[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 150 (Tuesday, November 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2113-E2114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 1214, MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT OF 
                                  2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2001

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1214, the Port 
and Maritime Security Act of 2002 Conference Report. As many of you 
know, I have been privileged to represent the Ports of Los Angeles and 
Long Beach for the past 10 years. Each day these ports receive cargo 
from points around the globe. The San Pedro Bay port complex is the 
third largest seaport in the world. These ports are responsible for 
over 30 percent of all U.S. waterborne trade with an estimated value of 
$162 billion a year. The bulk of these imports arrive in 20- or 40-foot 
containers aboard some of the world's largest cargo ships. 
Additionally, our ports handle millions of cruise passengers annually. 
Insuring the safety of containers and passengers entering and exiting 
the ports of this country is a daunting task. Currently, only about 2 
percent of the shipping containers entering the country are inspected. 
This simply will not do. Passing this comprehensive port security 
legislation will insure that more containers are inspected and that our 
ports are properly protected.
  I am particularly pleased that Section 203 of this legislation 
incorporates a bill that I introduced in the 106th Congress. This 
section authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to 
the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial Committee to construct 
an addition to the American Merchant Marine Memorial Wall of Honor in 
San Pedro, California. Thus far, the Committee has already raised well 
over $500,000 to begin construction on the second phase of this 
memorial. Plans for the addition to the memorial call for panels to 
list the names of those who died while serving in the U.S. Merchant 
Marine.
  Since 1775, the maritime community has played a critical role in 
gaining and preserving American freedom. The Merchant Marine served as 
our first Navy and defeated the British Navy in our fight for 
independence. We owe much to the brave mariners past and present who 
have served in the Merchant Marine. The American Merchant Marine 
Memorial Wall of Honor located in San Pedro, California, is a symbol of 
the debt we own those who have served so bravely.
  Many of my colleagues will remember how the Merchant Marine secured 
its place in American history during the Second World War. During that 
conflict, the 250,000 men and women in the U.S. merchant fleet made 
enormous contributions to the eventual winning of the war, keeping the 
lifeline of freedom open to our troops overseas and to our allies. This 
fleet was truly the ``Fourth Arm of Defense'' as it was called by 
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and other military leaders.
  The members of the U.S. Merchant Marine faced danger from submarines, 
mines, armed raiders, destroyers, aircraft, ``kamikaze,'' and the 
elements. At least 6,800 mariners were killed at sea and more than 
11,000 were wounded at sea. Of those injured, at least 1,100 later died 
from their wounds. More than 600 men and women were taken prisoner by

[[Page E2114]]

our enemies. In fact, one in 32 mariners serving aboard merchant ships 
in the Second World War died in the line of duty, suffering a greater 
percentage of war-related deaths than all other U.S. services.
  Since that time, the U.S. Merchant Marine has continued to serve our 
nation, promoting freedom and meeting the high ideals of its past 
members. It is fitting to honor the past and present members of the 
U.S. Merchant Marine. This is why I introduced legislation in the 
previous Congress that would provide additional federal funding for the 
memorial wall in San Pedro. Twice the House has approved legislation 
authorizing funds for this worthy memorial, today I am pleased that the 
House and Senate are moving to approve this authorization in the port 
security conference report.
  Throughout the development of the conference report, I have sought to 
provide the greater protection for ports and the communities that 
surround them against terrorist attacks. I am pleased that the 
conferees have included port security grants and research and 
development grants that will encourage the development and use of 
state-of-the-art technology. Like the conferees, I believe it is 
important to encourage the private sector to continually advance the 
state of the art as a means of enhancing detection capabilities and 
thus enhancing deterrence over time.
  When he is reviewing project proposals and awarding grants, I 
encourage the Secretary of Transportation to give preference to those 
projects that incorporate technologies that are capable of 
automatically detecting shielded nuclear weapons, liquid and other 
explosives, and chemical and biological agents weapons in fully loaded 
cargo containers without the need for humans to open the containers to 
manually inspect them. Based on testimony received by the Congress, it 
would appear that pulsed fast neutron technology is capable today of 
meeting this need. As a result, I hope that this technology and other 
technologies will be identified, developed, and installed in our ports 
as part of the ongoing process of enhancing port security through this 
legislation.
  Long Beach State's Center for the Commercial Deployment of 
Transportation Technologies (CCDoTT) has been developing maritime 
technology for many years, and has recently turned their attention to 
port security technology as well. In the FY03 Defense Appropriations 
bill CCDoTT was granted $4.3 million for continuation of their 
important work to develop more efficient cargo handling in ports, high-
speed ship designs, and port security research. This funding will allow 
the center to continue assessing cargo inspection technologies that can 
help meet the needs of agencies such as the U.S. Customs Service and 
the Coast Guard.
  Section 70107 of the accompanying report authorizes an additional $15 
million for fiscal years 2003 through 2008 for research and development 
grants for port security. I am pleased that report language for the 
Port and Maritime Security Act of 2002 particularly notes the 
importance of the research being done at Long Beach State's Center for 
the Commercial Deployment of Transportation Technologies. This language 
encourages the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Defense 
to obligate any current and prior year appropriations under the 
continuing cooperative agreement. The Center is sponsored by the U.S. 
Maritime Administration and U.S. Department of Defense and I am certain 
it will continue to provide invaluable research for America's maritime 
interests. Again, I am pleased with, and strongly support, this timely 
port security legislation.

                          ____________________