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(Washington, D.C.) U.S. Rep. Mike Ross (AR-04) Thursday reacted
to the sale of shipping operations at six major United States seaports
to Dubai Ports World. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) owned company
recently received approval from the Administration to purchase Peninsular
and Oriental Steam Navigation, a London company which manages shipping
operations at United States seaports including ports in Baltimore, New
York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami and New Orleans.
“As a result of September 11, 2001, our enemy has changed, our world
has changed, and our approach to national security must also change.
In the post 9-11 era, homeland security and safeguarding the American public
are prevalent concerns throughout America. Not only did two of the
9-11 hijackers reside in the UAE, but a majority of the funding for the
attacks came from a UAE owned bank. Unbelievably, the President has
threatened to use veto authority for the first time in his presidency on
proposed legislation intended to delay the sale and ensure the safety of
the American public.
“The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) failed
to include basic evaluations, such as background checks of senior managers
of Dubai Ports World or a study of how the company screens its workers,
and recommended agreement approval to the White House without an in-depth
investigation of the company. Furthermore, I find it appalling a
decision of this magnitude that directly impacts major U.S. cities on both
the Eastern seaboard and on our Gulf Coast, was made without the President
having any prior knowledge of the agreement, which he openly admitted this
week.
“Our government has a responsibility to protect its citizens by thoroughly
evaluating an agreement with a company owned by a nation known to have
ties with 9-11 terrorists.
“This is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. Members
of Congress on both sides of the aisle are calling on the Administration
to delay the sale until a thorough investigation has been conducted.
America continues to exist in a state of elevated security threats and
we must not rush into a situation that could jeopardize national security
or the safety of the American people. We should utilize the channels
instituted by Congress in 1975 to thoroughly review the proposed transaction
instead of blatantly bypassing them.
“This sale of operations of United States seaports to a company owned
by the UAE should be delayed until all security concerns by both the Administration
and Congress have been sufficiently addressed and the American public can
rest assured this sale will not hamper national security or public safety,”
said Ross.
In 1975, Congress created the Committee on Foreign Investment in the
United States (CFIUS) and established a process to thoroughly review foreign
investment which included a 30-day review followed by a 45-day investigation
if deemed necessary. CFIUS found no security threats in their
initial 30-day review of the port deal with Dubai Ports World and sent
their recommendation for approval to the Administration. Subsequently,
the agreement received the necessary White House endorsement to complete
the sale without conducting an in-depth 45-day investigation. |
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