Nadler: Sale to U.A.E. Must Be Stopped;
More Still to Be Done in Securing Our Ports

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler today issued the following statement regarding the proposed sale of American port facilities to Dubai Ports World, a company controlled by the government of the United Arab Emirates.

“It’s only reasonable that the proposed sale of American port operations to Dubai Ports World should be stopped until Congress can review it thoroughly.  It goes without saying that after being caught unprepared on September 11, we cannot be too careful in monitoring the points of entry to the United States – particularly for cargo.

“The Bush Administration has a highly troubling record of handing contracts and lucrative positions to individuals on the basis of personal friendship – not the public interest.  Given the President’s cozy relationship with the governments of oil-rich nations, I think it’s only natural for alarm bells to be going off.  We need time for Congress to take a hard look at this proposal.

“More to the point, there is a great deal that we should be doing to secure our ports that we have not done, irrespective of who runs the stevedoring operations.  We currently inspect less than 5 percent of the shipping containers that enter American ports.  America can do better than that.  I have long maintained that we need to bite the bullet and spend the money to see that every container is screened – and before it reaches American shores. 

“If we’re truly committed to keeping this country safe, we have to start thinking more broadly about how cargo enters this country.  The system is in desperate need of overhaul, even if that entails temporary inconveniences.  Thoroughly examining the proposed ports sale is part of an effort – and a critical reexamination of our policies – that is long overdue.”

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