[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT ON JOINT RESOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, last week I stood at the Ports of Los 
Angeles and Long Beach, the largest container port complex in the 
nation, with my good friend Senator Susan Collins, the chair of the 
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  We both have championed the fight to strengthen security at our 
ports. As of last week, neither of us had been briefed on the review 
conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, 
CFIUS, into the sale of stevedoring and terminal operations of many 
major eastern seaboard and Gulf Coast ports to a state-owned firm from 
Dubai. This sale would not only affect the six major US port terminal 
facility leases that have been reported, but additional operations in 
15 other locations, including ports shipping military materiel.
  Last week, we stated our concerns about the announced sale and our 
plan to issue a Joint Resolution of Disapproval.
  Today, I am introducing in the House the Joint Resolution which 
Senator Collins introduced yesterday, S.J. Res. 32. This resolution 
would do three things. First, it officially disapproves of CFIUS's 
initial review of the Dubai Ports World deal. Second, it requires CFIUS 
to rescind its previous decision and conduct a formal 45-day 
investigation. Third, it requires that CFIUS brief the Congress before 
allowing the deal to proceed, if in fact that is the decision after a 
full, complete and proper evaluation of the national security risks 
posed by this arrangement.
  Since Senator Collins and I announced our intentions last week, there 
has been some progress. Dubai Ports World has agreed to a secondary 
review, the Administration has agreed to a 45-day assessment of the 
sale, and, beginning this week, some committees of Congress will now be 
briefed.
  But the bad news is that this process got as far as it did, and that 
it took deep bipartisan concern to have Congress brought into the loop. 
When our country considers these important deals, Congress should be on 
the front lines, not the back bench.
  And as we heard yesterday from a Senate briefing, the U.S. Coast 
Guard cited their concerns over the deal at the time. The U.S. Coast 
Guard plays a critical role in ensuring the security of our ports, and 
their reservations make me question why this deal was approved as 
quickly as it was.
  This issue has also served to highlight the fact that our Nation's 
ports remain inadequately protected.
  As a member of both the House Intelligence and Homeland Security 
Committees, I have consistently worked to improve our national 
security, and believe much remains to be done. When we focus 9 out of 
10 transportation security dollars on aviation security, we fall into 
the trap of fighting the last war instead of the next one. Fighting 
terror requires that we look forward, and what keeps me up at night is 
the possibility of a radiological bomb or human terrorist entering our 
ports in an uninspected container.
  When it comes to port security, we should have solid answers, not 
lingering questions. In this Era of Terror, there remains a constant 
threat to our homeland. We don't have the luxury of waiting to harden 
the obvious vulnerable targets.
  I have visited the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex many times. I 
have authored and co-authored bipartisan port security legislation. 
Representative Dan Lungren and I will introduce a comprehensive bill 
soon to ensure a coordinated approach to maritime and cargo security 
through the authorization of key security programs and initiatives, as 
well as a dedicated funding grant program to shore up security gaps 
that exist at our Nation's ports. Senators Collins, Lieberman, and 
Coleman have introduced similar legislation in the Senate, and both 
bills will be the subject of hearings in this Congress.
  This resolution on CFIUS is prudent; so are our efforts to legislate 
enhanced port security. I urge its support.

                          ____________________