The U. S. Senate passed legislation last week calling for a study on ways to speed up the screening process for Amtrak passengers boarding trains that cross the U. S.-Canadian border. The bill was co-sponsored by three Democraticsenators— Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, both of New York, and Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont.

It was written by Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont, an independent.

The measure would require the U. S. Department of Homeland Security to conduct in-depth examination of its screening processes for travelers crossing the border by rail.

That now can take more than an hour, significantly increasing the travel time to Canadian destinations, such as Toronto and Montreal.

The House of Representatives already has passed its version of the Department of Homeland Security appropriation bill.

The legislation will now go to a conference committee before being forwarded to President Obama for his signature.