[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 159 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12006-S12007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE:
  S. 1728. A bill to provide for greater security at seaports; to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Maritime 
Security Advancement Act which is designed to mitigate the threat of 
maritime- and seaport-related terrorism.
  In the aftermath of the despicable terrorist attacks of September 11, 
I believe it is critical that we pass the strongest possible security 
enhancements to our transportation system and do so as soon as 
possible. To this end, we have been working to enhance aviation 
security, and for obvious reasons, this has been one of our first and 
highest priorities in the wake of the recent attacks. At the same time, 
we must also address concerns about highway safety, rail safety, 
pipeline safety, and maritime and seaport security. I support efforts 
to close the security gaps in each and every mode in the vast national 
and international transportation network that is so critical to our 
economy, our freedom, and our way of life.
  We are going to need the resources of the United States coupled with 
the cooperation of our global neighbors in order to wage the war 
against terrorism. For it is a fight we must win, and will win. The 
purpose of the legislation I am introducing today is to employ more 
tools in the fight against terrorism. Specifically, the Maritime

[[Page S12007]]

Security Advancement Act would direct the Secretary of Transportation, 
in awarding loan guarantees, grants, and other forms of financial 
support for research and development under the discretionary authority 
of the U.S. Department of Transportation, to give preference to 
projects with the potential to reduce the threat of maritime- and 
seaport-related terrorism.
  For example, the legislation would promote the development of 
projects designed to increase the feasibility of securing cargo, 
sealing containers, and making cargo containers more tamper resistant; 
improve cargo container content labeling technologies; and provide for 
innovations in the physical handling of cargo in ways that could reduce 
the threat of terrorism aimed at our maritime transportation system.
  The bill would also direct the Secretary to identify the technologies 
with the potential to provide the greatest security with respect to 
handline, labeling, sealing, and transportation of cargo and report to 
Congress on its findings. And the bill authorizes the Secretary to 
issue new rules requiring deployment of such technologies and practices 
in an effort to enhance security and reduce the threat of terrorism.
  We must leave no stone unturned in the effort to preserve the 
security of this nation's transportation infrastructure, so that we 
might both carry on the business of the Nation and ensure our continued 
economic viability, and also ensure that we are in good position of 
strength to be able to wage the kind of war necessary to eradicate 
terrorism. And we cannot remain strong if we cannot remain mobile. 
Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
legislation.

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