Chuck Grassley: “the Senate is about to pass the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006. This important legislation is the result of…”

“the Senate is about to pass the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006. This important legislation is the result of months of hard work between the Committee on Finance, which I chair, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. I thank again Chairman Stevens and Chairman Collins, as well as Senator Coleman, Senator Inouye and Senator Lieberman, and of course Senator Baucus, the ranking member on the Finance Committee, for coming together with me to produce a significant and balanced piece of legislation that advances both the trade and economic security interests of our Nation. As I have noted previously, those who intend harm to our Nation seek to inflict economic as well as physical injury. We must be mindful of both concerns as we defend the homeland. I am pleased to say that we in the Senate have done our part. The committees of jurisdiction came together, worked together, and produced a bill that will empower the Department of Homeland Security, and in particular the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to better meet the dual responsibilities of securing the homeland and protecting the economic security of our Nation. Our legislation has been on the floor for a week, during which the Senate has worked its will. I look forward to working out our differences with the House so that we can get this legislation to the President's desk as soon as possible.…”