list would differentiate between hazardous materials that need extra security provisions and other cargo. Individuals transporting security sensitive materials would have to undergo a fingerprint background check before being issued a permit.

But the bill specifies that individuals who have already been vetted through the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program would not have to undergo a new background check.

The bill also directs the department to conduct a test program to determine the feasibility of using technology to track trucks and cargo. The program would test whether devices on trucks and cargo could be activated by law enforcement officials to locate and recover materials in the event of loss or theft.

An amendment by Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., that would have required more security measures for the shipment of dangerous materials was defeated on a 10-6 vote. No Republicans supported the amendment, and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., crossed party lines to vote against it.

The amendment would have required more physical security measures for shipments; notification to federal, state and local officials before dangerous materials were shipped "near an area of concern"; the creation of terrorism response plans for dangerous shipments; the use of available technologies to ensure communication between transporters and first responder agencies; and comprehensive training for individuals involved in the shipping or handling of dangerous materials.

The amendment also would have allowed Homeland Security to order alternative transportation routes for shipments.

"I think it's time we gave some guidance to the department because, as we know, there are a lot of problems over there," said Homeland Security Economic Security Subcommittee ranking member Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., in support of the amendment.

Markey said the increased protections would apply to only about 3,000 of about 800,000 daily shipments of hazardous materials. Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, led the opposition, saying the amendment fell under the jurisdiction of his panel, would be duplicative of other programs and would impede commerce.

By voice vote, the subcommittee approved an amendment by Homeland Security ranking member Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., to exempt individuals from paying extra administrative fees to get a security sensitive material permit if they already have a TWIC card.