SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES SEAPORT SECURITY BILL

SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES SEAPORT SECURITY BILL    The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation Thursday afternoon that calls for significant security improvements to the country’s 361 sea and river ports.
   Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, D-S.C., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, called the U.S. seaports “a gaping hole” in the country’s national security.
   “Our agents at the Mexican border near Tijuana will tear the seats out of a car to search for drugs — while a crane just up the coast in Los Angeles lifts thousands of truck-sized cargo containers onto the dock with no inspection at all,” he added.
   “For the first time we will require approval of seaport security plans, better coordination of law enforcement, more information about cargo, and directly fund more U.S. Customs agents and security screening equipment to protect against crime and terrorism threats,” Hollings said.
   Highlights of the Port and Maritime Security Act, S.1214, are:
   *Creation of local port security committees to coordinate efforts between federal (FBI, Coast Guard, Customs, and Immigration), state, local, and private law enforcement agencies;
   *Mandatory comprehensive security plans for all ports;
   *Limited access to “security-sensitive” areas in ports, restrictions on firearms and other weapons, evacuation plans, and employee background checks;
   *Electronic cargo manifests sent to ports before cargo is cleared to enter, and prohibitions on improperly documented cargo;
   *Improvements to requirements for reporting of crew members, passengers, and imported cargo to better track illegal activities;
   *A sea marshall program and Coast Guard authorization to board ships entering U.S.ports to deter hijackings or other terrorist activities;
   Hollings said that like the airport ticket tax, the users of the ports will directly pay for greater security. Cargo ships currently pay a tax on
the gross registered tonnage the ship can carry. That tax rate is expected to decline starting in 2003. However, the seaport security bill would extend the tax rate until 2006, and direct all revenue ($219 million) to increasing seaport security.
   To improve seaport security infrastructure, the bill directly grants and authorizes:
   *$390 million for grants to ports to upgrade security infrastructure, such as gates and fencing, and remote surveillance systems;
   *$166 million to back the $3.3 billion in loans and loan guarantees for port security infrastructure improvements over the next four years;
   Under the legislation, Customs will also receive additional funds to invest in new cargo screening technologies to detect dangerous shipments. The bill grants and authorizes:
   *$168 million to buy non-intrusive screening and detection equipment for Customs;
   *$145 million for fiscal 2002 to increase the number of Customs inspectors for screening cargo and to update the agency’s computer system; and
   *$75 million to fund the development of explosives and weapons screening technology for use at seaports.
   While the Port and Maritime Security Act was first approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in August, the legisiation was significantly expanded to cover potential terrorist activities after Sept. 11. Sen. Hollings and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., are credited with spearheading the seaport security legislation in the Senate.
   The House is expected to take up seaport security legislation after Congress returns to session in late January.