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House battle over port security

BY GLENN THRUSH | WASHINGTON BUREAU

April 26, 2006

WASHINGTON - A post-Dubai showdown between Republicans and Democrats over port security reform is shaping up today in the House, with the homeland security committee voting on competing cargo inspection bills.

Homeland Security Chairman Peter King (R-Seaford) is backing a bipartisan $2.4 billion overhaul of the nation's ports that would increase targeted cargo inspections and mandate that 98 percent of containers unloaded at ports be screened for nuclear material by the end of 2007.

King, along with the Bush administration, favors fine-tooth inspections for containers that originate from areas that pose a high terrorist threat - about 15 percent to 20 percent of all cargo entering the country, according to estimates.

Containers deemed to be low risk would be given a less intensive examination, using reviews of cargo manifests and spot inspections.

Only about 5 percent of containers entering the U.S. currently receive the highest-level inspections.

Some Democrats say that's not good enough. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) will introduce an amendment that within three years would require that 100 percent of containers at large U.S. ports be inspected.

Similar legislation sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan) passed the House transportation committee earlier this month. Both measures are being opposed by a powerful coalition of retailers.

"The bottom line is we need to scan 100 percent of the containers coming into this country," said Sen. Robert Menendez (R-N.J.), who plans to introduce the amendment as part of the appropriations bill before the Senate this week.

King, whose opposition helped sink the Dubai Ports World deal, says the Democrats' plan is politically motivated and would slow port operations.

Nadler, who has been pushing his bill for two years, said high-tech scanners being tested in Hong Kong could scan many containers within seconds.