Elijah Cummings: “as a co-sponsor of H.R. 4954, I rise today to express my support for the security improvements that this measure would…”

“as a co-sponsor of H.R. 4954, I rise today to express my support for the security improvements that this measure would require. In particular, this bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategic plan to resume trade in the event of some type of terrorist attack that disrupted international shipping to the United States. In addition to providing for national planning, this measure would also strengthen the Coast Guard's oversight of port facility security plans by requiring the Coast Guard to verify the effectiveness of each port's plan at least twice each year. Further, this measure would significantly increase funding for the federal grants that ports use to meet federal requirements for physical security on terminals, including perimeter security. Since 9/11, more than $20 billion in federal funding has been directed to aviation security while just over $630 million has been directed to port security. I am therefore pleased that H.R. 4954 would also increase the funding for port security grants by $200 million per year. Unfortunately, despite the improvements it would make, H.R. 4954 does not do all that could or should be done at this point to increase security at our ports. The recent discussion over the proposed sale of a terminal operating firm working at several U.S.…”