[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E72]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IMPLEMENTING THE 9/11 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 9, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today very pleased that 
we will finally pass legislation to implement in full the 
recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission over 2 years ago. This is 
an important day for our Nation, and an extremely important day for the 
security of our Nation.
  There is much to like about this legislation, but today I would like 
to focus only on a few of the many important provisions in the bill. 
Specifically, I have supported in the past, and continue to support 
today, efforts to screen 100 percent of shipping containers headed 
through United States ports. As I have noted here on the floor of the 
House before, approximately 95 percent of our Nation's trade, worth 
nearly $1 trillion, enters or leaves through our seaports. We must 
secure these ports and do so immediately. We have already waited too 
long.
  I know there is much concern about the feasibility of this provision 
to screen 100 percent, because of cost as well as whether or not it is 
simply possible. But Madame Speaker, I believe it is feasible. There 
are technologies being developed in my district by able small 
businesses to provide for improved screening processes while ensuring 
that port operations continue efficiently and effectively. Our Nation 
has faced challenges to our security before, and industry and our 
citizens have responded. I believe this can be the case again if we 
demonstrate the will to lead. And today we are on the verge of doing 
so.
  Another aspect of H.R. 1 that I would like to highlight today are the 
changes made to the Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Representatives 
Maloney, Shays, and I introduced legislation during the 109th Congress 
to make the Board an independent agency, grant the Board subpoena 
authority, subject all members of the Board to be confirmed by the 
Senate, require that no more than three members of the same political 
party be allowed to serve simultaneously, thus creating a more 
bipartisan and politically diverse board, and require each executive 
department or agency with law enforcement or antiterrorism functions to 
designate a privacy and civil liberties officer. H.R. 1 includes each 
and every one of these provisions.
  Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the many provisions included in 
H.R. 1 that will help secure our nation and I strongly support the 
passage of this legislation today. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

                          ____________________