"Congress Finishes Budget to Improve Travel Security"

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Congress Finishes Budget to Improve Travel Security
By DAVID ROGERS 
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL


Congress sent President Bush a $33.1 billion Homeland Security budget that
prods the administration to tighten rail security and better screen airline
passengers and their luggage for explosives.

In the wake of the Madrid terrorist bombings in March, the measure provides
$150 million in new money for rail systems. Lawmakers also added $142.5
million to Mr. Bush's budget request for aviation-security accounts related
to explosives on passenger airlines.

Among these increases, $30 million is dedicated to improving air-cargo
inspections and $75 million to buying and installing machines capable of
detecting explosives in checked luggage. A third installment, $37.5 million,
is intended to close the ominous gap in airport screening, where commonly
used machines can't detect explosives as passengers or their carry-on
luggage move through checkpoints before boarding a flight.
 
The $37.5 million is substantially less than the Senate initially proposed
but represents a significant first commitment to advance new technologies
for this purpose. And the Appropriations Committee leadership would require
the administration to submit a report by Feb. 10 on the programs it develops
for this purpose.


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