WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today passed sweeping port security legislation, the Safe Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Act), which represents a groundbreaking bi-partisan agreement among more than eight Congressional Committees and the House of Representatives. The bill will strengthen port security across the nation by establishing innovative programs to enhance the ability to protect our borders and preserve the flow of commerce. 

“Our nation’s ports have become enormous security operations,” said Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), a sponsor of the bill.  “To fully address security of our ports, it is important that we appreciate the impact security requirements might have on economic efficiencies in transportation and trade. We must strive to be a secure state without becoming a security state.”

This bill provides for a number of strategic maritime security measures that will improve policies, procedures and communications among federal agencies as well as key public and private sector stakeholders.  For example, the legislation calls for policies in the event of a maritime transportation incident or disruption, identifies procedures for a lead agency and requires development of a plan to resume trade in the case of such an event.  This bill furthers emergency communications by establishing interagency operational centers ensuring greater port security coordination among federal, state and local officials.  Additionally, this bill establishes timetables and procedures for expediting the nationwide launch of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), which will increase the security for workers in or around ports.  

The bill essentially “pushes our borders out” through the collection of information closer to the point of origin, and addresses needed improvements in the maritime sector by tightening security gaps in the international supply chain, neutralizing potential cargo risks before shipment to the U.S. The bill also establishes a number of programs designed to augment port security operations, such as the Container Security Initiative (CSI) which examines international cargo and identifies potential threats before any risky cargo reaches our shores.  The bill authorizes the establishment of a voluntary program, Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) to strengthen the international supply chain and border security, facilitate the movement of secure cargo and provide benefits to eligible participants.  The bill also improves upon existing practices by requiring a plan to examine containers entering the for radiation and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and by increasing the number of random searches using the Automated Targeting System (ATS).  The bill establishes several new offices within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate cargo policy and international trade policy to assure that appropriate emphasis is placed on security and trade aspects inherent in the maritime transportation sector.

Additionally, the following provision was included:

Warning, Alert, and Response Network (WARN)

*          WARN is a national system for the transmission of public safety alerts across a broad variety of communications technologies including wireless applications. 

*          Essentially this action moves the Emergency Alert System out of the broadcast radio and television era and into the wireless age.   

*          In addition to the threat posed by terrorist attacks, the system created by this amendment will give our emergency managers the ability to alert communities of other hazards such as natural disasters and manmade accidents.

*          The measure ensures that when disaster strikes, the wireless network will be used as a tool so that almost all Americans will be notified through radio, television and wireless communications devices, because there are over 200 million wireless subscribers in the .  

*          Additionally, capabilities will allow other emergency managers to reach individuals away from their TVs or radios with specific life saving instructions.