[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1151-E1152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SECURING MARITIME ACTIVITIES THROUGH RISK-BASED TARGETING FOR PORT 
                              SECURITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2012

  Mr. CONYERS. I rise today to provide some additional views on H.R. 
4251, the ``SMART Port Security Act.'' I strongly support many of the 
provisions in this bill, which will streamline and strengthen our 
Nation's port security. In particular, I am pleased to see that this 
bill makes needed reforms to the Transportation Worker Identification 
Credential (TWIC) program by streamlining and reforming the process of 
enrolling, issuing, and renewing worker credentials. This legislation 
will spare workers the financial and procedural burden of renewing 
their application until the Department of Homeland Security issues a 
final rule on biometric readers and implements the infrastructure 
needed to make the program fully functional.
  I want to express my concern about the possible consequences of 
Section 114 of the bill, which would create a new pilot program aimed 
at accelerating the deployment of medium-sized unmanned aircraft along 
the northern border. While improving our Nation's surveillance 
capabilities along our border is a laudable goal, law enforcement and 
border security officials have a responsibility to ensure that any use 
of drone technology in domestic airspace does not unnecessarily or 
illegally invade the privacy of ordinary citizens who happen to live 
close to the border.
  This legislation and the recent reauthorization of the Federal 
Aviation Administration are both components of a significant recent 
legislative effort aimed at significantly loosening

[[Page E1152]]

regulations and other legal barriers that have, until now, limited the 
deployment of drones domestically. Before this technology is deployed 
along the border and elsewhere within the United States, Congress must 
put in place common sense protections that ensure that the privacy and 
due process rights of Americans are protected. For example, drones 
should not be deployed for open ended surveillance or law enforcement 
purposes. If a drone will intrude on reasonable privacy expectations, a 
warrant should be required. Legal protections should be put in place 
that clearly outline how personally identifiable information is 
collected and retained by a drone program. The process by which our 
country develops these policies and protections should be transparent 
and include all stakeholders.
  This technology has the capacity to dramatically change the character 
of public life in our country. We must ensure that a legal structure is 
put in place that will allow us to reap the benefits of this 
technology, while still preserving the freedoms and values that make 
our country great.

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