For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 5, 2004
Protecting America's Seaports and Securing Cargo Shipments
Today's Presidential Action
In remarks on the War on Terror at the Port of Charleston, South
Carolina, President Bush highlighted his commitment to protecting
the homeland, including America's ports and increasing cargo
security.
The President's FY 2005 budget requests resources for many
important homeland security priorities. It includes a 9.7%
increase in government-wide homeland security funding over FY
2004, nearly tripling the FY 2001 levels. It also includes a
$3.6 billion (10%) overall increase over FY 2004 for the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), doubling funding for DHS
programs since FY 2001.
The President's budget demonstrated his commitment to port and
cargo security. It includes:
$1.9 billion for DHS-wide port security efforts, an
increase of 13% ($224 million) over FY 2004 and 628% ($1.6 billion)
over FY 2001. These funds include $102 million for the Coast Guard to
implement the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, which sets
security standards for certain vessels, port facilities, and critical
offshore platforms.
A total of $6.6 billion to maintain and enhance border
security activities, a 7% ($447 million) increase over FY 2004 and a
70% ($2.7 billion) increase over FY 2001.
Background: Protecting America's Seaports and Securing Cargo
Shipments
The U.S. maritime transportation system is vital to the global
economy. Over 95% of non-North American trade enters the country
through U.S. seaports, and our seaports handle over $740 billion and 2
billion tons of domestic and international freight annually. Foreign
vessels make 50,000 port calls annually.
Our seaports and maritime transportation infrastructure face a
myriad of threats from the vessels, people, and cargo that move through
them. Consistent with our approach to the overall War on Terrorism, our
approach to seaport security calls for a layered defense that starts
far beyond our mainland.
Supporting the Coast Guard: The FY 2005 budget request includes a
9% (nearly $500 million) increase for the United States Coast Guard,
bringing total Coast Guard funding to $6.3 billion (a 64% increase over
FY 2001).
Ensuring Security Before Cargo Ships Reach Port: These funds
include $102 million for implementation of the Maritime
Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA). This initiative will
enable Coast Guard to develop, review, and approve vessel and
facility security plans, ensure foreign vessels are meeting
security standards, enhance its intelligence capacity, and
provide underwater detection capability to Maritime Safety and
Security Teams.
Upgrading Coast Guard Ships and Technology: The budget also
continues support for the Coast Guard's Integrated Deepwater
System acquisition program, which is systematically replacing the
Coast Guard's aging fleet of vessels, aircraft, and command and
control systems. The FY 2005 budget funds Deepwater at $678
million, an increase of $10 million over the FY 2004 level.
Improving Information and Intelligence: The Coast Guard's
maritime domain awareness programs will help us better understand
what transits through or near our nation's waters. MTSA
regulations require certain commercial vessels to install
Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) by the end of 2004. AIS
devices broadcast certain vessel information that helps identify
and locate vessels in our maritime domain. The Coast Guard is on
schedule to have AIS capabilities at each of its Vessel Traffic
Service locations by the end of 2004, and is working towards a
long-term goal of nationwide AIS coverage. Moreover, the Coast
Guard established COASTWATCH, a process through which the
intelligence community analyzes all-source information and
intelligence on ships, crew, and cargo to identify security
threats. Information from the intelligence community then helps
the Coast Guard and other agencies to institute appropriate
control measures before these vessels reach our seaports.
Increasing Cargo Screening and Border Security: The President's FY
2005 budget requests $450 million in new funding to maintain and
enhance border security activities, including funding to expand
pre-screening activities for cargo containers overseas, and for
capabilities to better detect individuals attempting to illegally enter
the United States. There are many important seaport and cargo security
programs:
The Container Security Initiative (CSI) allows DHS to pre-screen
cargo before it reaches our shores. The FY 2005 budget requests
an increase of $25 million over the FY 2004 funding level. These
funds will support CSI expansion into additional high-volume
ports.
Radiation detection monitors are used to screen passengers and
cargo coming into the United States. The FY 2005 budget includes
$50 million for the next generation of radiation screening
devices.
To better identify high-risk cargo and passengers, the budget
includes an increase of $20.6 million for staffing and technology
acquisition to support the National Targeting Center (NTC) as
well as additional Customs and Border Patrol targeting systems,
which are used to review advance manifests and other information
to determine which shipments are higher-risk and require closer
examination.
