[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 74 (Friday, June 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ANTITERRORISM ACT OF 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2002

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express support for H.R. 
3983, the Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act. I also want to 
mention a couple of areas where the bill needs to be improved during 
Conference Committee consideration. According to the Economist 
magazine, last October, a discovery at the southern Italian port of 
Gioia Tauro shook the foundations on which world trade has grown so 
rapidly in the past half century. A suspected al-Qaeda terrorist was 
found inside a container. The Egyptian suspect, who later disappeared 
while on bail, was equipped in comfort for the duration of the 
container's intended sea voyage from Italy to Halifax in Canada. He 
carried plans of airports, an aviation mechanic's certificate and 
security passes. Intelligence sources say other containers similarly 
outfitted were found at the Italian port.
  Had this container actually reached an American or even Canadian 
port, this suspect would likely have escaped into the interior of the 
United States. Why? Because many terminal operators have abandoned the 
practice of inspecting so-called empty containers to ensure that the 
container is actually empty. They have also abandoned the practice of 
inspecting container seals, to ensure that no tampering of the 
container has taken place. It is time for Congress to step in and 
demand that every terminal operator do their part to enhance the 
security of American ports, containers, and our communities.
  The International Longshore and Warehouse Union testified before the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and made a compelling case 
for legislation to mandate security checks of containers. Port workers 
can inspect the outside seal of every container moving through our 
ports. A broken seal would alert the port facility that the container 
has been tampered with and that it needs to be carefully inspected 
before entering a facility or being placed on a vessel. A systematic 
check of container seals also provides authorities with a record of the 
parties responsible for placing the seal on any container that may 
contain a terrorist or contain the means of a terrorist act.
  Another equally necessary security measure is the mandatory 
inspection of so-called empty containers, which regularly move on and 
off ships each day. Many countries, including Japan, require such 
inspections because of the increased risk that these ``empties'' pose 
for the placement of bombs, weapons and contraband. In fact, inspection 
of empty containers on American docks was the customary practice up 
until a few years ago when companies decided it cut into profits. We 
can no longer allow our port facility operators to place profits over 
the security needs of our country.
  H.R. 3983 is a good bill, but it is weak on container security 
solutions. I hope that provisions providing for security checks of 
empty containers and the integrity of container seals are considered by 
the Conference Committee.

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