Watson Coleman: “I say to my colleagues listening, the difference between the Menendez amendment and mine is America doesn't need another…”

“I say to my colleagues listening, the difference between the Menendez amendment and mine is America doesn't need another plan. There are some technical infirmities. There are some questions about what it may do in terms of our relations with other countries. Put all that aside. We don't need another plan. We need action. Maybe it is the ex-mayor in me. The underlying bill and the pilot project and the Coleman amendment will provide action. They put in place a pilot project to test how 100 percent scanning can work, and then it directs the Secretary to fully deploy, with a series of steps put in front of him, and then requires him to come back to Congress. It is not about planning, it is about action. The American public wants action. We are giving the action. We are strengthening our port security. We are putting in place a pilot project. We are directing the Secretary to ensure there is 100 percent screening of every high-risk container, and then requiring him to fully deploy an integrated scanning system 100 percent, lays out the conditions, and has him report back to us. I am not sure we can do any better today based on the technology we now have. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.”