FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2006

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi: Democrats Will Continue to Fight to Address Security Weaknesses at Our Ports

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the bipartisan Port Security bill that President Bush signed into law this morning, and on the continued need to address our security vulnerabilities:

“Our ports are one of the first lines of defense in protecting our country, yet our port security system has long been full of holes.  The bipartisan Port Security bill the President signed into law today is the first step in the right direction, and Democrats are proud to have supported it. 

“But this bill does not go far enough.  It fails to include a Democratic provision that would require 100 percent scanning of containers bound for the U.S.  When materials come in through our ports, they are then transported across our country – into every city and town in America.  Yet only 5 percent of the containers arriving at our ports are currently being inspected. 

“Democrats have proposed that 100 percent of the containers coming from overseas are scanned at the port of origin – long before they reach our shores and our waterways.  We will continue to fight to address the security weaknesses at our ports, many of which will not be corrected by this bill, and establish a comprehensive strategy for homeland security.”

#  #  #

To read more about House Democrats’ Real Security Agenda, click here: http://www.democrats.gov/RealSecurity.pdf

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi