Mr. Speaker,  today I rise in strong support of the SAFE Port Act. As a Member of the Homeland Security Committee and an original cosponsor of this legislation, I understand that port security IS national security. Nearly all of the foreign imports that enter this country come through our seaports, and we must know who is handling cargo and what goods are being shipped.

The Port of Providence is located in my district in Rhode Island.  Every year, a wide variety of goods come through the port, including machinery, lumber, and steel products.  It is essential to my constituents that our port is secure to prevent unauthorized materials from being smuggled into our country.  The SAFE Port Act adds the needed protections and resources to keep us safe.  
I’m pleased that this bipartisan legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a strategy for cargo and maritime security. 

This plan will help prepare us for any scenario, as well as create a plan for quickly resuming commerce in the event of an attack. The legislation doubles the authorized level of port security grants to $400 million.  By creating a dedicated funding stream, our ports will no longer be competing with other critical infrastructure for scarce funds. The bill also establishes new security standards for all cargo containers entering the U.S.

Unfortunately, the bill does not go as far as I would like in this area. I am disappointed that the Nadler-Oberstar-Markey Amendment was not made in order under the rule.  I urge my colleagues to support the Motion to Recommit to ensure the scanning of every cargo container at foreign ports and make a good bill even better. As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack, I’m pleased that this legislation authorizes the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office for the first time. 

This important office will oversee the country’s global nuclear detection efforts and ensure that the best technology is deployed to find nuclear materials before they enter our borders. I still believe there is more work to be done, and I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that DNDO has the funds needed to fully deploy radiation detectors at our borders and ports as soon as possible.  We cannot afford to wait any longer. 

Overall, this bipartisan legislation is an important step towards securing our ports, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the SAFE Port Act.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.