[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 24 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      BUSH ONCE AGAIN SKIRTING LAW IMPACTING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY

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                          HON. DIANE E. WATSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2006

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, Congress should not allow the United Arab 
Emirates port deal to go through. It must be stopped, and House 
Republicans should grow a backbone and finally stand up to the 
president in the name of national security.
  This deal shows once again the lengths the Bush administration will 
go to bend the laws to their advantage. The administration failed to 
conduct a 45-day investigation that is legally required. This, in 
itself, should be enough to stop this deal.
  The national security implications are simply too important to 
ignore. And, unfortunately, House Republicans have neglected our 
vulnerable ports since 9/11. Over the past four years, House 
Republicans have opposed and defeated Democratic efforts to increase 
funding for port security. Right now, only six percent of cargo coming 
into the U.S. is being checked, producing a large hole in our homeland 
security. Democrats have tried to increase port security funding on 
this House floor FOUR TIMES over the last four years, and House 
Republicans defeated our efforts every time.
  It's time Republicans make port security a priority.

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