March 6, 2006
Homeland In-Security Watch, #1: Port Security
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT
From the DNC:
Washington, DC- Karl Rove and the Republicans argue that the issue of security will propel them to victory in 2006, but the truth is Republican leaders have been weak on security. Four years after 9/11, President Bush and Republicans in Congress have demonstrated a pre-9/11 mentality and made the wrong choices, which have made America less safe. In fact, according to recent national polls, the American people no longer believe Republicans can keep them secure.
Each day, the Democratic National Committee will issue a "Homeland In-security Watch" to spotlight specific security lapses that have occurred under the watch of the Bush White House and the Bush-led Republican Congress.
Our inaugural installment focuses on the Bush Administration's failures to make our nation's ports safe and secure. Democrats have long argued that the White House is dangerously under-funding port security and also fought to increase funding for border security and cargo inspection.
"Republicans simply can't be trusted to make the right decisions when it comes to security and keeping Americans safe," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. "Americans trusted the Bush White House and the Bush-led Congress to protect their security, but were instead given only tough talk and recycled rhetoric. Democrats believe America can do better than a Congress that rubberstamps the Bush Administration's incompetence. Democrats will continue with our efforts to make sure our ports and borders are secure, and make homeland security a real priority."
Port Security: A House Of Cards
DHS Report Card: Bush Administration Gets "C-/D+" on Port Security; Bush Port Policies A "House of Cards." The Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security's annual report card on the Department of Homeland Security gave the department a C-/D+ on its port security policies. They called the current port security regime a "house of cards," and noted that containers arriving at American ports are rarely inspected and that the Department "remains unaware of security arrangements at foreign ports and vessels shipping goods to the United States." In addition to the threats millions of Americans face as a result of the Bush White House's failed port policies, it was estimated that "a terrorist attack at a major U.S. seaport would cause $60 billion in economic damages." [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]
Bush Budget Shortchanges Port Security:
- Bush Budget Forces Ports To Compete With Rail, Mass Transit For
Funds. President Bush's FY07 budget "eliminates the port security
grant program, the only source of funds committed to help ports pay
for post-9/11 security requirements." And, instead of funds set aside
specifically for ports, the White House "has proposed $600 million
in Targeted Infrastructure Protection Program (TIPP) grants, forcing
ports to compete with rail, mass transit, and other critical infrastructure
for funding." [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security,
Annual Report Card, 2/06]
- Bush Budget Does Not Address Needed Screening For Nuclear Weapons
And Dirty Bombs. The Bush Administration has also not done enough
to make sure that containers arriving at our ports are checked. Seventy-five
percent of our ports do not have the ability to screen a container
for dirty bombs or nuclear weapons. But, President Bush "requested
only $157 million for radiation portal monitors, which means U.S.
seaports will not have the ability to screen containers for nuclear
weapons." [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security,
Annual Report Card, 2/06]
- Bush Budget Fails The Coast Guard. Finally, the President's FY07 budget only requested a little more than $934 million for the Coast Guard's Deepwater program, which delays "by twenty-five years the overhaul of the Coast Guard's cutters and aircraft, which are used to patrol and protect our ports and coastline." [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]
Coast Guard Unequipped To Check On Security At Foreign Ports. The Coast Guard is underequipped to complete "compliance checks at foreign ports to ensure that our allies are implementing security measures. Currently, the Coast Guard has twenty people assessing security at 135 foreign ports." [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]
Democrats Continue To Fight To Keep America Safe, While Republicans Have Consistently Blocked Needed Port Security Reforms
Since 9/11, Republicans have blocked Democratic efforts to strengthen the security of our nation's ports.
Senate Republicans Voted Against $150 Million for Port Security Grants to Help Reduce U.S. Vulnerabilities. In 2005, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment to the FY 2006 Budget Resolution to provide an additional $855 million in homeland security funding, including $150 million for port security grants. [Vote 64, 3/17/05]
Senate Republicans Voted Against $150 Million To Develop Equipment To Detect Nuclear Weapons Hidden In Containers In U.S. Ports. In 2004, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment to the FY 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations bill to provide an additional $150 million to develop equipment to detect nuclear weapons hidden in containers entering U.S. ports. [Vote 166, 9/8/04, Associated Press, 9/10/04]
Senate Republicans Voted Against $142 Million For The Coast Guard,
Along With Port And Maritime Security Grants. In 2003, Senate Republicans
voted against an amendment to the FY 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations
bill to increase funding for port and maritime security grants by $100
million and funding for Coast Guard operations and security by $42
million. [Vote 300, 7/24/03]
Senate Republicans Voted Against $238 Million To Improve Port And
Border Security, Despite $1 Billion In Requests From Ports. In
2003, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment to the FY 2004
Homeland Security Appropriations bill to increase overall homeland
security spending by $1.75 billion, including $238.5 million for port
and border security. Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) said, "The Transportation
Security Administration received over $1 billion of applications from
the ports for the limited funding that was approved by Congress last
year." [Vote 291, 7/22/03;
Congressional Record, 7/22/03]
Senate Republicans Voted Against $1.13 Billion For Homeland Security,
Including Funding To Strengthen Security At The Nation's Ports.
In 2003, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment to the FY 2003
War Supplemental to provide $1.13 billion for spending on port security,
mass transit security and other homeland security spending. [Vote 120, 4/3/03]
Senate Republicans Voted Against $1 Billion To Improve Port Security,
Including The U.S. Customs Service And Grants To States And Localities. In
2003, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment to the FY 2003
War Supplemental to provide a total of $1 billion for port security,
including the Customs Service, the Transportation Security Administration,
grants to states and localities, and the Coast Guard. [Vote 115, 4/2/03]
House Republicans Voted To Kill An Amendment To Add $250 For Port
Security Grants. Republicans voted to kill a Democratic amendment
that would add $2.5 billion for homeland security, including $250 million
for port security grants, $800 million for first responder grants,
and $150 million for research to develop capabilities against chemical
weapons. [HR 1559, Vote #104, 4/3/03]
House Republicans Voted Against Increased Port Security. In 2005,
Republicans voted against an alternative Homeland Security Authorization
proposal that would commit $41 billion to securing the nation from terrorist
threats - $6.9 billion more than the President's budget. The proposal
called for an additional $400 million in funding for port security, including
$13 million to double the number of new overseas port inspectors provided
for in the President's budget. The proposal addressed the holes in securing
the nation's ports by requiring DHS to develop container security standards,
integrate container security pilot projects, and examine ways to integrate
container inspection equipment and data. Currently DHS, has three very
similar container security pilot projects that are not coordinated in
any fashion, resulting in wasted money and redundant efforts. Finally,
the plan required DHS to conduct a study of the risk factors associated
with the port of Miami and ports in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean,
including the U.S. Virgin Islands. The alternative plan failed, 196-230.
[HR 1817, Roll Call #187, 5/18/05; Committee on Homeland Security
Minority Office, http://www.house.gov/hsc/democrats/]
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT