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Senate Presses Security Chief on Mass Transit ; Sen. Collins Questions Homeland's Michael Chertoff on His Plans to Separate Customs and Immigration Agencies.

Posted on: Friday, 15 July 2005, 12:01 CDT

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff heard Senate concerns Thursday that he is not paying enough attention to mass transit and making a mistake by separating border patrol from immigration service. Chertoff offered lengthy explanations for his strategies after reviewing changes in the 180,000-worker department. "If something goes wrong, we will not only acknowledge it, we will be the first to fix the error," he said.

The hearing came a day after Chertoff announced management changes in his department. It also occurred with fresh memories of the July 7 bombings of London subway trains and a bus that killed more than 50 people.

"They remind us that terrorists can be blocked again and again, yet they need carry out only one successful plot to cause death and destruction," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine and committee chairman. "They remind us that we must strive for success every time."

The biggest clash occurred when Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., questioned Chertoff's comments to The Associated Press about focusing on aviation security rather than mass transit security.

Lieberman, who noted that 14 million Americans ride trains and buses, argued that mass transit deserves protection in the aftermath of the London bombings.

"Inevitably, this has to be at least in part a national priority," he said.

Lieberman read from an AP story quoting Chertoff saying that planes were a bigger priority because they could kill 3,000 people, while a train bomb might hurt 30.

"Obviously, that has alarmed a lot of us that have mass transit in our states," Lieberman said after suggesting that an apology was in order. "This will cause an uproar."

Chertoff didn't apologize. He explained that the federal government oversees aviation security, but that state and local governments protect subways and buses.

Chertoff argued that subway passengers wouldn't want the federal government to force them through metal detectors. But he advocated better video surveillance and better tests for chemical and biological weapons.

"I have tried to emphasize that these are different systems," he said. "Although they each require the same degree of attention, the way that we pay attention might be a little bit different."

Border protection was an equally hot topic.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., praised the department's additional steps. But Collins questioned why Chertoff was separating the management of customs and border patrol agencies from the immigration agency, while advisory groups have recommended a merger. She asked the department's inspector general to investigate.

"It appears to me you're going in exactly the opposite direction," Collins said.

Chertoff said he was trying to reduce conflicts and get the agencies to work together. He argued that their duties don't overlap, that each has distinct functions. "I think there had been a problem there," he said.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., argued that border security was more important than reforming immigration policy. He said the department's reply to his question last month about border-security needs "could have come from a second-grader."

"I want to make sure you understand the consensus in the country is that, while we have to have immigration reform, we have to secure our borders, northern and southern," Coburn said.

Chertoff said he was acutely aware of interest in border security.

"I think we have mapped out this system in its entirety," he said. "We need to build a very specific set of plans."

Washington D.C. Correspondent Bart Jansen can be contacted at 202- 488-1119 or:

bjansen@pressherald.com

Source: Portland Press Herald

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