Durbin Says Dubai Port Deal Must be Halted Until Congressional Review and Approval

DURBIN SAYS DUBAI PORT DEAL MUST BE HALTED UNTIL CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the deal approved by the Bush Administration to allow a Middle East company to run six U.S. ports must be halted until Congressional review and approval. Durbin issued the following statement:

"There is strong bipartisan support for immediate review of the deal approved by the Bush Administration to turn over the operations of six major U.S. ports to a company based in the Middle East."

"Republicans and Democrats have expressed concern about the sale and are proposing legislative action. I support legislation to block this deal until Congress has had an opportunity to review it and to vote on it. It is not unreasonable for Congress to examine the security aspects and the long-term policy that allows for the sale of our ports to companies owned by foreign governments."

"With all the focus on the Dubai issue in the past few days, it is important that we not overlook the real problems of securing our ports. Only six percent of the nine million containers arriving at U.S. ports are physically inspected each year and we are billions of dollars short in meeting critical port security needs."

"Until the Administration is willing to work with Congress to fund, equip and hire the needed personnel to protect our ports from terrorists, it will not matter if a U.S. or a foreign company is in charge."

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=251829&&