Congresswoman Laura Richardson Asks GAO to Examine Port Security Vulnerabilities

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Laura Richardson submitted a request to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine security vulnerabilities in our nation's ports.

"As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communication, I have been a strong advocate for ensuring the safety of our nation's ports. I have repeatedly asked the Secretary of Homeland Security when she has appeared before the committee on what the department has done to address risks at our ports. Unfortunately, the Department of Homeland Security has been inherently slow in addressing the need to scanning containers before they enter U.S. ports and have not made any substantial efforts to study what is needed to need to keep our ports safe from a terrorist attack. As a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I have been consistent and strong voice on port security and that is why I have asked the GAO to study security gaps that currently exist."

The GAO is the nonpartisan government agency that works for Congress to ensure that taxpayer funds are being used effectively and perform oversight on how well government programs and agencies are meeting their objectives.

"The GAO accepts requests from Ranking Members of committees of jurisdiction. My tenure in Congress and my leadership role on the Homeland Security Committee allows me the unique authority to request the GAO to study the vulnerabilities in our ports and whether the Department of Homeland Security has adequately addressed this need. Under House Republican leadership, only one bill that has been considered by the Homeland Security Committee has come to the House floor for a vote. We cannot afford to wait any longer to address vulnerability gaps in port security. That is why I have asked the GAO to examine this issue and report back to Congress on what vulnerabilities exist."

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