COBLE, SCHIFF INTRODUCE SEAPORT SECURITY BILL

The chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security and a California Democrat who is the co-founder of a study group on national security issues today jointly introduced bipartisan legislation to improve security at this nation’s ports. U.S. Reps. Howard Coble (R-NC) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), today unveiled the “Reducing Crime and Terrorism at America’s Seaports Act of 2005.” Congressman Coble said the key provisions of the bill would:

· Make it a federal crime to use a vessel to smuggle terrorists or dangerous materials, including nuclear material, into the United States;

· Impose stiff criminal penalties for providing false information to a federal law enforcement officer at a port or on a vessel;

· Double the sentence of anyone who fraudulently gains access to a seaport;

· Increase penalties for smugglers who misrepresent illicit cargo; and

· Bridge specific gaps in current federal law by making it a crime for a vessel operator to fail to stop when ordered to do so by a federal law enforcement officer

“I said immediately following the terrorist attacks of 9-11, I fear any subsequent terrorist attacks will likely come by water – a port or harbor,” Chairman Coble noted. “Hopefully, our bill will make ports from North Carolina to California safer and more secure from any potential terrorism,” said Chairman Coble.

“The Seaport security amendment will plug a hole in our defense against terrorism and make American ports, passengers and cargo safer,” said Schiff. The California representative is a member of the Judiciary and International Relations committees and the co-founder of Democratic Study Group on National Security.

This is not the first time that Coble and Schiff have worked together. In May of 2004, the two congressmen toured the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo, Cuba, where a number of international prisoners are being detained.

Similar legislation was introduced earlier this year by Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Joe Biden (D-DE).