OFTA a Threat to U.S. Port Security

OFTA a Threat to U.S. Port Security

Congressman John Murtha today said that U.S. port security would be threatened under a provision in a bill slated for a vote in Congress later this week.

The provision, in the Oman Free Trade Agreement, would grant any firm incorporated and operating in Oman the right to acquire and operate landside port activities within the United States. Included would be the operation and maintenance of docks, the loading and unloading of vessels directly to or from land, marine cargo handling, operation and maintenance of piers, waterfront terminal operations, and the transfer of cargo between vessels and trucks, trains, pipelines and wharves.

"These are the very activities Congress just insisted Dubai Ports World not control," Murtha said at a press conference. "Why? Because control of such facilities would expose the population centers near our major ports in New York, New Jersey, my home state of Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, California and Washington to unnecessary risks. These are the very activities and facilities that, if sabotaged, could destroy aspects of vital U.S. infrastructure."

In addition, pathetic labor rights provisions in the legislation are bound to increase the worker abuse and resentment that provide fertile ground for extremist recruitment, Murtha said.

Joining Murtha at the press conference were Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), senior Armed Services Committee member; Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), Armed Services Subcommittee ranking member; Rep.Mike Michaud (D-Maine), Veterans Affairs Subcommittee ranking member; and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), member of the Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/pa12_murtha/PRoftaoman.html