Port Security

PORT SECURITY -- (House of Representatives - February 28, 2006)

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the idea that any foreign government could control our ports sets off alarm bells for many Americans. And it ought to. Our Nation's ports are among our most critical infrastructure.

And that is why I cannot fathom why the Bush administration would willingly transfer the operation of 20 U.S. ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates, a country who may be an ally today but has had a checkered past when it comes to supporting terrorism. In approving the transaction, we see once again how the administration conducts business behind a veil of secrecy, cutting corners, failing to follow the law and acting at the behest of not the American citizens but industry. Indeed, they only agreed to the 45-day review the law requires after the company suggested it. And while mid-level officials were signing off on this deal, the President was nominating a top DP World executive to serve in his administration, a blatant conflict of interest.

Mr. Speaker, despite the fact that Dubai Ports World says there will be a firewall between the company and its U.S. ports, make no mistake, their employees will be operating these ports as of Thursday.

And whether the issue is ports, the Iraq War, the wiretapping of American citizens, what concerns me is this Republican Congress has never once asked this administration the tough questions. It has to. Congress must not once again give in to a policy that is clearly not in the public interest.

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