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(Washington D.C.)- This morning the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4954, the Security and Accountability for Every Port (SAFE Port) Act which was coauthored by Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity, and Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA). With a vote of 407 to 2, the bill will now be sent to the President for his signature making it law.
The SAFE Port Act provides an international, multi layered, risk-based approach to improving maritime security. This legislation hardens U.S. seaports by providing additional resources, grants, and training programs for port personnel. It will require radiation scanning of all containers at the top 22 U.S. seaports covering 98 percent of containers entering the U.S. and requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop clear response and recovery plans in the event of a terrorist attack.
We have focused on improving security, both at home and abroad, by expanding capabilities, maximizing available resources, and pushing our borders outward to ensure American shores are our last line of defense, not our first. This piece of legislation is a solid step forward in securing our nation. The American people expect us to take action to protect their ports, and with overwhelming bipartisan support, we have done precisely that. This is the rarest type of legislation. A bipartisan bill introduced to make a law, rather than a political statement." Lungren said.
We are taking rational action to harden our domestic critical infrastructure, ensuring those that wish to harm us are unable to have access to our critical facilities.
It is an honor to have been involved in this endeavor and I commend all those who have worked hard to bring it to passage.
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