Patty Murray's Washington View

PATTY MURRAY'S WASHINGTON VIEW
U.S. Senator Patty Murray's Weekly Report to the People of Washington - July 2, 2004

Seattle: Working for Improved Port Security

In June 2002, Congress passed the Maritime Transportation Security Act. It required ports and vessels to implement their Coast Guard-approved security plans by July 1st, 2004. 95 percent of the cargo entering our nation's ports enters by ship, and we've known since 9/11 that we've needed to improve our ability to secure these shipments. The measures called for in the Maritime Transportation Act will allow our ports to deter threats, and will create a greater framework for coordinated response in the event of an attack.

On Tuesday, I received a private briefing from officials at the Port of Seattle, and viewed a demonstration of technology that will help make our ports safer. Also joining me at the event was Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY). I asked Senator Clinton to join me to discuss our shared desire to improve security at ports across the country.

Our state's ports are the lifeblood of our economy, as one out of every three jobs in Seattle is dependent on international trade. I want to make sure that our people, our jobs and our economy are well-protected from terrorist attacks, and that we can continue to do our work safely and efficiently.

Get the full details on my work for more secure ports: