03 October 2006
Congress Sends Port Security Legislation to Bush for Approval
Act would codify and expand port security, but not necessarily pay for it all
Washington -- Legislation passed by Congress would enhance U.S. efforts to protect its ports from terrorist attack, but the lawmakers already have voted not to fully fund some plans that would be authorized by the bill.
Congress passed the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006 (H.R. 4954) in the early morning hours of September 30 before leaving Washington to campaign for fall elections. The bill was presented to President Bush October 3; the president has indicated he will sign it into law.
The legislation arose from congressional concerns over administration approval in January of a deal that would have allowed Dubai Ports World to operate terminals at several U.S. seaports. After intense congressional criticism, DP World announced it would sell off its interest in U.S. port operations. (See related article.)
Of greatest importance to shippers in the port-security act is a requirement that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security develop plans to resume trade and minimize economic loss should an act of terrorism occur at a port. The act also would establish a new Office of Cargo Security Policy, which would work with international partners.
Otherwise, the SAFE Port Act would codify a series of risk-based, multilayered approaches that the U.S. government already has in place at ports around the world.
The Container Security Initiative, under which foreign ports notify U.S. officials about cargo being shipped to the United States, will be expanded. The government will continue to loan radiation-scanning equipment to overseas ports and train foreign workers to use it, a boost to ports in poorer parts of the world. The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) will provide greater incentives for shippers to meet cargo-security standards.
Implementation of a transportation worker identification card system would speed up under the act: five pilot programs of readers of the biometric ID cards will begin within six months of when the bill is signed. The act adds truck drivers operating within ports to the list of those who must be screened for the identification cards.
AUTHORIZATION VERSUS APPROPRIATION
“We’re very happy that Congress passed the bill,” said Susan Monteverde, a vice president of the American Association of Port Authorities, “but we’re not very happy that the same day they only appropriated $210 million of $400 million authorized for the Port Security Grant Program.”
The appropriated money will help U.S. port authorities make physical security improvements such as the addition of fences, lights, gates or surveillance cameras. The association has called for full funding in coming years.
Overseas ports would be affected by pilot programs established under the law to scan 100 percent of cargo being sent to the United States. The Department of Homeland Security will name three overseas ports to participate within three months of Bush's signing the law.
“I’d have to assume that since Hong Kong has the infrastructure in place … that one of your three locations is already picked,” said Al Thompson, who is in charge of global supply chain policy for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents importers, such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
The Hong Kong port now scans containers to obtain images of their contents and indications of prohibited radiation. Thompson said he predicts Hong Kong will be on the list because there have been good relations between the port operator, the Hong Kong customs department and a U.S. team there.
A Senate staff member familiar with the bill said that the White House has indicated it will schedule a signing ceremony soon for the SAFE Port Act but has not specified a date or indicated whether the ceremony will be held in Washington or at a port. Such bill-signing ceremonies typically take place within a few weeks of a bill’s passage.
A summary of the bill and a link to its full text are available on the Library of Congress Web site.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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