Homeland Security

The Committee meets today to consider the state of maritime security in the United States and around the world; specifically efforts related to vessel, port, and cargo security, and personnel with access to vessels and cargo at maritime facilities. The Committee hopes to learn what has been done to improve maritime security over the two and half years since the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

. I commend Secretary Ridge and all the employees of the Department of Homeland Security who have taken on the monumental task of securing our homeland while managing the largest government reorganization in history. It is clear the Department has made significant strides and established the foundation for a layered approach to transportation security in the year and a half since the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Maritime Transportation Security Act were signed into law, yet their task is far from complete.

. No comprehensive maritime security plan exists, and I am concerned that a lack of resources and the demands of the reorganization have inhibited the Department's focus on its security mission. The three witnesses from DHS here today directly oversee the agencies most involved in maritime security: the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and the Transportation Security Administration. These agencies spent millions of dollars on numerous, and in some cases overlapping or duplicative, pilot projects, tests, initiatives, and programs aimed at improving maritime security with questionable results.

. For example, over 5,700 companies have signed up for the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, known as C-TPAT (cee-teepat). While this would seem like a great success, many of those in the maritime industry associated with the program to increase supply chain security have started to openly question the value of this voluntary approach. Some participants continue to strongly adhere to the program's goals out of a sense of responsibility, while others, driven by their bottom line, are moving away from the program and are only meeting those requirements in law or regulation.

. The lack of coordination and absence of established standards and goals have lead to confusion for the maritime industry as to what must be done to improve security and whom to go to with security questions. This type of confusion will lead to less cooperation from industry and ultimately to lax security. The agencies represented here today must strive harder to improve coordination efforts. I was amazed to learn that it has only been in the last several weeks that the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection have reached an agreement to share manifest and vessel information reported to the two agencies by those involved in maritime transportation.

. I hope our government witnesses can shed some light on efforts to improve coordination and complete Memorandums of Agreement that define each agency's role and responsibilities. I have previously questioned the Department about this and believe that little effort has been put into completing these agreements which not only better define agency roles, but also serve to direct state and local governments and the private sector when they try to get answers to security questions.

. Further, we are going to hear from maritime industry representatives today who are concerned about future security costs. As I stated at yesterday's hearing examining the state of rail security, only modest resources have been dedicated to maritime and land security over the past two and a half years compared to the investments made to secure the airways. I believe one reason for this discrepancy, is the lack of focus in maritime security on a comprehensive plan that sets standards, and clearly identifies what efforts and costs are public versus private responsibilities. If the layered approach to homeland security envisioned by DHS in its Strategic Plan is to work, it is imperative that all parties, both public and private, have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

. I want to welcome all of our witnesses. I look forward to their statements regarding the current state of maritime security, and hearing their recommendations pertaining to the needs still outstanding.