[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 26, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             MORE FUNDING AND ATTENTION TO SECURE OUR PORTS

  (Ms. HARRIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, our Nation has made tremendous strides in 
securing our homeland since the 9/11 attacks. Americans have performed 
amazingly well in staying alert and aware, while the Federal Government 
has done an excellent job in making travel safer for airline 
passengers.
  Nevertheless, our achievements merely highlight how much more work 
remains. Before we can truly be safe, we must direct more funding and 
attention to securing our ports.
  America's seaports have become the locomotives of economic growth, 
receiving 95 percent of our Nation's imports. Florida alone has 14 
deepwater seaports, and 56 percent of all of our imported oil comes 
through the Gulf of Mexico border region. Thus, terrorists know what 
devastating death and destruction would be wrought through the 
detonation of one dirty bomb in one cargo container, which would bring 
international commerce to a screeching halt.
  We spend a great deal of time debating how to secure our land border. 
We must start devoting the same amount of time and energy to the 
security of our water border, starting today. Through the Gulf of 
Mexico States Caucus, we will work to ensure that the House 
accomplishes this goal.

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