News Release

WASHINGTON – The House today gave final approval to a provision by U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) to provide an additional $15 million for radiation detection equipment at ports and border crossings around the globe.

Spratt’s provision is part of the defense authorization bill, and Spratt was a member of the conference committee that worked out the final legislation. The bill now goes to the White House for the President’s signature.

“Our committee hearings this year highlighted the vulnerability of our ports to terrorists,” said Spratt.  “Only four to five percent of cargo entering the United States is physically inspected.  We’ve got to rely on technology like radiation detection equipment to cover the rest.”

Spratt’s provision partially restores funding for the “Megaports” program, which helps countries upgrade their radiation detection capabilities at ports and border crossings. Spratt offered the provision because the President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2007 cut the Megaports program by some $33 million.

“By helping our trading partners strengthen their ports and borders, we help ourselves, stopping weapons before they reach our shores,” Spratt said.

In addition to the Megaports money, the defense authorization bill includes $20 million that Spratt negotiated for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative, a program to secure and dispose of nuclear materials, many bomb-grade, at vulnerable research reactors around the world, some secured by nothing more than a chain link fence.

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