[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE SCAN CONTAINERS ABSOLUTELY NOW (SCAN) ACT

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                            HON. JANICE HAHN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2015

  Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, after the tragic attacks on 9/11, Congress 
strengthened aviation security, which was the nature of the attacks 
against our country. While our aviation system is more secure--13 years 
later--we have not secured our nation's ports. Our ports are vulnerable 
to attacks.
  I represent the Port of Los Angeles and the communities that surround 
the port; I have the personal responsibility of keeping the people of 
my district safe.
  Top security experts recommend that shipping containers entering our 
nation's ports be scanned for radiological and nuclear materials and 
other potentially dangerous cargo. In addition, Congress passed laws 
requiring that 100 percent of all cargo be scanned by 2012. Today, 
three years after the deadline, we are scanning only 3 percent of 
incoming cargo.
  I firmly believe that responding to ongoing terrorist threats and the 
risk of nuclear proliferation should remain top national security 
priorities.
  The detonation of a nuclear device or ``dirty bomb'' at a port such 
as the Port of Los Angeles could cause a staggering loss of life. In 
addition, it could result in a West Coast or nationwide shutdown of all 
ports, which would cost the United States economy billions of dollars 
each day. The economic impact of port closure on supply chains was 
clearly demonstrated in 2002 when port workers were locked out for 8 
days at the West Coast Ports. That cost $1 billion per day.
  For these reasons, I am re-introducing the Scan Containers Absolutely 
Now (SCAN) Act. This bill would create a one-year pilot program at two 
United States ports to evaluate the process of 100 percent scanning of 
cargo containers and its potential use at all domestic ports.
  I previously introduced this in the 113th Congress. This 
reintroduction includes several improvements to give ports who wish to 
apply, more flexibility on the management of the security systems.
  We must take our responsibility to protect the nation seriously. We 
cannot allow inconvenience or shortsighted economic expediency to get 
in the way of keeping our nation's ports and citizens safe.

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