WASHINGTON The House and Senate have passed separate bills that would substantially increase the dollar amount of federal grants given annually for over-the-road bus security.

The House overwhelmingly adopted the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007 that proposes $12 million in bus security grants for fiscal 2008, with a jump to $25 million annually for fiscal 2009 through 2011.

Earlier last month, the Senate passed the Surface Transportation and Rail Security Act of 2007 that proposes the same amounts as the House bill for 2008-2010. However, the Senate bill does not extend to 2011.

For fiscal 2007, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be awarding $11.6 million in over-the-road bus security grants. The deadline for applying for the 07 grants was March 6.

In the previous three years, less than $10 million was handed out each year.
Still, no one should be making plans yet for spending an increased amount of grant money. The Bush Administration is threatening to veto the legislation in its current form because it contains a provision giving federal air traffic controllers collective bargaining rights.

The administration also has criticized the amount of spending contained in both bills.

The House version, for example, proposes doling out $775 million in fiscal 2008 for security enhancements at public transit agencies. That amount increases in increments each year to $880 million by fiscal 2011.

Both the Senate and House bills spell out how private bus operators can spend the grant money, with the requirements little changed from past years. The money can be used for everything from driver protection, to installing cameras, to setting up an emergency communications system, to paying for a public awareness campaign touting a companys increased security.

To be eligible for the money, a private operator must have completed a vulnerability assessment and developed a security plan that is approved by the Department of Homeland Security.