Senate nears vote on bolstering rail and transit security

Senators are expected to vote Thursday on whether to add $1.2 billion for rail and mass transit security to a bill that would fund the Homeland Security Department in fiscal 2006. If senators agree to the provision, it could bust the budget allocation for the $30.8 billion measure.

For three hours in the afternoon, the chamber is slated to debate an amendment to bolster rail and transit security. Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H., said he would object to the language on procedural grounds to avoid a budgetary conundrum.

However, the amendment has a strong chance of being adopted after last week's terrorist attacks on London's transit system. Lawmakers and security experts have complained repeatedly that the government is spending too little on rail and transit security. For every $7 spent on aviation counter measures, the government spends one cent on rail security, they argue.

Josh Bolten, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said Wednesday that the White House is working with lawmakers to fit additional funds for rail and transit security within the enacted budget for next year.

Gregg hopes to pacify senators by offering language that would up the ante for transit systems by $100 million. Gregg said earlier this week that the underlying spending bill could handle an additional $100 million without requiring additional discretionary dollars.

Gregg's amendment would cut $100 million from the grant program for emergency responders to pay for the increase in transit grants. He has argued that states have had billions of dollars allocated for mass-transit security upgrades and have yet to spend the $150 million Congress allocated last year.

If the senators agree to the other amendment, it could pose difficulties for House and Senate negotiators on the bill. The conferees ultimately could strip the provision.

Senators earlier Thursday voted against five amendments, including a provision to increase the number of border-patrol agents and detention beds for holding illegal immigrants, as well as increases in funding to bolster air-cargo inspections and trucking security.

The Senate is expected to debate the homeland security appropriations bill until late. Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said he would like to finish debate Thursday, but a final vote could slip into Friday, as senators filed 125 amendments earlier this week.