Rep. Ellen Tauscher Delivered the Following Statement Regarding Port Security Today on the Floor of the U.S House of Representatives

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees on the SAFE Port Act.

The Republican Leadership has failed to fix DHS’ grant system which this year failed to provide the Port of Oakland, the fourth busiest port in the nation, with any funds.

The most recent round of Port Security grant funds demonstrate the agency’s continued ignorance of the needs of our nation’s ports. 

There is no logical explanation for their decision not to protect one of the busiest ports in the nation.

Of course Mr. Speaker this is the same agency that in recent months identified the Old MacDonald’s Petting Zoo in Huntsville, Alabama as a vulnerable national asset, but failed to list the Empire State Building in the same category

We cannot do enough to protect all critical infra-structure in the United States.

Without Ranking Member Thompson’s Motion to Instruct, we will leave glaring vulnerabilities in our rail, subway, buses and trucking systems.

The House Republican Leadership has had many opportunities to address these issues separate and apart from the ports legislation, but it has failed to take our nation’s security seriously. 

Today, through the motion to instruct, the House has the ability show our absolute commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Americans who use our nation’s vital transportation systems. 

We should follow the leadership of the Senate to secure our nation’s rail and transit systems, strengthen aviation security, secure the border, create a National Warning and Alert System, and provide first responders with post-disaster health monitoring. 

By supporting the Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees we will instruct the conferees to accept the Senate positions on these important issues.

We should not let this opportunity to strengthen security and assist first responders pass us by. 

Please support the Democratic motion to instruct.

I yield back.