Bob Filner: “The motion that the House has before it is really very simple. It instructs the House conferees on the Coast Guard and…”

“The motion that the House has before it is really very simple. It instructs the House conferees on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act to insist on our House provision on section 415. Section 415 simply clarifies that all foreign-flag vessels that may be involved in a security incident in the United States must submit their vessel security plans to the Coast Guard for their review and approval before they enter the United States. It is pretty simple. We are trying to make sure that we do not have a terrorist incident caused by a ship coming to our shores. We have seen clear evidence that terrorists have the means and capability to use vessels as a weapon. We all know about the attack on the U.S.S. Cole. Most recently, insurgents in Iraq blew up their boat filled with explosives when a U.S. boarding team tried to inspect their vessel. Two members of our Navy and one member of the Coast Guard died in that attack.”