Maritime Security
The Committee on Homeland Security is dedicated to ensuring a robust architecture for securing our ports, waterways, harbors, and other maritime environments. As the lead Federal agency for maritime security, it is vital that the U.S. Coast Guard, in cooperation with Custom and Border Patrol Air and Marine, maintain a modern fleet of air and sea assets, in order to secure our waterways, increase maritime domain awareness, and mitigate the possibility of a small boat-enabled terrorist attack. The Committee will continue to oversee the Department of Homeland Security to ensure the efficient and risk-based distribution of Port Security Grants Program funding.
Likewise, the Committee will continue its oversight of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) efforts to ensure the security of the Global Supply Chain through a variety of programs, including trusted shipper networks, cargo screening, and container scanning. The Committee will focus its efforts to ensure that CBP continues to use a risk- and threat-based system for securing the maritime supply chain.