[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 39 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S3191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 2240. A bill to improve seaport security; to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, at the end of 2002, the Maritime 
Transportation Security Act became law.
  I was a member of the conference committee on that bill, and I think 
it was a good first step in improving security at our nation's ports.
  It had many good provisions, such as the creation of national and 
regional maritime transportation/port security plans to be approved by 
the Coast Guard; better coordination of federal, state, local, and 
private enforcement agencies; and the establishment of a grant program 
for port authorities, waterfront facilities operators, and state and 
local agencies to provide security infrastructure improvements.
  The problem was that the bill had no guaranteed funding mechanism. As 
a result, we are underfunding port security. Since the passage of the 
Maritime Transportation Security Act, the Department of Homeland 
Security has released $517 million in port security grants. This is not 
enough. According to the Coast Guard, it is estimated that the ports 
directly need $1.4 billion this year and $6 billion over the next ten 
years. Yet, the Administration only requested $46 million in its fiscal 
year 2005 budget.
  Last year, I visited many of California's ports including Crescent 
City in the north down through Stockton to Los Angeles/Long Beach in 
the south. I have seen what the ports are confronting. They need more 
funding for homeland security.
  And, with over 40 percent of the nation's goods imported through 
California's ports, freight rail is extremely important to the nation's 
commerce. A terrorist attack at a California port would not only be 
tragic but would be devastating for our nation's economy.
  So, today, I am introducing the Senate version of a bill introduced 
by Representative Millender-McDonald. This legislation will provide 
more funding to the ports. Specifically, it will: create a Port 
Security Grant Program in the Department of Homeland Security; provide 
$800 million per year for five years in grant funding; and--this is 
very important to California's ports--allow the federal government to 
make multiyear grants to help finance larger projects similar to what 
is done with many of our airports for aviation security.
  I hope that the Senate will act on this bill. Now is not the time to 
slow down or delay our efforts to increase and improve transportation 
security. The job is not done, and it must be done.

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