Keeping American Ports Secure: Good News on the Homeland Security Front
Washington,
Sep 25, 2006 -
The people I represent in the Fifth District of New Jersey remember all too
well the events of September 11, 2001. Living in the shadows of the former
World Trade Center as well as three major airports, the second busiest port
in the nation, and a number of national landmarks like the Statue of Liberty
- the threat of another terror attack looms large. Ensuring that our
government is doing its best to prevent terror attacks and prepare should
the worst occur is more than just an important part of my work here in
Washington; it's a critical matter of life and death for my neighbors and
fellow New Jerseyans.
Last Wednesday, I toured Newark Seaport with U.S. Customs and Border
Protection to assess current procedures and technologies used to detect and
prevent threats. While there is still much to do to make our port security
airtight, what I saw on this tour was encouraging. Terrorists consistently
alter their techniques and targets to keep America guessing where and when
we might be most vulnerable. We must remain one step ahead of them, and the
funding we have allocated toward port security has been put to good use to
keep us in that position.
When we awoke to the very real dangers of the contemporary world on
September 11th, 2001, we were shocked to discover the dangers hidden in our
unsecured trade infrastructure. Today, we have a layered approach to port
security that has significantly increased our safety - an approach that is
improving daily with the development of new tools and methods to ensure that
our trade is safe, yet efficient.
One-hundred percent of containers shipped to the U.S. receive a risk
assessment. Each container must have a detailed manifest that accurately
depicts what is being shipped. We know who is sending and receiving each
container, we have detailed data on their shipping habits, and we can
prioritize our inspection efforts.
The threat of weapons of mass destruction has led to the effort to "push our
borders out," even to the manufacturers who build products for U.S.
consumption. We now have CBP officers at 44 ports around the world - up
from zero in 2001. By the end of this year, CBP will be at 50 ports
worldwide, representing 90% of all trade bound for the U.S. These officers
work with host countries to inspect containers before they are even loaded.
Radiation detectors at these ports ensure that each truck entering the port
is scanned for the most dangerous of weapons.
Terrorists seek to exploit the weakest links and find the easiest ways to
gain access to our nation. Our allies and trading partners have recognized
the great risk to worldwide trade posed by terrorists and are volunteering
for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. This effort allows us
to work with shippers and manufacturers to secure all aspects of trade from
the factory to railcars and trucks to the ports. By strengthening security
before shipping even reaches stateside ports, we make our ports dramatically
safer.
After the attacks on September 11th, the Federal government invested
millions into new technologies to enhance port security. Scanning equipment
that was unheard of five years ago is now installed and working in our
ports. The latest scanning technology cannot only detect radiation, but
also the type of radiation present and even view inside the container with a
single sweep. A process that used to take three separate steps, now takes
one, giving agents the resources and time to scan even more containers.
Furthermore, in New Jersey, researchers at Rutgers University have
established a multi-disciplinary Port Security Laboratory and research
program. They are utilizing Homeland Security funds to develop still better
detection devices and track containers and ships. Private companies, such
as SI International, that have been engaged in some of the greatest advances
in military technology are turning to homeland security technology and
coming up with even better innovations. I applaud all of these bright minds
for their efforts to make America safer. It makes me sleep better to know
that American ingenuity is hard at work to protect us through our ports.
While we have come a long way in port security, we will not idle. Earlier
this year, I supported additional funds for port security -- $1.2 billion
more, in fact. And, I was pleased to support the Security and
Accountability for Every Port Act to continue to improve safety at our
ports. We must continue to invest in our nations' safety and must never
forget that homeland security interests always take precedence over trade
interests. We must ensure that our Homeland Security officials have the
resources to prevent terrorists from using our global trade system to take
the lives of Americans.
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