REMARKS
FOR
THE
HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA
SECRETARY
OF TRANSPORTATION
AFL-CIO
TRANSPORTATION TRADES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
WASHINGTON,
D.C.
OCTOBER
1, 2002
Thank
you Sonny for that generous introduction. Sonny and I have been friends for a
very long time. I want to commend him for his extraordinary leadership and
commitment to a quality transportation system in America.
And
thank you Senator Murray, John Sweeney, friends and everyone here for the
invitation to join you today.
I
always enjoy meeting with the backbone of the transportation industry – the
labor unions – to hear your perspectives on how we can improve our Nation’s
transportation systems.
And
I appreciate the opportunity to speak about the future of transportation and
issues facing the unions, specifically in regards to security and
appropriations.
I
would like to begin my remarks by addressing the current status of operations in
our West Coast ports.
I
am deeply concerned over the breakdown of negotiations between the Pacific
Maritime Association and the ILWU over a new contract.
Estimates
of economic losses resulting from a shutdown of the ports are running in the
neighborhood of $1 Billion per day. And should this situation
continue, we will see a growing ripple effect in employment in other sectors of
the economy.
We
also face an increased disruption of critical supplies to Hawaii and our Pacific
Islands territories and affiliated commonwealths.
I
should also add that, as Secretary of the U.S. Coast Guard, I am concerned about
the potential security hazards of having so many ships at anchor in our nation’s
critical harbors.
The
Coast Guard is working to identify potential risks and ensure the protection of
vessels, but this job grows more difficult as more and more ships arrive.
I
am very grateful that, despite the current situation, the ILWU and the PMA have promised to
rapidly process any military cargoes. Both sides have continued to
give top priority to our national security and defense needs, and I appreciate
that commitment.
But
the impact on our economy is one that cannot be ignored.
The
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and its Director, Peter Hurtgen, are
actively engaged in efforts to bring both sides back to the table and to get the
ports back into operation.
I appreciate their efforts, and I hope that both sides will actively
engage with the FMCS, and each other, to reach a resolution of the current
shutdown and bring the contract to closure.
Quite
simply, neither a lockout, a work slowdown, nor a strike are in the best
interests of the PMA, the ILWU, or the country. With today’s uncertain
economy, the Nation needs this matter resolved -- and resolved quickly.
On
another front, let me remind everyone that America is a far different place than
it was a year ago.
Today,
our transportation sector faces a period not only of extraordinary challenge,
but also of extraordinary opportunity.
The
September 11th attacks reaffirmed the critical need for a world-class
transportation system – one that is designed to prevent terrorists from ever
again using our 21st century transportation systems and technologies as weapons against us.
The
challenge to building this system requires all of us to work creatively and
unceasingly from here on out. And
together, we can, and we will meet this challenge.
As I stand here today, I
can tell you with great confidence that our transportation systems are more
secure today than at any time in our history, and they will become more secure,
more reliable and more efficient in the weeks and months ahead.
The
public’s trust and confidence in our Nation’s entire transportation system is
returning as a result of the creation of the Transportation Security
Administration within DOT.
During
these short months, I am pleased to say we have made tremendous strides in
standing up this new agency.
To
date, in
our Nation’s airports, we have hired over 32,000 screeners and bag handlers, and
we have placed thousands of them at more than 142 of our busiest commercial
airports.
Today,
more than a million and a quarter travelers will pass through airports with
Federalized checkpoints per day.
And
we have named 148 Federal Security Directors who will be responsible for nearly
400 airports.
We
still have lots of work to do with this agency but we realize that, as TSA
progresses and investigates our security needs, we will inevitably face issues
that we’ve never had to face before.
One
such issue is whistleblower complaints by security screeners.
We
want to make sure that all TSA employees, including our security screeners, feel
free to make disclosures without fear of retaliation. That is exactly why our
screeners will have whistleblower protection.
TSA’s
leader, Under Secretary, Admiral James Loy, will do everything in his power to
act on the Special Counsel’s recommendations and maintain the integrity of
airport security.
The
Department of Transportation will in no way tolerate retaliation against hard-
working security screeners who have the courage to report wrongdoing.
I
assure you that as we strive for Nationwide consistency in the application of
reasonable and prudent security measures, we will continue to take local
concerns into account.
While
much of the recent media attention has focused on aviation safety, the
Department of Transportation, through TSA, the Coast Guard, and our other operating administrations,
are developing heightened security procedures and awareness across every mode of
transportation including maritime, rail, highways, transit, and pipeline.
This
brings me back to a key piece of our transportation security effort – securing
our Nation’s ports and maritime transportation system – a very high
priority for the Bush Administration and for the Department of
Transportation.
Maritime
commerce is the most dominant component of our international trade
infrastructure, carrying over 95 percent of the volume of U.S. overseas foreign
trade.
With
roughly 360 seaports, our maritime border consists of nearly 95,000 miles of
open shoreline, 25,000 miles of navigable channels and more than 3.4 million
square miles of exclusive economic zones. Our Nation’s maritime system is a
vital transportation link and presents one of our greatest security challenges.
We
are working with the Congress to develop comprehensive maritime security
legislation.
But
as this Administration explores security options at our Nation’s ports, we know
there are issues, which, will require ongoing study. Credentialing and container
security comes to mind.
That
is why we have created two working groups on these issues.
It
is important that we address these issues so that we can get back to business as
usual — moving the American public and America’s goods in a safe, timely and
cost-effective way.
So,
what does this mean for the Transportation Trades Department and all of your
members?
It
means that we will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of you, our
frontline transportation workers — and we need your continued partnership in
that effort.
We
also need to make sure that security for other transportation modes matches up
with port security -- it would make
no sense to impose a security system for ports if other modes represent a
security gap.
I
would also like to talk to you today about an issue that I know concerns all of
us greatly -- the future of intercity passenger
rail.
I
have never wavered from the conviction that intercity passenger rail and
commuter rail service are important
parts of the Nation’s transportation system.
Commuter
rail offers people a great alternative for getting to work and plays an
important role in reducing congestion and protecting the environment.
For
many right here in the Washington, DC, area and in the Northeast corridor,
commuter rail is a Godsend.
I’m
also hopeful that once Amtrak and intercity rail service is reorganized over the
coming years, we will be able to maximize the full potential of that
service.
First,
I believe that our intercity passenger rail network must transition to a system
dictated by fundamental economics, and must be based, like all our modes of
transportation, on priorities established through a partnership with state
governments.
As
you know, a number of reform measures for fiscal year 2003 were recently
proposed in the Chairman’s mark on the House Transportation Appropriations bill.
We’re looking at the proposal, but the Committee has not yet finished its
work. The Department is
looking forward to working with the Chairman and others as they continue their
deliberations.
And
we are committed to working with the Congress, with states and local
governments, and with other
passenger rail stakeholders to establish meaningful, long-term reforms through
the authorization process.
We
need an Amtrak, and a passenger rail policy, that is based on sound business
principles.
We
are also working hard to heighten security in the Nation’s bus fleets.
We
will take the necessary steps to protect the passengers who travel on
inter-city, and intra-city, buses each year, as well as the drivers who provide
this essential service and who are also on the front lines in our war against
terrorism.
All
of us in the Bush Administration are committed to making sure that the Nation’s
transportation trade workers have a safe and secure workplace today and for a
long time to come — it is important to your members individually, and equally
important to the Nation as a whole.
The
industries you represent are the engines that drive this economy.
That
is why we need your help as we begin the process of reauthorizing the
Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21).
TEA-21
is the landmark legislation which guaranteed a record $198 billion investment in
surface transportation and was the successor to the ISTEA.
I
believe it is very important that we hear every voice since we are talking about
writing a law that will stand for another six years. We want to build on the
successes of TEA-21 and ISTEA and, of course, add a new, solid layer of security
for surface transportation.
It
is not too late for you to offer your opinions and ideas on how to make our
transportation dollars go farther and to make the entire system more
efficient.
I
encourage you and your members to visit our website at http://www.dot.gov/ and provide your input
directly to the Department.
It’s also a handy way to keep track of comments written by other
stakeholders.
I
have asked our DOT team to ensure active participation by our state and local
partners, in creating this reauthorization proposal – and, the best time for that
involvement is right now.
Every
man, woman and child in our country has the right to expect us to provide a
safe, accessible, affordable and reliable transportation system.
So,
thank you very, very, much for being our partners in achieving this goal.
We owe our very finest efforts to the memories of those innocent men, women and children murdered on September 11, and to the families and friends they left behind.
I know that our goal of providing a world-class transportation system to the American people is shared by the TTD. And working together – I know we will prevail.
Travel
safely. And God bless America.
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