Democrats' Efforts to Address Port Security

DEMOCRATS' EFFORTS TO ADDRESS PORT SECURITY -- (House of Representatives - March 02, 2006)

(Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, the United Arab Emirates port deal should never have been approved. Sure, the admission is now backpedaling, but despite this 45-day delay, the administration is still going to try to push this deal through.

It does not matter that the Coast Guard voiced concerns about the proposal before the administration initially approved the deal. It does not matter that large numbers of Democrats and Republicans have come out in opposition to the deal. It does not matter that the overwhelming majority of Americans do not support this deal and believe it to be dumb. Nor does it matter that the administration never checked with the affected communities before signing off on it. No, the Bush administration sees this 45-day period as an opportunity to steamroll Congress.

We simply cannot allow that to happen. Congress must play an active role in this decision. I hope, I really hope, that the House Republicans will join us in insisting that no deal move forward without a vote here on this floor. Democrats insist that in addition to the 45-day investigation there must also be a congressional vote. This is a national security decision, and it is simply too important for partisanship to take precedence over prudence.

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