Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2005

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 -- (House of Representatives - June 18, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 675 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, H.R. 4567.

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, having heard the chairman's explanation, I was wondering if the gentlewoman from Texas could respond.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment. My colleagues, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Schrock), the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) and I represent the Richmond and Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Richmond is the home of the Port of Richmond. Hampton Roads is not only the home of the Port of Hampton Roads, but also the home of the world's largest Navy base and other strategic military installations, a nuclear power plant, and an oil refinery. It is considered one of the most target-rich areas of the Nation for terrorist attack. Each year over 2,500 commercial vessels enter the Port of Hampton Roads alone, so adequate funding for port security is a significant issue for those of us who live in Richmond and Hampton Roads.

To guard against vulnerabilities, such as cargo containers being used to smuggle chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, or the ships themselves being used as weapons, the Coast Guard has estimated it will cost approximately $1.1 billion to properly protect our ports from terrorism.

Congress has taken the lead in supporting port security grants by appropriating a little over $500 million since 9/11.
This bill contains another $125 million but still leaves us almost $500 million short of the Coast Guard analysis. The amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) would close the gap by an additional $275 million. These funds will ensure that ports will be able to pay for adequate security measures to protect all Americans against terrorist attacks from our seaports.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) for her detailed analysis that she has provided us which shows that even after the transfer, FEMA will have more money than it had last year even though it ran a surplus last year of over $500 million.

Furthermore, I want to thank the gentlewoman for pointing out that the $400 million is a small portion of the $16 billion in customs fees generated by the maritime industry. This bipartisan amendment is supported by the American Association of Port Authorities and the Port Security Council of America. I ask that we support the amendment.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield to the gentleman from California.

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.