[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H391-H392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       BUSH ADMINISTRATION IGNORES THE LAW ON SECURING OUR PORTS

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the Bush administration should have never 
approved a deal to allow the United Arab Emirates to operate at least 
six major U.S. ports. The administration claims it went through the 
proper process in approving the deal, but the administration did not 
conduct a 45-day investigation that is legally required. It would be 
nice if someone over at the White House would actually read the laws 
passed here in Congress.
  If the Bush administration had done its homework, they would have 
discovered that a 45-day investigation is mandatory in cases like this 
where the company is controlled by a foreign government and the 
acquisition could affect our national security.

[[Page H392]]

  Had Congress not expressed outrage with the plan, a 45-day 
investigation would not be taking place today. However, investigation 
is simply not enough. I have absolutely no confidence that the Bush 
administration will conduct a proper investigation without pressure 
from Congress. Democrats and Republicans here in the House must stand 
against this proposal. We already know our ports are vulnerable. We 
should not add to that vulnerability by turning our port operations 
over to another country.

                          ____________________