WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Dan Lungren (CA-03) testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today on the need for comprehensive sea port security legislation.

Congressman Lungren, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity, joined Congresswoman Jane Harman (CA-34), Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, and Senator Patty Murray (WA) this morning as the Senate Committee reviewed the GreenLane Maritime Security Act (S. 2459).  The GreenLane bill is co-authored by Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (ME), Committee Ranking Member Lieberman, Senator Norm Coleman (MN), and Senator Murray (WA).

Congressman Lungren and Congresswoman Harman are co-authors of H.R. 4954, the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act (the SAFE Port Act), companion legislation to the Senate’s GreenLane bill.

During his testimony Congressman Lungren praised the GreenLane bill’s authors and the Senate Committee’s efforts to address national seaport security, saying “your legislation is reflective of a common-sense approach to port security.   Pushing our shores out as far as possible through layered defenses and ensuring that the efficiency of our intermodal transportation system does not compromise American security, the “Greenlane Maritime Cargo Security Act,” enhances supply chain visibility and accountability by involving everyone in the supply chain.”

Similar to the Senate’s seaport legislation, Congressman Lungren told Committee Members that the SAFE Port Act, currently before the House Homeland Security Committee, “will strengthen the maritime transportation system through a multi-layered security strategy that builds on existing initiatives to secure the supply chain from the point of origin to delivery in the United States.  This legislation focuses on improving security, both at home and abroad, by expanding capabilities, maximizing available resources, and extending our borders outward to make our shores the last line of defense rather than the first.”

Congressman Lungren also reminded the Committee that “neither the GreenLane Act in the Senate, nor the companion SAFE Port Act in the House is an afterthought to the recent Dubai Port World controversy.  Congresswoman Harman and I began work on this important legislation months before the now defunct acquisition of U.S. port operations by the Dubai Ports World (DPW).  Similarly, Senator Collins, Senator Murray, Senator Coleman, and Senator Lieberman have long recognized the need for comprehensive port security legislation.  The public outcry over the DPW deal awakened the Congress and injected a sense of urgency in to the need for port security legislation.”

Legislative hearings on the SAFE Port act were held in the House Homeland Security Committee yesterday, April 4, 2006 and full Committee mark up is scheduled for the 26th of April.

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