[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 2943]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       PORT SECURITY AND REPUBLICAN FAILURES TO SECURE OUR NATION

  (Mr. CARDOZA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, when the Bush administration learned that 
the American people wanted to allow the United Arab Emirates to operate 
U.S. ports, they were outraged. That outrage should be extended to this 
administration's pathetic record on securing our ports and our 
coastlines.
  Since September 11th, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, the 
Republican Congress has shortchanged America's seaports by more than $4 
billion in security improvements. It is because of this serious lack of 
funding that only 6 percent of the cargo coming into our ports is ever 
checked. Port security is so bad that in December, the 9/11 Commission 
gave this administration a grade of D for checked baggage and cargo 
screening.
  House Democrats have tried to increase port security funding on this 
House floor four times over the last 4 years, and House Republicans 
have defeated our efforts every single time.
  They are not through. Once again this year President Bush is 
proposing eliminating port security grants by rolling them into the 
larger program. This forces port officials to compete for funding 
against rail and mass transit programs. It's time that Republicans wake 
up and see the serious threat that is existing at our port facilities 
in America.

                          ____________________