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Rep. Payne, Jr. to Host Homeland Security Field Hearing in Jersey City

June 16, 2016

Jersey City, N.J. – On Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at 10:00 AM EST, Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, will host a field hearing titled “Protecting our Passengers: Perspectives on Securing Surface Transportation in New Jersey and New York.” The field hearing will bring together transportation officials, law enforcement officers, emergency management officials, emergency medical coordinators, and others to better understand how transit operators and first responders prevent, prepare for, and respond to incidents on mass transit.

The field hearing is an official hearing of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications. It was requested by Subcommittee Ranking Member Payne, Jr. in light of the recent Brussels attack that killed more than 20 rail passengers and injured more than 100. The Subcommittee will examine actions transit operators have voluntarily undertaken to prevent a Brussels-style attack in the United States in the absence of overdue regulations from the Transportation Security Administration. It will also explore how the Homeland Security Grant Program and the Transit Security Grant Program facilitate improved planning and coordination among transit operators and emergency responders.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 21, 2016; 10:00 AM EST

WHAT: “Protecting our Passengers: Perspectives on Securing Surface Transportation in New Jersey and New York” field hearing

WHERE: Hepburn Hall, Room 202

New Jersey City University

2039 John F. Kennedy Boulevard

Jersey City, N.J. 07305

WHO: Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.

Congressman Dan Donovan (NY-11), Chairman, House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications

Testimony will be given by two panels:

Panel 1

  • Sonya Proctor, Director, Surface Division, Office of Security Policy and Industry Engagement, Transportation Security Administration
  • Thomas Belfiore, Chief Security Officer, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
  • Martin Conway, Deputy Chief of Police, Amtrak
  • Christopher Trucillo, Chief of Police, NJ TRANSIT Police Department
  • Raymond Diaz, Director of Security, Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Panel 2

  • Mike Mollohan, Trustee, Port Authority Police Benevolent Association
  • Rick Sposa, Operations Coordinator, Emergency Medical Services, Jersey City Medical Center
  • Lt. Vincent Glenn, Emergency Service Unit/Bomb Squad Commander, Jersey City Police Department
  • Captain Richard Gorman, Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) Task Force member, Jersey City Fire Department
  • Sergeant W. Greg Kierce, Jersey City Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director

PRESS: Open