DeGette Urges High Level of Scrutiny to Protect our Ports

DeGette Urges High Level of Scrutiny to Protect our Ports

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO), expressed concern about a Bush Administration proposal to hand over operations of several major United States seaports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates.

"After 9/11, it is incumbent upon our federal government to do everything possible to protect our seaports and borders," said Rep. DeGette, "I am concerned that the Administration has not conducted the necessary rigorous oversight of this proposal."

As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Rep. DeGette has participated in several Congressional hearings on port security issues in the United States.

"As we learned at these hearings, our ports are still not secure, we are still not adequately inspecting cargo, and the administration's efforts have been woefully inadequate. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to provide the highest level of scrutiny on port security issues and ensure that any proposal to hand over operations of our ports meets the highest security standards."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/co01_degette/portsecuritypr.html