A vital act to secure our ports

Sept. 11, 2001, marked a turning point in how we think about national security. Our air, land and seaports are now on the front lines in the war on terrorism, and they are facing unique security challenges. Here in Southern California, our ports handle nearly half of all incoming cargo containers to the United States, helping move items including personal computers and fresh produce from ships to stores throughout the country.

Any disruption at our ports would cripple the economy and greatly affect American consumers. It is absolutely critical that ports be protected against shutdowns resulting from terrorist attacks or threats. That is why, on May 4, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved, the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act. This smart, bipartisan legislation secures cargo containers from their point of origin overseas all the way to our ports here at home, using a network of partnerships between our government, foreign governments and private industry to get the job done.

We know that the best way to secure our ports is to keep dangerous cargo from ever reaching them. The act requires the deployment of X-ray imaging and nuclear and radiological detection devices at foreign partner ports so that we can identify and stop dangerous materials before they reach the U.S. It also requires more data to be collected on 100% of the cargo that is screened at foreign ports to help better identify high-risk cargo containers for physical inspection.

Securing cargo containers also requires safeguards that target more than just the beginning and end of the journey to our ports. The act requires seals to be placed on all containers bound for the U.S. so that they won’t be tampered with, and it requires nuclear and radiological testing of 98% of incoming cargo before it is unloaded onto our shores.

The act also recognizes that the thousands of customs personnel, longshoremen, importers and exporters who work at our ports are an integral part of securing the homeland. It more than doubles annual funding for port security grants to help train personnel to prevent, prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks. It also restricts access to secure areas to trusted personnel who carry biometric ID cards.

Congress has a strong record of securing the homeland without locking the door to economic growth. The Security and Accountability for Every Port Act continues these important efforts.