WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a hearing on Transportation Security Challenges Post-9/11. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Janet Napolitano, will testify and a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, requested by Senator Rockefeller, will be released today on the requirement to scan one hundred percent of U.S. bound containers. The GAO Report entitled, “Supply Chain Security: Feasibility and Cost-Benefit Analysis Would Assist DHS and Congress in Assessing and Implementing the Requirement to Scan one hundred percent of U.S. Bound Containers” is a product of the Committee’s oversight of international commerce and supply chain security requirements for the maritime sector.

At today’s hearing, Chairman Rockefeller will examine the results of GAO’s findings and discuss the Secretary’s challenges to implement one hundred percent scanning, continued vulnerabilities on transportation security and how the Department can better achieve enhanced visibility of the supply chain to prevent a weapon of mass destruction from entering the United States.

“The GAO released a report today before the Senate Commerce Committee identifying the overwhelming challenges Secretary Napolitano has before her to scan one hundred percent of maritime cargo. Without a better understanding of the feasibility of such a policy to international commerce and security, a mandate of global proportions was unquestionably well intended, yet premature,” said Chairman Rockefeller. “The transportation of hazardous cargo, small vessel security, and most certainly cybersecurity all remain significant vulnerabilities where much more needs to be done. Both Congress and the Administration must balance important but competing needs—maintaining an efficient flow of commerce while ensuring no terrorists can enter our country by land, sea, or air. We must work toward a more reasonable balance to focus our assets and resources in the best possible manner to protect the American people.”

KEY BACKGROUND

Today’s GAO report addresses: (1) Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) progress at the initial ports participating in the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) program, (2) CBP plans to implement SFI, (3) the extent to which CBP has estimated costs and conducted a cost-benefit analysis of one hundred percent scanning, and (4) any challenges to integrate one hundred percent scanning with existing container security programs. GAO found that “CBP has made limited progress in scanning containers at the initial ports participating in the SFI program, leaving the feasibility of one hundred percent scanning largely unproven.” GAO also found that CBP has significant operational, technical, and diplomatic challenges that still need to be addressed including: workforce planning requirements to review and analyze the data; cooperation with host nations; the cost of additional resources; logistics and efficacy of scanning equipment; technology and infrastructure limitations; use and ownership of the data; inconsistency of one hundred percent scanning with risk management policies; reciprocity; and trade other concerns.

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