Port Deal Jeopardizes our Homeland Security

Port Deal Jeopardizes our Homeland Security

"This agreement outsources our homeland security"

February 21, 2006

(Miami, FL) -- Rep. Wasserman Schultz lashed out at the dangerous precedent being set by the Bush administration's approval of a deal that would put the United Arab Emirates in charge of operations at six of the United State's largest ports, including the port of Miami.

"The decision by the Bush administration to approve the sale of operations at six major U.S. ports, including the port of Miami, to the United Arab Emirates jeopardizes the safety of every American," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. "This agreement outsources our homeland security to a country with a spotty record in fighting terrorism."

"Our nation's ports are not the equivalent of a call-center," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. "These are major border crossings where millions of cargo containers and passengers travel through each year. Port operators are responsible for cargo inspection, the security of the port facility, and the hiring of personnel. We cannot approve this contract without additional review. These operations are the front line of defense and security of our ports and require the utmost scrutiny in considering who should manage them.

The word that this contract had been approved caught many members of Congress off guard, particularly Congressional Democrats who have been pushing for a greater commitment to funding needed port security measures.

"It would be one thing if the Department of Homeland Security screened all of the cargo coming into our ports," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. "The fact of the matter is that only five percent of cargo entering through our nation's ports gets screened. This means that at the current level of inadequate port security we are placing a great deal of trust in the port operators to be partners in the fight against terrorism."

"At a time when 95 percent of the cargo entering our nation's ports is unscreened we should be increasing security at our ports, not simply outsourcing it to the highest bidder," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz.

Rep. Wasserman Schultz also noted that a security breach or other incident at the Port of Miami would have a broad and negative impact on the economy in South Florida.

"At the Port of Miami alone we have over six million passengers who travel through the port, largely to go on cruises," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. "Anything that jeopardizes the safety and security of operations at the Port of Miami threatens the cruise industry and the thousands of jobs and millions of dollars a year that it generates for the economy of South Florida."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/fl20_schultz/UAEPortdeal.html