House Passes SAFE Port Act by Vote of 421 to 2
On May 4, 2006, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4954, the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act by a vote of 421 to 2.
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(Although the House has passed H.R. 4954, it is not in effect. Generally, in order for a bill to be implemented, identical versions of that bill must be passed by both the House and Senate and then the bill must be approved (enacted) by the President.
On May 2, 2006, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee amended and ordered favorably reported S. 2459, the GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act, a bill listed by the Congressional Research Service as "related" to H.R. 4954. See ITT's Online Archives or 05/04/06 news, 06050410, for BP summary.)
Prior to its passage, the House adopted a variety of amendments, some of which are highlighted below (partial list):
Pilot Similar to Hong Kong's ICIS Test Would be Conducted
This amendment would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a pilot project at an overseas port similar to the Integrated Container Inspection System (ICIS) test in Hong Kong.
(According to press reports, the ICIS test provides gamma ray, optical character recognition, and radiation scanning of every container (100% scanning) and could pass those images and container tracking codes to customs services in other cities to help them identify suspicious cargo before it gets loaded onto a ship, etc.)
Definition of "Container Security Device" Would be Amended
This amendment would change the definition of a cargo container security device in Section 1816 from "a mechanical or electronic device designed to, at a minimum, detect unauthorized intrusion of containers" to "a mechanical or electronic device designed to, at a minimum, positively identify containers and detect and record unauthorized intrusion of containers. Such devices shall have false alarm rates that have been demonstrated to be below one percent."
Interoperability of Communications Equipment, Mechanisms
An amendment to ensure communications equipment purchased, and mechanisms for sharing terrorism threat information established, under the new Port Security Grant program are interoperable with Federal, State, and local agencies.
Truck Inspection Stations
An amendment that would make eligible the construction or enhancement of truck inspection stations in seaport communities and trade corridors by authorizing up to $20 million annually in the Port Security Grant Program and establish or enhance truck inspection stations for seaports, communities and trade corridors where there is a high volume of truck container traffic, etc.
(In addition, prior to the passage of H.R. 4954, the House rejected an amendment that sought to prohibit the current U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) practice of granting automated targeting risk score reductions to Customs- Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) members that have not received CBP validation of the implementation and effectiveness of their security measures.)
Congressional Record's Daily Digest, containing details on the H.R. 4954 amendments, debate (dated 05/04/06) available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r109:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20060504).