Senator Hillary Clinton on Report of Vulnerabilities in Port Security

May 27, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton issued the following statement today in reaction to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that reveals gaps in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program designed to strengthen port security:

Container ship: Photo by Patrick Boury (CC)

“Today’s GAO report is another disturbing reminder of how far we must still go to shore up our homeland security. The report underscores once again the Bush Administration’s misplaced priorities. The President this year again attempted to cut funding for port security even as we are learning of more vulnerabilities in our port security programs. While 85 percent of the nation’s infrastructure is in the hands of the private sector, DHS continues to fail to adequately work with the private sector to ensure that sufficient security measures are being followed to protect our ports. We must remain vigilant in ensuring that our nation is secure, and I again call on the administration to take all necessary steps to strengthen our homeland security.

“New York is home to one of the nation’s largest ports and is considered one of the most at-risk areas of the country. I will continue to fight for critical resources to protect the security of our infrastructure in New York and across the nation.”

A GAO investigation released today reveal gaps in port security that could allow terrorists to smuggle weapons of mass destruction in cargo containers. The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), a DHS program, allows approximately 8,000 importers, port authorities and air, sea and land carriers reduced scrutiny of cargo if the companies submit a security plan that meets U.S. Customs and Border Protection's standards and allows federal oversight of the security plans. Today’s GAO report found that Customs officials could not verify that the security plans of the private companies met DHS standards and were being enforced.

Senator Clinton has worked aggressively to ensure that homeland security programs receive adequate funding and oversight. Recently, a measure introduced by Senator Clinton was signed into law stopping the Department of Homeland Security from downsizing the Federal Protective Service, the agency responsible for securing 9,000 non-military federal buildings. Senator Clinton has also fought the President’s efforts to slash vital funding for homeland security programs as he requested for the Fiscal Year 2009 budget.

Source: Senator Hillary Clinton