Pelosi: President's Backroom Deal Sheds Light on Port Insecurities

Pelosi: President's Backroom Deal Sheds Light on Port Insecurities

Washington, D.C. - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined other House Democratic leaders at a press stakeout this morning after the Democratic Caucus meeting to discuss port security. Below are Pelosi's remarks:

"As Members of Congress, we take an oath to protect and defend our country, our Constitution, and our people. The ports are our first line of defense in protecting our country.

"Port security under the Bush Administration is full of holes. The Administration's backroom port deal with Dubai sheds light on the insecurity of our ports. America can do better, we know that.

"For example, 100 percent of the cargo containers going into a terminal in Hong Kong are inspected, while only about 5 percent of the containers entering the United States are screened. Who thinks that's a good idea?

"To make matters worse, the Administration has rejected Congressmen Obey and Markey's initiatives to buy up all of the loose nukes left unsecured after the breakup of the Soviet Union. This is the single greatest threat to U.S. and world security, and yet this Administration has refused to allocate the resources to secure them. It would cost a few billion dollars, a small price to pay to protect the American people.

"We have port security full of holes, 5 percent screening as opposed to 100 percent in Hong Kong, and we have loose nukes, which put into a container, taken into our ports and driven by truck or train through America present a grave threat to the security of the American people.

"Democrats are proposing that before cargo leaves its port of origin, that 100 percent of the cargo is screened and sealed to the highest level of protection and detection before they come to our country. And not only before it comes to our ports, but before it goes through our waterways as well. I met with the Democratic governors on Monday and they called to my attention how vulnerable some of their waterways are.

"This port deal is an example of the cronyism and backroom deals of this Administration. The American people don't understand why we can't make our own ports secure. They want answers from the Bush Administration and so do the Democrats."

http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=1438