Facilitating Trade and Securing Seaports

As part of a field hearing conducted in Tampa by the Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations of the House Committee on Government Reform, the General Accounting Office (GAO) submitted testimony entitled Port Security: Nation Faces Formidable Challenges in Making New Initiatives Successful The testimony addresses vulnerabilities of commercial seaports, initiatives undertaken by federal agencies and other stakeholders to enhance seaport security, and challenges faced in implementing security-enhancing initiatives. The testimony notes that the Coast Guard, in particular, has acted as the focal point for assessing and addressing security concerns, anticipating many of the measures that Congress and the administration are contemplating. Experience indicates that full implementation of seaport security measures will be more difficult and more expensive than many anticipate. Cooperation, coordination, and cost allocation will present significant challenges. Source: HK Law