Before Dubai: Greenlane Port Security Bill vs. Bush Cuts

[Coexist]

http://uspolitics.about.com/b/a/207615.htm
<snip>
In November, Sen. Pat Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act (S 2008), a bill to improve cargo security. Among its provisions: it sets minimum standards for securing containers in transit to an importer in the United States, including international standards for the security of containers moving through the international supply chain, and requires all containers entering the United States to be examined for radiation.

http://murray.senate.gov/news/051118-waview.pdf
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN02008:@@@X


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/259960_safeported.html
<snip>
It's ironic that the outcry developed just after President Bush released a budget request that seeks to eliminate federal grants to improve cargo security at Seattle and other vulnerable ports. Congress rejected that bad idea last year, but Bush might pull it off now with deficits mounting.


WHO'S YOUR DADDY, GEORGIE??!

[Coexist]

1. In the Bush budget - Port Security would have to compete for funds:

http://budget.senate.gov/democratic/press/2005/factsheet_bushfy06budgethomelandsecurity020805.pdf
<snip>
Port Security. The budget includes no specific amount for port security grants, which were funded at $150 million in 2005 (about 10 percent of what the Coast Guard estimated would be necessary in 2005 to meet the requirements of the Maritime Transportation Security Act). For 2006, the budget proposes a $600 million targeted infrastructure protection grant program that could be used to provide assistance to protect ports, non-aviation transportation systems, energy infrastructure and other infrastructure security needs as determined by DHS.


PORT SECURITY GRANTS

Section 102 of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (46 USC 70107) authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Maritime Administrator, to make port security grants to port authorities, facility operators, and state and local governments. These grants may be used to correct vulnerabilities in port security and ensure compliance with Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and facility plans. In fiscal years 2002 - 2005 a total of $738 million has been appropriated for these grants. In fiscal year 2005, $150 million was provided to the Department of Homeland Security for the program.

http://www.house.gov/transportation/cgmt/03-03-05/03-03-05memo.html
PORT SECURITY GRANTS

Section 102 of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (46 USC 70107) authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Maritime Administrator, to make port security grants to port authorities, facility operators, and state and local governments. These grants may be used to correct vulnerabilities in port security and ensure compliance with Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and facility plans. In fiscal years 2002 - 2005 a total of $738 million has been appropriated for these grants. In fiscal year 2005, $150 million was provided to the Department of Homeland Security for the program.

The President’s fiscal year 2006 request proposes to consolidate several security grant programs into one consolidated fund. Under the proposal, $600 million is included for the Transportation Infrastructure Protection program. Rail security, chemical plant security, transit security and others would compete with ports for security grants. In the Committee’s views and estimates statement, the Committee expressed support for maintaining a separate port security program which is authorized to be administered by the Maritime Administration.

[Coexist]

2. Hey - just got an email from Lou Dobbs (a mass one) - he is covering this!

can't link to my personal email - but here is the good part:

"Despite being our key defense against terrorism, the Coast
Guard hasn’t received the same level of funding as other areas
of Homeland Security. We’ll report on what the Coast Guard has
asked for in terms of funding versus what they’ve been given."

[Coexist]

3. shameless self-kick

I thought this was pretty important.
I guess this must be old news.