[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 116 (Thursday, July 31, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S10605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HAWAII AND SHIPPING CONTAINER SECURITY

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President. I rose today to address the continued need 
to secure our Nation's shipping containers.
  The U.S. economy is heavily dependent on the normal flow of commerce 
and the security of our Nation's ports. Over the past 6 years, 
commercial cargo entering America's ports has nearly doubled. About 7 
million shipping containers arrive in U.S. seaports each year.
  The Department of Homeland Security recently proposed new regulations 
to improve shipping container security by requiring advance information 
in electronic format for cargo entering and exiting the United States.
  In my view, the Department needs to do more. To improve container 
security we must ensure that shipping container security programs are 
effective by having the right personnel and the right management 
strategies in place.
  Currently the Customs Service administers two container security 
programs within the Department of Homeland Security: the container 
security initiative, known as CSI, and the customs-trade partnership 
against terrorism, or C-TPAT. By 2004, the Department plans to increase 
the funding for CSI fourteenfold and for C-TPAT by 50 percent.
  A July 2003 General Accounting Office, GAO, review on container 
security programs raises concerns that the Customs Service has not 
taken the steps required to ensure the long-term success and 
accountability of CSI and C-TPAT. According to the GAO report, Customs 
has reached a critical point in the management of CSI and C-TPAT and 
must develop plans to address workforce needs to ensure the long-term 
success of these programs.
  As a Senator from a State reliant on shipped products, I understand 
the importance of container security. My State is uniquely vulnerable 
to disruptions in the normal flow of commerce. In fact, 98 percent of 
the goods imported into Hawaii are transported by sea.
  Honolulu Harbor received more than 1 million tons of food and farm 
products and over 2 million tons of manufactured goods per year. In 
2002, Honolulu received 1,300 foreign ships and about 300,000 
containers. Over 8 million tons of these goods arrive at Honolulu 
Harbor, which receives one-half of all cargo brought into the State.
  This is why I support GAO's recommendation that Customs develop 
strategic plans that clearly identify the objectives the programs are 
intended to achieve and to enhance performance measures.
  I urge the Department of Homeland Security to implement GAO's 
recommendation by developing workforce plans and strategies to 
strengthen container security and to attract, train, and retain workers 
within CSI and C-TPAT. This is no small challenge. By the end of 2004, 
Customs expects to hire 120 staff for CSI and increase staffing levels 
in C-TPAT by fifteenfold. Moreover, it is estimated that 46 percent of 
the Customs workforce will be eligible to retire by 2008.
  Now more than ever, agencies must have the plans and strategies in 
place to recruit personnel with the skills necessary to protect our 
country. As the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century 
concluded in 2001:

       . . . [T]he maintenance of American power in the world 
     depends upon the quality of U.S. government personnel, civil 
     and military, at all levels . . . The U.S. faces a broader 
     range of national security challenges today, requiring policy 
     analysts and intelligence personnel with expertise in more 
     countries, regions, and issues.

  To meet these national security challenges, workforce and strategic 
planning for CSI and C-TPAT deserve the full attention of the 
Department of Homeland Security.
  Such attention is critical for a State like Hawaii that is uniquely 
dependent on shipping of goods. The potential consequences of a 
terrorist incident using a shipping container are, in the words of 
Customs Service Commissioner Bonner,'' . . . profound . . . no ships 
would be allowed to unload at U.S. ports after such an event.''
  I look forward to working with the Department to ensure that the 
foundation is in place for CSI and C-TPAT to secure shipping containers 
over the longterm.

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