Lincoln Diaz-Balart - United States Congressman

H.R. 5005, which I brought to the floor as a Member of the Rules Committee on November 13, 2002, created a new Federal Department, bringing together for the first time entities that were designed to protect the homeland of the United States. This new Department is working to ensure coordination among all of the agencies under its charge, as well as any Department that retains functions that could affect homeland security. The Department of Homeland Security helps protect our borders by bringing together the Coast Guard, Customs Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the Border Patrol, and Agricultural Inspectors. Importantly, INS functions within the Department are now divided up between border security (U.S. Customs & Border Protection), and immigration and visa services (Citizenship & Immigration Services) to help distinguish and highlight these two very different missions.

The establishment of the Department of Homeland Security did not signal the end of our efforts. I have continued continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the new Department effectively integrates its agencies. I will also continue to work to ensure that our state and local officials have the resources necessary to protect our citizens and infrastructure in South Florida.

In their report to Congress, the 9/11 Commission criticized the existing process for allocation of federal homeland security assistance grants, recommending that the distribution not “remain a program for general revenue sharing.” As a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, I worked hard to ensure that Homeland Security grant funds were distributed through risk-based assessments. In the 109th Congress, the House of Representatives repeatedly passed legislation to create a risk-based funding formula but the legislation was rejected by the Senate. I will continue to work for passage of legislation so that Miami-Dade and Broward Counties have greater access to much needed Homeland Security funds.

Our nation’s maritime industry contributes approximately $750 billion to the gross domestic product each year. The State of Florida has some of the largest ports in the country. The Port of Miami serves as the primary maritime gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a strategic hub for international commerce in the Western Hemisphere and the cruise ship passenger capital of the world. Since 9/11, the Port of Miami has faced unprecedented security costs due to the expense of complying with federal security mandates. While ports across the nation are facing similar challenges, this problem at the Port of Miami has become serious. Annual operating security costs at the Port of Miami have increased from $4.1 million in 2001, to $15.9 million in 2006.

To help address these concerns, the House of Representatives passed the Safety and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006 (PL 109-347). The bill helps ports meet the security challenge by authorizing $400 million annually to be awarded to high-risk ports from FY-07 through FY-12. The grant money will be used for purchasing and upgrading security equipment to enhance terrorism preparedness. Eligible equipment includes video surveillance systems, waterside surveillance vessels, vehicle inspection stations and closed-circuit telecommunications. I will continue to work to ensure that our ports have all the resources they need to protect passengers and commerce.

Miami International Airport (MIA) is a high-security, category 10 airport on the front line of homeland security defense. MIA has approximately 1,160 international flights each week, more than any other airport in the United States. MIA has over 900 flights a week from Latin America, more than all other U.S. airports combined. MIA ranks third in overall international passenger traffic.

MIA is not only a hub for international travel, it also plays an integral role in global trade. The airport is among the Nation's top air cargo handlers, with almost 2 million tons handled in 2008. MIA has handled nearly 80 percent of all air cargo imports and exports between the United States and Latin America.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks heightened concerns regarding aviation security in the United States. In response, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001. The bill established a federal screener workforce and required the screening of all checked baggage using Explosive Detection Systems, or EDS.

Explosive Detection System, or EDS, machines can quickly determine if a baggage contains a potential threat. If a weapon or explosive is detected, the machines alert our security officers so they can manage the bag appropriately.

Funding and reimbursement for EDS installation, however, continues to be a serious concern. MIA has incurred over $78 million in in-line EDS terminal modification costs.

The FY07 Supplemental Appropriations Act called for 75% Federal reimbursement for EDS installation. The FY08 Consolidated Appropriations Act called for a 90% reimbursement for airports. So, when TSA was reimbursing airports in 2008, they arbitrarily chose which airports got reimbursed at 75% or 90%. MIA was one of the airports that was reimbursed at the 75% rate.

This was unacceptable. In the Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act (HR 2200), which passed the House of Representatives this past May, I submitted an amendment that ensured that ALL airports that received TSA reimbursement last year were reimbursed at the 90% rate. The bill, with my amendment, is now before the Senate for consideration.

The American people can rest assured that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to thwart future terrorist attacks.

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