| Port security is a very important issue for the 109th Congress. U.S. ports handle 95% of our nation's overseas trade by volume, more than six million cruise passengers annually, and support mobilization and deployment of the U.S. Armed Forces. They are critical assets and must be protected from threats.
This issue is receiving greater attention in the wake of the U.S. ports sale to Dubai Port (DP) World, a United Arab Emirates-based company. After serious concerns about the acquisition were raised and congressional action was threatened, DP World voluntarily decided to give up control of U.S. ports which were part of the deal. The company announced that it intends to sell the U.S. port terminal assets it acquired under the deal within four to six months to an "unrelated" U.S. buyer yet to be determined.
In the last several weeks, several legislative proposals on the DP World acquisition and port security in general have been introduced in the U.S. Congress. The House of Representatives recently approved H.R. 4939, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, which contains a provision which expressly prohibits DP World from purchasing an American subsidiary company that is involved in the operations of certain U.S. ports. The bill has been forwarded to the Senate for future action.
As a member of the Congressional Port Security Caucus, I am concerned that Congress provides the proper means so that our ports will not be vulnerable targets for terrorist attacks. The Caucus, which identifies port security concerns and makes legislative recommendations to Congress, works to raise awareness of port security issues so that Congress may take actions necessary to protect our nation’s seaports from potential terrorist activity.
The Coast Guard, which is the lead federal agency for maritime homeland security, including port security, faces the challenge of managing its increased responsibilities to protect the U.S. and interdict illegal drugs and immigrants while continuing its traditional functions of search and rescue and aiding navigation. It is incumbent upon Congress to ensure that the Coast Guard’s resources are sufficient to adequately perform both its homeland and non-homeland security missions. Since 9/11, Congress has appropriated $912 million for port security grants and $934 million for advanced inspection and radiation detection technology for cargo screening.
On a regional level, the Port of Tampa, which is the largest seaport in Florida and the 12th largest in the United States, is one of the most strategic and critical assets of the State of Florida and the entire nation. Securing this asset must be a top priority in today's environment. I have been working closely with members of the Florida delegation to provide increased funding for security for all Florida ports, including Tampa.
I remain committed to working with my colleagues to meet these challenges and ensure that our nation’s ports are free from vulnerability and secure from harm.
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