Homeland Security

Murray's Work

Senator Murray has become the leading voice in Congress to improve port security through her position on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, where she helps write the budget for - and has oversight of - the Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration, the Customs Service, and other entities responsible for port security.

She is also the highest ranking Democrat on the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee where she writes the $60 billion bill that funds the Department of Transportation.

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Cargo Security/Operation Safe Commerce

The tragic events of September 11th have taught us we must do more to make our country safer, and to protect our lives and our liberty. An attack on one of our ports could have a dramatic impact on our economy.

Shortly after 9/11, Senator Murray wrote and helped fund an initiative she had been working on called “Operation Safe Commerce” (OSC). This program allows our nation's three largest load centers -- including Seattle and Tacoma -- to monitor and track cargo from the time the container is loaded through its entry into the U.S. and onto its final destination. Since the program’s creation, Congress has approved – and the President has signed – legislation providing $75 million for the program.

Unfortunately, in May 2003, the Bush Administration said it would “reprogram” $28 million from Operation Safe Commerce and spend it elsewhere. Senator Murray had no intention of allowing the Administration to divert critical funds for ensuring the security of our trade lanes in order to make up for their irresponsible spending in other areas.

In response, she wrote to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, protesting the Administration’s attempt to shortchange port security. Finally, Murray was forced to take the extraordinary step of placing a “hold” on an Administration budget nominee.

On June 11, 2003, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge sent Senator Murray a letter saying “the Department of Homeland Security will obligate, in the near future, the entire $58 million in appropriated funds for the ‘Operation Safe Commerce’ port security initiative.”

Then, in fiscal year 2004, Senator Murray secured $17 million more to expand Operation Safe Commerce testing and work toward establishing a true cargo-security standard for all cargo entering the United States.

Today, in the only end-to-end supply chain/cargo security test in the world, Operation Safe Commerce is running eighteen (18) separate cargo supply-chains through the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, Los Angeles, Long Beach and New York/New Jersey.

Operation Safe Commerce," includes:

Secure packing requirements for loading containers;
Auditable security standards at docks, manufacturing plants or shipping facilities;
Mechanical and/or electronic seals and devices intended to identify containers whose security has been compromised;
Integrated communications systems to track cargo throughout the entirety of its journey;
The transmission of tracking data in accessible format;
Demonstration of "secure trading lanes" that ensures container security from point of origin to point of destination; and
Establishing new requirements for all participants in the supply chain that will allow federal agencies to get information to appropriately target suspicious cargo (FY 2002 Supplemental - For Further Recovery From & Response to Terrorist Attacks & the FY 2003 Transportation Appropriations Bill).

With over 6 million cargo containers entering U.S. ports each year, we can’t physically check them all, without impeding commerce. OSC is laying the foundation for a new national port security regime that is both secure and efficient, and Senator Murray is proud that the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma – having received more than half of the funding available under OSC to date – are paving the way.

Senator Murray will continue working to ensure that uniform cargo security standards are developed and implemented allowing us to have confidence in the supply chains that carry shipments to our communities from overseas.

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Port Security

Senator Murray has consistently battled the Bush Administration’s underfunding of port security needs. For example, although the country’s 361 ports had submitted grant requests totaling nearly $1 billion, the President’s most recent budget proposal included only $46 million in Port Security Grant funding.

Senator Murray offered an amendment to the FY2005 Budget that would have increased funding for Port Security Grants by 63%, adding $454 million. While this proposal would have gone a long way to address the $1 billion in needed security improvements which ports around the nation have identified, the Administration’s pressure killed the amendment in a party-line vote.

More on Coast Guard

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Aviation Security

Aviation is one of Washington's most important industries. It provides thousands of family wage jobs and the infrastructure to ensure our economic competitiveness.

Senator Murray's involvement in this sector increased with the terrible terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Murray chaired one of the first hearings on aviation safety following the terrorist attacks. She worked to create the Transportation Security Administration and met repeatedly with Department of Transportation officials, airport officials, airlines, workers and others to get out aviation system back in the air.

As Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray provided increased funding for the Transportation Security Administration and programs to install checked baggage explosive detection systems.

In March 2003, Senator Murray sponsored an amendment to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act that provides $700 million to reimburse airlines and airports for security related costs as well as provide extended unemployment insurance compensation to displaced aviation industry workers. The amendment passed and was included in the final bill that was signed into Public Law 108-11 in April.

Aviation security matters now fall under the jurisdiction of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee on which Senator Murray serves.

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Department of Homeland Security

The terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the ongoing threats of international terrorism to the United States led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Congress acted to create the new department in November, 2002. For the first time, the Department of Homeland Security brings together all Federal initiatives to protect our borders, ports, airports, railways, roads and critical infrastructure; to coordinate communications with State and local governments, industry and the American people; and to train, equip and maintain the capacity at all levels of government to respond to threats, natural or otherwise, to the American people. Senator Murray supported the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

"The world changed forever on September 11th. We learned painfully that terrorists can reach our shores at an unmeasurable cost to the American people. Creating the Department of Homeland Security is an important step toward protecting our nation from the threats of terrorism. It is, however, just a step toward protecting the nation. I look forward to working closely with Secretary Tom Ridge to meet the Homeland Security needs across the nation and particularly in Washington state."

--Senator Patty Murray

Homeland Security

Murray's Work

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Homeland Security