Bill Nelson: “I commend and thank the chairman of the committee, the Senator from Maine, and the ranking member, the Senator from…”

“I commend and thank the chairman of the committee, the Senator from Maine, and the ranking member, the Senator from Connecticut, because they have already approved and passed last evening an amendment I had offered which will be very helpful as we try to meet this threat of terrorism. Indeed, we have a watch list. Recent news stories say the watch list is not necessarily being implemented as it should by the Department of Homeland Security. Nevertheless, we try. That watch list has been specifically targeted to commercial aviation. The watch list needs to be expanded because there is plenty of opportunity of mischief, as I have said in this Chamber many times, with regard to the securing of our seawater ports and, specifically, in addition to cargo, the cruise ship industry and the thousands of people who vacation on a cruise ship. This is particularly important to my State of Florida because we have the three largest cruise ports in the world: the Port of Miami, Port Canavaral, and Port Everglades, all on the east coast of Florida and all of which have these gigantic cruise ships that sail to the great delight of the passengers.”