(Hershey Philbin Associates issued the following news release on November 13.)
CAMP HILL, Pa. — As terrorist attacks escalate in Saudi Arabia and Iraq and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge asks for more local involvement in anti-terrorist planning, the PA state legislature is moving closer to producing a Pennsylvania Rail Security bill, according to Linda Rhinehart, a government affairs specialist monitoring the issue in Harrisburg.
Representative Mike Veon is working on a bi-partisan legislative package that incorporates public safety and new security aspects to reflect our current state of alert regarding possible terrorist activities. The co-sponsored legislation will be introduced prior to a November 20 House Emergency Preparedness Committee hearing regarding transportation security.
“There will be rail security hearings in the House and Senate in the near future,” Rhinehart says. “Legislative language is in place, numerous sponsors are on board, and we’re working now to bring together a coalition of rail management and unions to focus on both on-board and external rail security recommendations across the state.”
Rhinehart said that old rivalries and historic conflicts will have to be put aside for real progress to be made on this important state issue. “When you talk about the rail industry in Pennsylvania,” Rhinehart says, “you’re talking about an historic achievement that reaches back to a time when railroads shaped our continent and helped realize America’s drive to reach the Pacific Ocean. There were also a lot of conflicts and historic battles along the way.” She added.
But Americans live in a Post 911 era today, and old paradigms will no longer work.
“We have to put aside old rivalries and pull together when we’re addressing rail security in the Keystone State,” Rhinehart said. “We’re looking for consensus and cooperation from all parties, not contention and conflict on this issue.”
“There will be other issues and other battles to fight over at another time” she added. “But rail security is the current priority and we need to pull together as an industry to address the problem.”
Rhinehart and her group, Hershey Philbin Associates, have been working across the rail industry to bring together influential leaders to develop a workable rail industry security plan to help legislators with the difficult task of protecting the 9,000 miles of unsecured railway across Pennsylvania.
The issue of rail security reaches into every township and community in Pennsylvania. Wherever a train carrying passengers or hazardous materials travels, it is susceptible to attack.
“Trains, like planes, can become weapons. And we know we’re vulnerable all over the rail infrastructure,” Rhinehart said.
“We have to pull together now to develop an efficient, and economical rail security plan that works for all Pennsylvanians.”
To be included in future actions, Rhinehart is asking interested parties to contact her as soon as possible. Watch for developments in Pennsylvania’s Homeland Rail Security as the current legislative session progresses.