[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 100 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   GAUGING AMERICAN PORT SECURITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2012

  Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4005--
''Gauging American Port Security Act'' also known as the ``GAPS Act.'' 
I would like to thank Congresswoman Janice Hahn from California for her 
diligent work on this bill. I would also like to thank the efforts of 
the Committee on Homeland Security. This bill requires the Homeland 
Security Department, within one year of enactment, to conduct a study 
of the remaining gaps in port security in the United States and submit 
a classified report to Congress prioritizing these gaps and a plan to 
address them.
  As a New York City Member on the House Homeland Security Committee, I 
understand how important border security is and how threats to our 
national security need to be reduced. I will continue to work to ensure 
that our nation is better prepared to terrorist attacks at our ports.
  Ports are important to American commerce and a way to connect us to 
the rest of the world. We have more than 11 million cargo containers 
arrive in U.S. ports every year and we need to ensure that our ports 
are secure for this part of commerce.
  Congress needs to continue to focus on improving security on our 
borders, land and port. I fully believe that this is a step to 
improving our port security and H.R. 4005 will help the Homeland 
Security Department to come up with a plan that will help with these 
challenges at our ports. This plan will address threats we face at 
maritime borders by closing the gaps in our security at our Nation's 
ports. The benefit of this legislation will greatly outweigh the cost. 
It is a way for us to adequately invest in our response capacities and 
security to safeguard our citizens and economy.
  So today, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________