Nadler: Wal-Mart’s Policies Fail to Safeguard America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) the highest ranking member from New York to serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today joined with community, civic and labor leaders to urge Wal-Mart to stand for national security and end its opposition to the scanning of all port containers entering the country.

Rep. Nadler’s remarks as prepared for delivery follow:

"We stand here today at Battery Park City, in the shadow of where the World Trade Center once stood. The absence of the Twin Towers from the New York skyline is a daily reminder that this country needs to pursue policies that actually enhance our security.

"One such common sense policy is to scan all of the cargo containers bound for American ports. I am proud to have worked on this issue over the past four years. The scanning of all cargo containers was a requirement included in H.R. 1, the Implementing the 9/11 Commissions Recommendations Act, which was adopted on January 9th

of this year on a vote of 299 to128.

"On that day, America took a step in the right direction by requiring that 100 percent of cargo containers be scanned for nuclear and bomb-making materials before they are put on a ship bound for the United States. Currently, the government only inspects about six percent of the port containers coming into the country. The experts agree that our ports are vulnerable to nuclear attack and the Bush Administration has failed to take that threat seriously.

"No doubt, the White House has found comfort in the fact that Wal-Mart, America’s largest importer, has actively worked to oppose the scanning of all cargo containers coming into our ports. One Wal-Mart container enters this country every 45 seconds. Every 45 seconds, there’s another chance that a terrorist has smuggled in nuclear materials or the ingredients to create a biological or chemical weapon. Every 45 seconds, there’s a missed opportunity to enhance our security.

"When one company has the ability to influence public policy, they have a moral obligation to act in the interest of the American people. Indeed, one out of every 25 containers shipped to the United States in 2005 was destined for a Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart’s imports are growing every year.

"While Wal-Mart may have concerns that scanning all cargo containers may impact the speed with which their merchandise comes into the United States, I strongly believe that this concern is unfounded. In Hong Kong, the Integrated Container Inspection System (ICIS) pilot program has successfully achieved 100% scanning, proving that the technology works without slowing down commerce. Two of the world’s busiest port terminals are in Hong Kong – so it’s clear that the technology works without a significant harm to commerce.

"Indeed, in order to ensure that the rest of the shipping community has the time it needs to comply, H.R. 1 phases in the scanning requirements over three to five years and allows the Department of Homeland Security to grant one year extensions to a port if the scanning equipment is unavailable to purchase and install. We have done everything to make a transition to 100 percent scanning easy – Wal-Mart needs to end its opposition to this necessary policy.

"Every airline passenger bound for America is scanned. All air cargo is scanned. We must close the window of opportunity that gives terrorists the chance to bring in weapons through sea-containers. I’m proud that so many of my House and Senate colleagues are pushing for this security measure. It’s simple: No container should be placed on a ship bound for the United States unless it has been screened for nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their components."

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