U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) has emerged as Congress' acknowledged leader for port security, earning grudging respect for what The Journal of Commerce calls her "persistence and bare-knuckle advocacy." The ranking Democrat on the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, she insists that funding the new initiatives required to upgrade port security is too big a job for just the private sector -which is where the Bush Administration is pushing responsibility. Murray believes that a substantial federal contribution needs to be made toward this new national imperative of securing our ports and trade lanes and that the federal government hasn't paid its fair share to date.

Earlier this year, when the Bush Administration refused to release the port security funding Murray had secured, she held up the confirmation of a top Bush official. The Administration relented, and the funding was sent to the ports.

In remarks to Cargo Security Forum USA in Washington, D.C. in October, Senator Murray described progress being made on port security.

I learned about the importance of trade and global commerce at a young age. When I was growing up, my dad ran a dime store on Main Street in Bothell, Washington. Several times a year, my dad would go to Seattle for trade fairs where he bought the products that were sold in the store. I knew that the price of those imports affected our family's ability to put food on the table. I've never forgotten that our quality of life depends on our ability to trade with other countries.

Today, Washington state is the most trade-dependent state in the nation. In fact, the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma comprise the third-busiest container load center in the nation.

Those of you who keep global commerce moving have built an efficient trade system that moves products quickly and at low cost. I want to work with you to improve cargo security while keeping the efficiency that makes us competitive.

As you know, after the attacks on September 11th, commercial air traffic was grounded. In addition to the horrible human toll of the attacks, we were also hit with enormous economic costs as a critical transportation mode was shut down. That hurt our economy, especially in the Pacific Northwest where our aviation industry experienced massive layoffs.

In the Senate, we began exploring areas that are vulnerable to terrorist threats. Port Security was high on the list. I'm concerned that a terrorist attack launched on - or through - our ports could shut down commerce for days or weeks and could have immense impacts throughout our economy.

We cannot understate the economic value of our container system. The United States receives six million containers and about $750 billion worth of cargo every year. Our ports have remained competitive because of the hard work of the entire port community, including the shipping industry, its workers, and federal and state agencies.

Operation Safe Commerce

I'd like to update you on some of the Port Security efforts underway in Congress, where I serve on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee and as the Ranking Member on the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee.

While our ports handle a high volume of containers, too often we don't know enough about what's in these containers, where they've come from, or where they're going. Yet we do know that some of the containers that pass through our ports each year originate in countries that have known terrorist activity.

Because it's not possible to physically inspect every single container, we've got to work smarter, not just harder. It's clear we need a system to help track and monitor container cargo from the point of origin to the ultimate destination.

We need a coordinated approach between federal agencies, the ports, shippers, operators, and shipping companies. It's going to take new thinking, new technology, and new partnerships. The improvements we make to the supply chain will also benefit American companies by boosting efficiency, improving tracking and reducing theft and loss.

Last year, I wrote and funded a new initiative called Operation Safe Commerce. Today, this pilot program is allowing our nation's three largest container load centers to monitor and track cargo. Operation Safe Commerce lays the foundation for a new national port security regime. The lessons it shows us will be applied throughout our nation's port system.

I want to point out that we did not tell the ports how to do it. We did not pick a specific technology or system in Washington, D.C. Instead, we said, - "Wwork together, come up with your best ideas, and we'll provide funding so you can test them out."

All partners will have to share the burden of improving security, and that means all partners will have to share the costs. We cannot force a new, unfunded mandate on the private sector and our ports alone. This is a national priority, and the federal government must pay its share.

That's why I'm very concerned about the Bush Administration's lack of funding for port security.

The Administration's budget cut funding forcompletely eliminated funding for Operation Safe Commerce from $35 million to just $2.5 million. The President's budget also eliminated and for direct security grants to ports. Despite the Administration's reluctance, I've worked in Congress to secure $17 million for Operation Safe Commerce and $125 million for direct security grants to ports. That funding became law on October 1st.

In addition, the Administration still has not adequately funded the Maritime Transportation Security Act, which became law one year ago. It's going to take pressure from the other partners in this effort to get the Administration to pay its share.

As we struggle to fund these programs, I'm pleased that many of you are working on your own efforts.

For example, the Port of Seattle is the first port in the nation to enter into formal partnerships with the government of Thailand and the Ports of Singapore and Hong Kong to demonstrate container security practices. This new system will catalog and inspect U.S.-bound cargo at foreign ports. It will allow U.S. authorities to track the shipments through their entry into the U.S. and onto their final destination.

All these entities are working together to create a system that parallels where the federal government is headed. This is a model for how our nation can improve port security, and I'm proud that my home ports are on the cutting edge of this effort.

So as you work on container security, I want to encourage you to cast a wide net in seeking partners. I also hope you'll communicate your concerns and ideas with your elected officials and the Administration.

Sidebar: 'Operation Safe Commerce' Elements

• Establishing new requirements for all participants in the supply chain that will allow federal agencies to get information to appropriately target suspicious cargo;

• Demonstration of "secure trading lanes" that ensures container security from point of origin to point of destination;

• Secure packing requirements for loading containers;

• Auditable security standards at docks, manufacturing plants or shipping facilities;

• Mechanical and/or electronic seals and devices intended to identify containers whose security has been compromised;

• Integrated communications systems to track cargo throughout the entirety of its journey;

• The transmission of tracking data in accessible format.
  
  

  Links

  • http://murray.senate.gov/portsecurity