House Democratic leader’s staff clarifies container remark

House Democratic leader’s staff clarifies container remark    Christopher L. Koch, president and chief executive officer of the World Shipping Council in Washington D.C., told Shippers’ News Wire that WSC representatives have met with staff members of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, to clarify a comment about containers made by Pelosi as part of the Democratic response to President Bush’s State of the Union message.
   Pelosi, on Jan. 20, had said, “100 percent of containers coming into our ports and airports must be inspected.”
   Koch said the WSC had received “numerous inquiries” from the transportation industry about Pelosi’s remark. “Her staff confirmed that the proposal was for 100 percent radiation screening inspection, not 100 percent physical or VACIS container inspection,” Koch explained.
   “I understand that 100 percent radiation screening is also U.S. Customs’ objective,” Koch said. “This will present some challenges as well.”
   Pelosi’s offices estimated that the radiation screening will cost the government $100 million.
   The World Shipping Council is a trade association of 40 liner-shipping companies.