Chuck Schumer: “I want to briefly answer my colleagues. Of course, I have tremendous respect for what they have done and are trying to…”

“I want to briefly answer my colleagues. Of course, I have tremendous respect for what they have done and are trying to do. It is certainly true that my colleague from Minnesota was the first to talk about the system in Hong Kong. I will make two points. First, it is true that we will put mandates here in the United States. We have them in New York in one of our ports. One, it is not close to being as sophisticated, effective, or as speedy as what is done in Hong Kong. It is not as good a system. Second, we don't have to debate the technicality of the system. We all know, as my friend from Minnesota said, that we have to push this outward, because if a nuclear weapon is on a container or a ship in New York Harbor that hasn't docked or been unloaded onto a truck and it explodes, the same terrible consequences exist for the people of New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, or anywhere else that has a major port. I will make one other point. My colleagues argue for patience. My colleagues argue we have to do this in a certain way. If this were 1 year after 9/11, or 2 years after 9/11, I would agree. In fact, I did. I wanted to offer amendments like this 2, 3, and 4 years ago. But I believe this. I believe nothing will get homeland security and the shipping industry and the world community to act and get something done better than a mandate.…”