[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 25 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H513]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              DEMOCRATS' EFFORTS TO ADDRESS PORT SECURITY

  (Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, the United Arab Emirates port deal should 
never have been approved. Sure, the admission is now backpedaling, but 
despite this 45-day delay, the administration is still going to try to 
push this deal through.
  It does not matter that the Coast Guard voiced concerns about the 
proposal before the administration initially approved the deal. It does 
not matter that large numbers of Democrats and Republicans have come 
out in opposition to the deal. It does not matter that the overwhelming 
majority of Americans do not support this deal and believe it to be 
dumb. Nor does it matter that the administration never checked with the 
affected communities before signing off on it. No, the Bush 
administration sees this 45-day period as an opportunity to steamroll 
Congress.
  We simply cannot allow that to happen. Congress must play an active 
role in this decision. I hope, I really hope, that the House 
Republicans will join us in insisting that no deal move forward without 
a vote here on this floor. Democrats insist that in addition to the 45-
day investigation there must also be a congressional vote. This is a 
national security decision, and it is simply too important for 
partisanship to take precedence over prudence.

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