[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
[April 27, 1999]
[Pages 649-650]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 649]]


Memorandum on Establishment of the Interagency Commission on Crime and 
Security in U.S. Seaports
April 27, 1999

Memorandum for the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary 
of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of 
Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of 
Transportation, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, United States Trade 
Representative, Director of National Drug Control Policy, Chief of Staff 
to the President, Director of Central Intelligence, Assistant to the 
President for National Security Affairs, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff

Subject: Establishment of the Interagency Commission on Crime and 
Security in U.S. Seaports

    United States seaports are an integral part of our Nation's 
commerce. Too often, however, they tend to be a major locus of crime, 
including drug trafficking, cargo theft, and smuggling of contraband and 
aliens. Moreover, the criminal conspiracies often associated with these 
crimes can pose threats to the people and critical infrastructures of 
seaport cities.
    Many government agencies at the Federal, State, and local level are 
addressing this significant problem, at times in partnership with the 
private sector. I have determined that the Nation needs a comprehensive 
review of the nature and extent of seaport crime and the overall state 
of security in seaports, as well as the ways in which governments at all 
levels are responding to this problem.
    Therefore, I hereby direct as follows:
    1. The Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General and the 
Secretary of Transportation, in cooperation with other heads of 
executive departments and agencies as appropriate, shall establish the 
Interagency Commission on Crime and Security in U.S. Seaports 
(hereinafter, the Commission).
    2. The Commission shall be comprised of not more than 25 members and 
shall be co-chaired by 3 Federal officials, one of whom shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury, one of whom shall be 
appointed by the Attorney General, and one of whom shall be appointed by 
the Secretary of Transportation.
    3. The Commission members shall include senior officials of: the 
Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, Agriculture, 
Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Transportation; the 
Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Management and Budget, 
the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Central Intelligence 
Agency, the National Security Council, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
All members of the Commission shall be full-time Federal employees.
    4. The Commission shall undertake a comprehensive study of the 
nature and extent of the problem of crime in our seaports, as well as 
the ways in which governments at all levels are responding. The study 
shall address all serious crime relating to the maritime context, 
including but not limited to drug trafficking, cargo theft, and the 
smuggling of contraband and aliens. Moreover, the study shall carefully 
examine the role of internal conspiracies often associated with such 
crime in seaports, including the potential threats posed by terrorists 
and others to the people and critical infrastructures of seaport cities.
    5. In the course of its work, the Commission shall seek input from, 
and take full account of, the expertise and views of the many different 
State and local government agencies with relevant responsibilities, as 
well as the involved private sector interests.
    6. The Commission shall complete its work within 1 year of the date 
of its establishment. On or before that date, the Commission shall 
submit a report to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, 
and the Secretary of Transportation, including the following:
    An analysis of the nature and extent of serious crime and an 
            assessment of the overall state of security in U.S. 
            seaports;
    An overview of the specific missions and authorities of 
            Federal agencies with relevant responsibilities, together 
            with a description in general terms of the typical roles 
            played by State and local agencies as well as by the private 
            sector;

[[Page 650]]

    An assessment of the nature and effectiveness of the ongoing 
            coordination among the Federal, State, and local government 
            agencies; and
    Recommendations for improving the response of Federal, 
            State, and local governments to the problem of seaports 
            crime.
    7. Within 3 months of the submission of the Commission's report, the 
Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of 
Transportation shall forward the report, together with their joint 
recommendations, to the Chief of Staff to the President for final review 
and appropriate action.
    8. The Secretary of the Treasury shall appoint an Executive Director 
who will oversee the support staff and a working group to be established 
to further the work of the Commission. The Executive Director shall 
report directly to the Co-Chairs of the Commission.
    9. With the exception of the personnel costs (including the salaries 
and any necessary travel expenses) of the members of the Commission and 
the working group, which shall remain the responsibility of their parent 
agency, the Department of the Treasury shall fund the Commission, 
including all costs for support staff, office space, and logistics.

                                                      William J. Clinton

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this memorandum.