Says U.S. Ports Are Vulnerable to Terrorism

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin today called passage of The Security and Accountability for Every Port Act (SAFE Port), HR 4954, “an important step that will significantly improve security at our nation’s seaports.”

The Congressman has made port security a top priority.  As a member of the Homeland Security Committee in the 108th Congress, he strongly advocated many of the provisions in HR 4954, including funding for port security based on risk assessment and creation of a state-of-the-art identification card for all port employees.

“While we have improved port security since 9/11, we still have much to do. Our nation’s seaports are one of our most vulnerable targets for terrorists, and this bill is an important step to getting us where we need to be,” he said.

Rep. Cardin, who serves as the senior Democrat on the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, also said: "I am pleased that this bill creates a new Director of Trade Policy at the Department of Homeland Security who will closely coordinate our new security measures with importers, carriers and customs brokers to help facilitate international trade.”
 
However, Rep. Cardin expressed disappointment that the bill failed to include a provision requiring all cargo containers entering the United States be scanned and sealed, but vowed that he will “continue to fight for 100% scanning of cargo entering U.S. ports.”  

HR 4954 includes provisions that would:

• Provide $400 million annually for risk-based port and cargo security grant programs;

• Require development of a long-range automated vessel tacking system;

• Require development of a biometric transportation security card for port workers, merchant mariners and truck drivers;

• Require the development of nuclear and radiological detection systems and other inspection technologies for use at foreign ports to scan containers being loaded onto U.S.-bound vessels;

• Require the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBPA) to develop and implement a Automated Targeting System to identify high-risk containers; and,

• Require the CBPA to assign personnel to 44 foreign ports to and scan high-risk cargo.

A study conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security, identified Baltimore as among 66 of the nation’s 359 ports especially vulnerable to terrorist attack. The Port of Baltimore is the nation’s eighth largest port, handling about 2,000 ships as year and carrying about 31 million tons of cargo annually. 

Rep. Cardin also has joined with Rep Clay Shaw, R-FL, chairman of the House Trade Subcommittee, in introducing Secure America’s Port Operations Act, HR 4839, to prohibit foreign-government owned operations at our nation’s seaports.     

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