Senators call for study of administration's port security efforts

The chairman and the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee-citing concerns about what they see as the administration's lax port security efforts-are calling for the General Accounting Office to look into the matter.

Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., and ranking member Ernest (Fritz) Hollings, D-S.C., said that the administration has failed to address the port security mandates outlined in the Maritime Transportation Security Act, which was signed into law last year and created the nation's first maritime security guidelines.

"The events of Sept. 11, 2001, demonstrated how vulnerable the most everyday aspects of our transportation system and commerce can be to acts of terrorism," they said in a May 12 letter to GAO released Thursday. "Yet our ports remain exposed and susceptible to acts of terrorism that could cause a large loss of life and economic disruption."

McCain and Hollings went on to say that they were concerned that the Transportation and Homeland Security departments are not effectively implementing the MTSA requirements. And, there have been problems in coordinating efforts among federal agencies both here and abroad.

Hollings consistently has pointed out that officials can track every airplane, but cannot track large tankers-many of which carry hazardous cargo through largely populated areas. He also has pressed the administration for more money to address port security and meet the new MTSA mandates. Hollings wants a tracking system up and running as soon as possible, said his spokesman.

The Coast Guard estimates that it will take more than $6.6 billion over the next 10 years for private port facilities alone to meet the baseline mandates in the new federal port security laws. The administration has awarded less than $500 million over the last two years, prompting Hollings to charge that "they just aren't taking this issue seriously."

Hollings and McCain asked GAO to examine the administration's original port vulnerable assessments and how it estimated the costs for addressing security deficiencies. They also asked GAO to come up with recommendations on developing new programs called for in the MTSA such as the Sea Marshall program, Automated Vessel Identification System, maritime intelligence system requirements, transportation worker identification cards, and requirements to evaluate and certify secure systems of international transportation.

Earlier this week, the Homeland Security Department awarded $75 million to high-threat ports. The money came from the fiscal 2003 supplemental appropriations bill signed into law last month. In addition, $35 million is set aside for the radiological defense of the New York/Newark and Charleston, S.C., ports.

While Hollings applauded the awards, he added that "we cannot lose sight of the fact that the nation's port security efforts remain underfunded."