Our ports serve as the doorway to America.  The New Jersey-New York Port is the second-busiest container port in the country.  And it lies along the “two most dangerous miles in America� for terrorism, according to the FBI.  Thousands of people work there.  And 12 million residents live in nearby communities.

We are glad to have the man who oversees this port, Chairman Tony Coscia, here today.  He and I understand that protecting our ports is paramount for the strength of our economy and the safety of Americans.

One year ago, Congress passed a comprehensive port security bill.  And the GAO recently declared that maritime security is one of the few areas where the Department of Homeland Security has improved.  For instance, port security grants are awarded based on risk.  I have worked for years to make that happen.  It’s the way all homeland security grants should be awarded.  And after years of under-funding, the port security grant program is starting to get the money it needs:  $320 million in fiscal year 2007—and we’re working to get even more funding in 2008.

But even with this progress, there are still holes that riddle our port security network.

First, we held our last hearing on the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program, or “TWIC� card, six months ago.  I am stunned to report that the program, and worker security, is stuck in neutral.  Six years after 9/11, and nearly $100 million later, only 1,700 workers have working TWIC cards.  That’s nearly $60,000 per card.  We still don’t even have a deployment schedule for when the rest of the cards will get into workers’ hands.

Second, a Baltimore Sun newspaper investigation cited very serious problems of bias against mariners within the Administrative Law Judge system.  We need to know this system will allow fair and unbiased review of employee appeals on TWIC cards.  Today, I am announcing that our Committee is launching an investigation by the GAO into those accusations.  Based on the GAO’s findings, this committee will act.

Third, the SAFE Ports Act calls for a system to scan every U.S.-bound shipping container for deadly weapons before it arrives on our shores.  These containers can carry nuclear, radiological, chemical or biological weapons.  Today, they have a 95 percent chance of not being physically inspected, and that is why we need to be scanning these containers.  I am anxious to hear what progress the Bush Administration has made toward achieving 100 percent scanning of containers.

Until we get there, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Targeting System is our front line against cargo security risks.  If the data we use to target shipments is not reliable, robust or valid, the system fails and the risk for America rises.  I want to know when Customs will upgrade this system to track suspicious shipments with more accuracy by requiring additional data on each shipment.

Finally, securing our seaports will take greater investment to prevent a tragedy potentially more deadly and devastating than 9/11.  The Port of New York and New Jersey has suggested that Congress collect a security fee on each container entering the U.S., to provide this greater investment.  I look forward to hearing from today’s witnesses on that suggestion, as well as their views on our overall port security needs.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 4th, 2007 at 12:45 pm and is filed under Politics, Homeland Security .