March 8, 2006
GOP Congress Four Years Late And A Few Billion Short On Port Security
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT
From the DNC:
Washington, DC- While Republicans are finally joining Democrats in opposing the Bush Administration's deal to outsource the management of six of our nation's busiest seaports to a foreign government-owned company, they have yet to provide the funding necessary to secure our nation's porous ports. Despite President Bush's continued threat to veto any such bill, some House Republicans will attempt to "attach legislation to block the deal today to a must-pass emergency spending bill funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." [Washington Post, 3/8/06]
The move comes four years after September 11th and after four years in which Republicans in Congress have stood in the way of Democratic efforts to increase funding for port security and to provide much needed increases in funding for Homeland Security.
"When it comes to our port security, the Bush Republicans in Congress are four years late and a few billion dollars short," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. "Only after Democrats led the call for a thorough security review of the ports deal and after much public outcry, did Republicans see fit to pay attention to our nation's port security problems. Last minute legislation to scuttle this deal doesn't get the job done. Republicans in Congress must also join Democrats in providing the funding necessary to close the gaps in our nation's port and homeland security, and President Bush must take the concerns of the American people seriously. A veto threat does not keep Americans safe. We need to take action."
Republicans Repeatedly Blocked Democratic Efforts To Strengthen Our 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