Security Bill

House Panel Postpones Homeland Security Bill Discussion

Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee have postponed work on the fiscal 2007 Homeland Security Department authorization bill, prompting heated criticism from Democrats who say the move might undermine the committee's credibility and prevent the measure from being completed this year. According to a committee aide, Republican committee leaders say the delay is temporary while they work to pass a maritime security bill. All 15 Democrats on the panel fired off a letter Thursday to Homeland Security Chairman Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., opposing the move. The committee did the first-ever authorization bill for Homeland Security last year, which overwhelmingly passed out of the House by a 424-4 vote. But the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee did not do an authorization bill, meaning Congress has not sent a final bill to President Bush since the department was created more than three years ago. House Democrats fear the committee's credibility will be at stake if a fiscal 2007 authorization bill is not completed. They said negotiations have indicated strong bipartisan agreement on many issues, and noted that the decision to postpone came only four days before markup sessions were scheduled to begin. Maritime and port security have been catapulted into the national spotlight in recent weeks after news broke that a Dubai-owned company was planning to take over terminal operations at several major U.S. ports

Seaport Security Bill Introduced

Senator Boxer (D-CA) introduced the United States Seaport Multiyear Security Enhancement Act (S. 2240) to improve seaport security. The measure, if enacted, would authorize the appropriation of $800 million each year through FY 2009 for port security grants. It would also authorize the awarding of multi-year grants. (HK Law).

Homeland Security Bill Introduced

Representative Harman (D-CA) introduced the Reducing Over-Classification Act of 2007 (H.R. 4806) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a strategy to prevent the over-classification of homeland security and other information and to promote the sharing of unclassified homeland security and other information, and for other purposes. (HK Law)

Text of Extremely Hazardous Materials Transportation Security bill

Text of H.R. 4824 – the Extremely Hazardous Materials Transportation Security Act of 2004 – has been posted on the Internet. This bill, if enacted, would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to promulgate detailed regulations relating to security measures for shipment of extremely hazardous materials. For purposes of this measure, “extremely hazardous material” would mean: a material that is toxic by inhalation; a material that is extremely flammable; a material that is

Potential Port Problems in Nigeria

According to a report on http://www.thenationonlineng.net, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) today threatened to shut down seaports to protest the planned establishment of another body--Maritime Security and Safety Agency. MWUN stated this in a petition signed by its President, Tony Nted and Secretary-General, Aham Ubani, and sent to Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan. The petition, which made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos

Congress Passes Port Security Bill

Congress has passed the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006, the first legislation of its kind to authorize an annual federal funding level to help secure United States ports against terrorism. The bill, H.R. 4954, calls for $400m in federal Port Security Grant (PSG) funding for each of the next five years to help increase security in the maritime transportation system. Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s president and CEO

Ports Encouraged By Passage of Security Bill

U.S. port authorities are pleased about the passage of H.R. 3983, the “Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act of 2002,” by the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T & I) Committee on March 20. “We thank Chairman Don Young (R-AK) of the House T & I Committee, and Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) of Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, for their leadership on moving to address maritime security,” said Kurt J

Increase in Seaport Security Funding is Proposed

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the organization representing public ports throughout the Western Hemisphere, lauded Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA) for introducing a bill in the U.S. Senate that includes revisions and clarifications to the Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Grant program. “AAPA praises the senatorial leadership of Susan Collins, who chairs the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs

Homeland Security Grant Bill Introduced

Senator Collins (R-ME) introduced a bill (S. 1554) to establish an intergovernmental grant program to identify and develop homeland security information, equipment, capabilities, technologies, and services to further the homeland security of the United States and to address the homeland security needs of Federal, State, and local governments. (HK Law).

Text Bills posted on Internet

The text of various bills recently introduced in the House of Representatives has now been posted on the Internet. H.R. 4397 would temporarily exempt scrapping of obsolete naval and Maritime Administration (MARAD) vessels from certain environmental laws. H.R. 4416 would establish the Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Committee. H.R. 4418 would authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2005 and 2006 for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of