Retail industry backs Senate on Port Security Act

Sep 19, 2006 3:09 PM

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has praised the U.S. Senate for approving its version of the "the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act" (H.R. 4954) by a 98-0 vote.
RILA also praised Senators for rejecting amendments that would have forced premature adoption of unproven technologies and untested procedures in the cargo supply chain security system. The Senate bill will now go to conference for reconciliation with its counterpart bill in the House of Representatives, approved by a vote of 421-2 in May 2006.
"[This is a] substantive supply chain security legislation that builds on the current system," RILA senior vice president Paul Kelly says. "Both the Senate and the House have crafted legislation that goes beyond slogans to help improve supply chain security."
The Senate included provisions in the bill to expand research and development of scanning technology, but that require a thorough evaluation of this technology before deployment. "Supply chain security would not be enhanced by setting an unrealistic timetable for mandating systems that are still in the development phase," Kelly says.
Both bills are to facilitate cooperation between the government and private sector in the cargo supply chain and development of plans for the smooth resumption of commerce in the event of a transportation security incident.

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