[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 78 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S7145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CONRAD (for himself and Mr. Dorgan):
  S. 1146. A bill to implement the recommendations of the Garrison Unit 
Tribal Advisory Committee by providing authorization for the 
construction of a rural health care facility on the Fort Berthold 
Indian Reservation, North Dakota; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today, joined by my colleague 
Senator Dorgan, to introduce the Three Affiliated Tribes Health 
Facility Compensation Act. This legislation fulfills a longstanding 
Federal commitment to the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold in 
my State of North Dakota.
  In 1949, the Three Affiliated Tribes lost 156,000 acres of land, one-
quarter of its land base, for the construction of the Garrison Dam 
along the Missouri River. Three hundred twenty five families--eighty 
percent of the tribal membership--were forcibly relocated. Ninety-four 
percent of the agricultural lands of these farmers and ranchers was 
destroyed. The Indian Health Service's hospital at the community of 
Elbowoods was completely flooded. At the time, the Federal Government 
committed to replacing the hospital.
  On May 10, 1985, then Interior Secretary Donald P. Hodel signed a 
charter creating the Garrison Unit Joint Tribal Advisory Committee, 
which was charged with examining the effects of the construction of the 
Garrison Dam and Reservoir on the tribe and making recommendations on 
compensation. In its final report released on May 23, 1986, the 
committee found that the Three Affiliated Tribes were entitled to 
financial compensation as well as the replacement of lost 
infrastructure including its health facility. The committee 
specifically noted that the replacement of the health facility was an 
``emergency need.''
  In 1992, Congress acted on some of the committee's recommendations by 
passing the Three Affiliated Tribes and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe 
Equitable Compensation Act. However, at the time, due to budget 
limitations, Congress was not able to fulfill the commitments on 
infrastructure replacement. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 
its report on the Act specifically noted that ``every effort should be 
made by the Administration and Congress to provide additional federal 
funding for these infrastructure priorities.'' More than 10 years 
later, many of the infrastructure priorities still have not been met.
  The legislative history on this matter is clear, a commitment was 
made to the tribe that must be kept. The bill I am introducing will 
authorize $20 million to construct for a health facility on the Fort 
Berthold Indian Reservation to fulfill this longstanding promise to the 
Three Affiliated Tribes.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill to increase 
security and prevent terrorist attacks at our Nation's ports.
  Ports are extremely important to our nation's economy, especially to 
my State of California. The ports of LA, Long Beach, and Oakland handle 
40 percent of our Nation's cargo and generate billions of dollars in 
economic activity each year in California alone.
  The tragic events of September 11 demonstrated that we needed to make 
improvements in our nation's security. Our ports are no exception.
  We have begun to make improvements. As a member of the Senate 
Commerce Committee, I served as a conferee on the port security bill 
that became law last November. This legislation mandated the creation 
of national and regional port security plans and better coordination of 
Federal, State, local, and private enforcement agencies. It also 
established a grant program for port authorities, waterfront operators, 
and state and local agencies to provide security infrastructure 
improvements such as video cameras and more secure fencing. In 
addition, it calls for the development of regulations to determine 
secure areas in ports and to limit access through background checks and 
a transportation security identification card.
  This legislation was a good first step. But, we need to do more. And 
I believe we should harness the best of our high-tech capabilities to 
improve port security. That is why today I am introducing the High-Tech 
Port Security Act.
  This legislation has three high tech improvements for our nation's 
ports.
  First, the bill would require that all containers used in our 
Nation's ports be blast resistant. The U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security would develop a standard for such containers and would work 
with shipping companies to ensure that all new containers are blast 
resistant.
  Second, the bill would require that all containers be inspected with 
advanced technology before leaving our ports and entering our roads, 
highways, and communities. The Department of Homeland Security would 
establish a standard for cargo screening technology and ensure that 
this technology is installed at all ports, so every incoming container 
is screened before it leaves the port. This is extremely important 
because currently only two to three percent of all containers are 
inspected.
  Third, this bill will focus protection on the Nation's largest ports 
by establishing high tech command and control centers to coordinate and 
monitor security at the 20 busiest ports in the United States.
  The technologies needed to secure our Nation's vital ports are 
available today, and they should start being used now. There is no time 
to lose. The vulnerability of our seaports is no secret; it is a well 
known gap in our homeland defense. This legislation will help close 
that gap.
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