Security and Accountability for Every Port Act

SECURITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERY PORT ACT -- (House of Representatives - May 04, 2006)

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Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, first of all I want to thank the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee and the ranking member, Mr. Thompson, for allowing me to present this particular amendment. I believe this amendment is acceptable to both gentlemen.

Ensuring national security and promoting economic trade is critical to our Nation's future. Balancing security aspects while maintaining the efficient flow of trade at the United States land ports is critical.

My amendment provides that the Secretary of Homeland Security look at the challenges for implementing border security programs while not hindering or negatively impacting the flow of trade and business at land ports. This is critical to land ports because in 2004, for example, the top 10 U.S. land ports for land trade with Canada and Mexico totaled over $635 billion. Land ports handle more than 20,000 containers coming through international ports of entry every day.

The Port of Laredo in my hometown, for example, is the fourth busiest port overall in the United States, and the Nation's busiest inland port with $131 billion worth of goods and merchandise processed in 2004 alone.

The Transportation Bureau of Statistics report for Laredo for 2004 reveals crossings of over 1.4 million commercial trucks, 3,400 trains with 317,000 containers, 38,000 buses, 4.5 million pedestrians, and 6.7 million private vehicles that cross the Laredo area.

These statistics show the urgent need to examine and address the unique security challenges faced at land ports. H.R. 4954 is a good bill, and I certainly support this bill. I hope we can add this amendment, which is acceptable to both the chairman and the ranking member.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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