[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 62 (Thursday, May 12, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5168-S5169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 1032. 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 with the bill was that it 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 awarded approximately $625 million in port 
security grants. This is not enough. The Coast Guard has estimated a 
need for $5.4 billion over 10 years for port facility upgrades, and 
$7.3 billion over 10 years for all port security. At the same time, the 
administration only requested $600 million for infrastructure 
protection in fiscal year 2006, and this meager figure does not even 
specify a dedicated portion for port security grants.

[[Page S5169]]

  With over 40 percent of the Nation's goods imported through 
California's ports, 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 reintroducing a bill to 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 
5 years in grant funding; and--this is very important to California's 
ports--allow the Federal Government to help finance larger multi-year 
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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