More than 18 months after the Maritime Transportation Security Act was signed into law, implementation of security measures continues to suffer from lack of funding. For Fiscal Year 2005, President Bush has proposed just $46 million for port security grants, which is far short of the $1.5 billion annual estimate of needs prepared by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Maritime Transportation Security Act, which became law on November 25, 2002, requires that all port facilities and vessels comply with federal inspection and security rules. The bill authorizes funding over four years for more security officers and Coast Guard and Customs Service personnel; additional screening equipment; safety enhancements at seaports; and loans and grants for security infrastructure upgrades. The legislation also provides that security plans for port facilities and vessels must be approved by the Coast Guard by July 1, 2004. (NOTE: The newly-adopted United Nations International Maritime Organization rules on port security take effect on July 1).

Secure ports are critical to our safety and our economy. The nation's commerce originates at ports, and many of our nation's largest cities developed around these critical centers:

• Waterborne cargo contributes more than $750 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product and creates employment for 13 million people;
  
  
• the U.S. has 361 ports and 95,000 miles of coastline that must be protected;
  
  
• 7,500 foreign ships carry more than 600 billion tons of goods into the United States;
  
  
• the top 50 ports handle 82 percent of the waterborne cargo; and
  
  
• 20 million cargo containers and eight million passengers enter the United States through our nation's seaports each year.
  
  

The Bush Administration has failed to safeguard our ports. Currently, only four percent of the 16,000 cargo containers that enter U.S. ports each day are inspected. Despite the pressing security needs at our ports, the Bush Administration has failed to provide significant funding for port security. For three straight fiscal years following September 11, 2001, the Administration did not request any funding for port security. For Fiscal Year 2005, the President's budget request includes only $46 million for port security grants.

Senate Republicans have rejected efforts to strengthen port security. Senate Republicans defeated several Democratic efforts to improve security at points of entry to the United States, including the following:

• Byrd amendment to increase homeland security funding by $5 billion ($585 million for port security) was defeated by a vote of 45 to 51. (Fiscal Year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill)
  
  
• Byrd amendment to increase homeland security funding by $3 billion ($585 million for port security) was defeated by a vote of 45 to 51. (Fiscal Year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill)
  
  
• Byrd/Hollings amendment to increase homeland security funding by $1.135 billion ($273 million for port security) was defeated by a vote 46 to 51. (Fiscal Year 2003 War Supplemental Appropriations bill)
  
  
• Hollings amendment to increase port security funding by $1 billion was defeated by a vote 47 to 52. (Fiscal Year 2003 War Supplemental Appropriations bill)
  
  
• Hollings amendment to increasing funding for port security programs by $1 billion by unanimous consent. (Fiscal Year 2004 Budget Resolution)
  
  
• Hollings amendment to increase funding for port security grants by $300 million in a 48 to 50 vote. (Fiscal Year 2004 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill)
  
  
• Schumer amendment to provide $70 million for research and development to stop nuclear materials from entering U.S. ports was defeated by a vote of 45 to 51. (Fiscal Year 2004 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill)
  
  
• Byrd amendment to provide $460 million for port security grants and $70 million for U.S. Coast Guard operating expenses for costs associated with the review of vessel and facility security plans for the MTSA was defeated by Republicans by a vote of 43 to 50. (Fiscal Year 2004 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill)
  
  
• Byrd amendment to provide $100 million for port and maritime security grants and $42 million for U.S. Coast Guard operating expenses was defeated by Republicans by a vote of 45 to 51. (Fiscal Year 2004 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill)
  
  
• Byrd amendment to provide $1.75 billion for homeland security (including $460 million for port security grants and $70 million for the Coast Guard) was defeated by a vote of 43 to 50. (Fiscal Year 2004 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill)