Washington, DC – “Today, I voted for the Emergency Supplemental for the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for hurricane relief for the Gulf Region. This bill will provide much needed funds for our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the bill that passed the Senate floor addressed many more needs facing this nation than did the Conference Report that has emerged between the House and the Senate. One of the most egregious acts of this Conference, prodded by the Bush Administration, was the elimination of $648 million in port security funding. It is clear that our nation is unprepared to secure our nation’s ports and that additional funding is necessary given that we inspect only five percent of all cargo entering the United States. The Bush Administration’s failure of leadership on securing our ports was evident when the President threatened to veto a bill which contained critical port security funding and provided for other important needs.”

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