    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 17 (Monday, May 3, 1999)]
    [Pages 755-756]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    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:
    <bullet>    An analysis of the nature and extent of serious crime and an
                assessment of the overall state of security in U.S.
                seaports;

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    <bullet>    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;
    <bullet>    An assessment of the nature and effectiveness of the ongoing
                coordination among the Federal, State, and local government
                agencies; and
    <bullet>    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.