[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 67 (Thursday, May 19, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NOTICES OF HEARINGS/MEETINGS


                permanent subcommittee on investigations

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the 
information of the Senate and the public that the Permanent 
Subcommittee on Investigations will hold a hearing entitled ``The 
Container Security Initiative and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against 
Terrorism: Securing the Global Supply Chain or Trojan Horse?'' In light 
of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, concern has increased 
that terrorists could smuggle weapons of mass destruction in the 
approximately 9 million ocean going containers that arrive in the 
United States every year. As part of its overall response to the threat 
of terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Customs 
and Border Protection (Customs) implemented the Container Security 
Initiative, CSI, to screen high-risk containers at sea ports overseas, 
thus employing screening tools before potentially dangerous cargoes 
reach our shores. Customs also implemented the Customs Trade 
Partnership Against Terrorism, C-TPAT, to improve the security of the 
global supply chain in partnership with the private sector.
  Both CSI and C-TPAT face a number of compelling challenges that 
impact their ability to safeguard our Nation from terrorism. The 
Subcommittee's May 26 hearing will examine how Customs utilizes CSI and 
C-TPAT in connection with its other enforcement programs and review the 
requirements for and challenges involved in transitioning CSI and C-
TPAT from promising risk management concepts to effective and sustained 
enforcement operations. These important Customs initiatives require 
sustained Congressional oversight. As such, this will be the first of 
several hearings the Subcommittee intends to hold on the response of 
the Federal Government to terrorist threats.
  The Subcommittee hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 26, 2005, at 
9:30 a.m. in Room 562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. For 
further information, please contact Raymond V. Shepherd, III, Staff 
Director and Chief Counsel to the Permanent Subcommittee on 
Investigations, at 202-224-3721.

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