[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4823-S4824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SEAPORT SECURITY

  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, this evening I rise to discuss one of the 
most serious issues as America prepares to defend itself against 
terrorism, and that is the vulnerability which is represented by our 
361 seaports and the thousands of cargo containers which each day flow 
through those seaports to all America.
  On December 20, 2001, over 5 months ago, the Senate unanimously 
passed a comprehensive seaport security bill. This came after a 2-year 
effort by Senators Hollings and McCain and myself. Despite the new 
security threats that served as the catalyst for passage of this bill 
last December, I am concerned that as of this evening the House has yet 
to pass companion legislation.
  While we await House of Representatives action, there have been 
published reports that 25 Islamic extremists, since March, have stowed 
away in cargo containers and entered this country. Those entries were 
gained in, as reported, four U.S. ports: Long Beach, CA, Savannah, GA, 
and Miami and Fort Lauderdale, FL. These extremists, in some instances, 
disguised themselves as stevedores and disembarked into the communities 
on which those ships had called.
  I consider these reports to be credible. I see this as one of the 
most recent and disturbing examples of the vulnerabilities that exist 
at our Nation's seaports.
  September 11 was a tragic, horrific day. As a result, we restructured 
our aviation security to prevent another attack. We still have the 
opportunity to be responsible and to protect our seaports before they 
are attacked. Thus far, we have failed to do so.
  Today, the U.S. Customs Service agents inspect less than 3 percent of 
the 16,000 cargo containers that arrive on U.S. shores from nations 
which are not contiguous with the United States every day. If the bill 
passed by the Senate had been signed into law and implemented before 
these 25 so described extremists attempted to enter this country in a 
cargo container, we might have seen a different outcome.

  Under our legislation, advanced reporting requirements would help 
Customs electronically receive vital information on ships before they 
arrived at a U.S. port. This means that information on ships and 
contents, passengers, and crew members who were suspect could be 
reviewed before the ship arrived.
  With new funding of over $700 million, local ports would be able to 
upgrade security infrastructure. The Customs Service would have more 
inspectors and agents, as well as new screening and detection 
equipment. This would fortify our frontline defense against those who 
would attempt to breach our shores. Ports would be better prepared for 
a security breach because they would be required to have a 
comprehensive security plan that would meet minimum security 
guidelines.
  Currently, we have no Federal security guidelines or security 
requirements. A new maritime security force would have been established 
under the legislation which the Senate passed over 5 months ago. This 
effort would bring together those trained in antiterrorism, drug 
interdiction, navigation assistance, and facilitating responses to 
security threats.
  Keeping our Nation's seaports secure is an important job not just for 
Americans who live in one of the communities served by our 361 
commercial ports but everywhere in between. Citizens who live inland 
are as vulnerable to security breaches as those who live near seaports. 
Containers from ships being transferred to railway cars and long-haul 
trucks that travel throughout cities and towns represent the potential 
shell which would surround a weapon of mass destruction. A container is 
filled allegedly with legitimate cargo at a distant site. There might 
be contained in that legitimate cargo a biological, a chemical or, God 
forbid, a nuclear device.
  That device would then be connected to a global positioning device 
which would allow for constant monitoring of where that specific 
container was located. That weapon of mass destruction would also be 
equipped with a standoff detonation capability so when the global 
positioning device indicated that the container was at the most 
dangerous place where the greatest damage would be done to our country, 
it could be ignited.
  While we cannot expect to screen every marine container entering into 
the United States, we need to provide some expectation of inspection, 
and some level of deterrence, to dissuade smugglers from using a very 
efficient U.S. intermodal system.
  I am encouraged by the news today that Congressman Don Young of 
Alaska and other concerned members of the House of Representatives have 
agreed that seaport security legislation will be on the House agenda 
after the Memorial Day recess.
  I urge the House to not only expeditiously enact this legislation, 
but work with me and my colleagues in the Senate to expedite the 
conference committee to resolve any differences that may exist, and 
quickly send it to the President, who is anxious to sign this into law.
  By working rapidly, we can provide greater security for our citizens 
at America's open front door--our nation's seaports.

[[Page S4824]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia.

                          ____________________