Conference Report on H.R. 2443, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004

CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2443, COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2004 -- (House of Representatives - July 21, 2004)

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 730, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 2443) to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2004, to amend various laws administered by the Coast Guard, and for other purposes.

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Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act.

It has been almost 3 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks, and we still do not have sufficiently detailed information about what enters our ports. We know that approximately 6 million shipping containers enter the United States each year, but we do not know what all these containers contain nor do we know what it would cost to inspect all of these containers.

We also know that approximately 6- to 7,000 ships enter the United States each year, but that figure refers mainly to deep-draft vessels. How many smaller ships, or break bulk vessels, enter our ports? We do not really know.

When this bill was considered in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure last year, I offered an amendment that was accepted by committee, asking the Coast Guard to do a study. I wanted to know a complete breakdown of the number and types of containers and ships that enter the United States each year. I also wanted to know the cost that would be incurred if we were to inspect adequately all of these containers and ships.

Once we understand the different elements of what enters our ports, we can establish a better baseline on what we are currently spending on port security. More importantly, we will have a better understanding of how we can improve port security and the cost that will be entailed with each type of improvement.

I am pleased that this port security study provision has been included in the final conference report that is before us today, along with additional reporting requirements regarding container security inserted by the Senate.

This is a good bill that will authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard. It has good provisions that will enable us to get a better handle on proper security in our ports, and I urge my colleagues to support its adoption.

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