Measure combating vehicular terrorism advances

The House Committee on Homeland Security has approved a bill designed to improve vigilance in the wake of growing terrorist attacks using vehicles.

The Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act, authored by Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), received an amendment from Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) that aided committee approval.

“We’ve seen terrorists in Europe using vehicles, often times rental vans or trucks, to kill innocent people and inflict terror,” Latta said. “With the October attack in New York City showing that these groups will not hesitate to carry out the same type of attack here, it’s important that the Department of Homeland Security is doing their due diligence regarding this threat. The Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act will bolster efforts to address this threat.”

Officials said the legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess current actions at the department to support emergency response providers and the private sector to prevent, mitigate, and respond to the threat of vehicular terrorism.

The bill then requires DHS to submit a strategy to Congress that includes an examination of the current threat of vehicular terrorism, methods to improve information sharing activities with the private sector, and training activities that the department can undertake.

“Terrorists constantly adjust their tactics to exploit weaknesses,” Donovan, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, said. “Right now, vehicular attacks are difficult to prevent. But with proper focus and resources, which my amendment mandates, homeland security experts will do what they do best: keep us safe.”