Waiving Points Of Order Against Conference Report On H.R. 4954, Safe Port Act
WAIVING POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4954, SAFE PORT ACT -- (House of Representatives - September 29, 2006)
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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this consent agreement providing for the consideration of a conference report for the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act. This port security bill, which has been agreed to now by the conference committee, came as a result of House action that was made on May 4 that passed this House 421-2.
Mr. Speaker, I want you to know that there are four major provisions within this SAFE Act: number one, enhancing security at U.S. ports; number two, preventing threats from reaching the United States of America; number three, tracking and protecting containers en route to the United States; and, number four, establishing the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.
Mr. Speaker, we have spent a lot of time in this House of Representatives speaking about and working with our counterparts in the United States Senate as well as the administration on better ways that we can enhance port security. This conference report which we bring tonight, the last night before we go to recess, is an important victory for the American people. It stands to continue the safeguard position that this great Nation expects not only of its government but expects from the House of Representatives. I am proud that we are able to bring this bill forward tonight.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Florida has pointed up not only the hard work that we have been doing on this bill, bipartisan work for a number of years, but also really about the effort or the direction, the direction that we are aiming at. And, in fact, under this SAFE Port Act of 2006, we are setting a timeline by which 100 percent of all containers will be scanned for radiation, by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to set the timeline for deploying these radiation detectors.
Mr. Speaker, we are also making sure that we are adding the number of people to the Customs and Border Patrol who will conduct these validations. We are going to make sure that we continue to add, as necessary, the numbers of people pointed at the right direction.
The gentleman from Florida is correct: we are not exactly where we want to be. But for us to think that 100 percent of everything can just be done overnight is not the reality of where the threat is at this country. I believe this President, I believe this administration, I believe this Congress have been aware of the frailties of our systems. We are trying to match our dollars, the resolve of this great Nation, with the ability on all of our borders to be able to make sure that we are looking at the threats of the 21st century that come to us as a result of terrorist organizations. We want to make sure that by doing this bill tonight that we allow and put into motion the opportunity for the Department of Homeland Security to be better prepared to face those threats that come against the United States.
This passed 421-2. It is an indication, it was in May, that we are headed in the right direction. I am confident tonight that the final answer that comes from the negotiation with the Senate can be on the President's desk as early as tomorrow, ready and waiting to protect this country.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida, my friend, who has engaged this entire year in attempting to work with us the best as possible, despite some objections, on getting these bills to the floor.
The Rules Committee does have a job to do. That is our job tonight. Our job is to make sure that this rule is brought forward. I am asking all Members to vote ``aye'' on the previous question, to vote ``aye'' and then to get this bill on the floor with an overwhelming bipartisan vote, 421-2 the last time we voted on this bill.
It is the right thing. It makes sure that we provide the tools that are necessary to the President of the United States effective immediately. I think we are going to get it done, Mr. Speaker. I am very proud of the work that is happening in the U.S. House of Representatives.
I am proud to know that tonight we will be through, we will be home, we will be with our families, but we should not leave until we get our work done, and that we are doing.
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