Issue Position: Port Security

Issue Position

America's ports are the gateway to the global economy. Our country's economic prosperity rests on the ability of tens of thousands of containers arriving unimpeded at U.S. ports to support the "just-in-time" delivery system that stock the shelves of Wal-Mart, Target, and Home Depot, to name a few. Not only do our ports support our retail economy, but they also serve as the entry point for America's oil and gas supply. In addition, America's ports and waterways carry over thirty-four million citizens a year on cruise ships and ferries. According to the American Association of Port Authorities, ports generate five million jobs and move more than $2 trillion in freight every year.

The economic consequences of a disruption to our ports, combined with the loss of life caused by an attack, could serve the purposes of groups like Al-Qaeda who want to kill Americans and hurt the U.S. economy. A terrorist attack involving a nuclear weapon detonated at a port could result in a substantial loss of life and an economic damage of $1 trillion

I joined millions of Americans who were shocked to learn that the President had approved the sale of several terminals at major U.S. ports to a United Arab Emirates government-controlled company without any substantial review of national security threats. The deal would have transferred to the company some responsibility of some port operations in Gulfport. As Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I worked with my colleague Peter King, the Republican Chairman of the Committee, to introduce legislation to make sure that this deal did not go through without a serious review of our national security. We were ready to act if the President did not to make sure that U.S. ports were as secure as they needed to be.

Much more must be done if America's ports and supply chain are going to be as secure as they can be against the threat of international terrorism. Both the Coast Guard and Customs must be given the manpower, equipment, and technology to do their jobs. It is shameful that the Coast Guard only has a handful of inspectors worldwide to inspect international ports and make sure they have security measures in place for the stuff they send to the U.S. If defending the country against terrorist threats is the primary responsibility of the federal government, then the Department of Homeland Security cannot leave our ports alone with the check.

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