On June 16, 2005, the Senate Appropriations Committee favorably reported its version of H.R. 2360, the fiscal year (FY) 2006 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), etc.
On June 16, 2005, the Senate Appropriations Committee favorably reported its version of H.R. 2360, the fiscal year (FY) 2006 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), etc.
The Journal of Commerce reports that one former deputy Customs Commissioner views the C-TPAT and CSI programs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection as flawed, as the customs administrations in many developing countries are corrupt and can't do their job on imports, let alone exports. The former official adds that third-party inspection companies could monitor implementation in developing countries, but that this idea "has fallen on deaf ears in the U.S." (JoC, dated 07/11/05)
According to the American Shipper, on June 6, 2005, the office of the United States attorney in Brooklyn, N.Y. filed a civil racketeering lawsuit against the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA). AS articles state that the lawsuit asks a federal judge to allow the government to take over the ILA and several of its benefit plans. AS also reports that the ILA and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX) have stated that their Master Contract (through September 30, 2010), which has a no-strike provision, is unaffected by the pending civil RICO action. (AS, dated 07/01/05 and 07/08/05, ShippersNewsWire@americanshipper.com )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a press release announcing that the Port of Shenzhen, China will be the 37th operational Container Security Initiative (CSI) port.
In April 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report to Congressional requestors entitled, Container Security: A Flexible Staffing Model and Minimum Equipment Requirements Would Improve Overseas Targeting and Inspection Efforts.
Reminder on Phased Implementation Schedule for New Security Criteria for "Existing" C-TPAT Importers
In March 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) implemented its new minimum-security criteria for importer participants in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).
In March 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report to Congressional requestors entitled, Cargo Security: Partnership Program Grants Importers Reduced Scrutiny with Limited Assurance of Improved Security.
In March 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report to Congressional requestors entitled, Cargo Security: Partnership Program Grants Importers Reduced Scrutiny with Limited Assurance of Improved Security.
Stephen E. Flynn, Jean J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies (and former Coast Guard Commander), gave written and oral testimony regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Container Security Initiative (CSI) programs at a May 26, 2005 hearing of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.