Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007

January 9, 2007

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, strongly opposes H.R. 1, the Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007. If enacted, this legislation would significantly disrupt the flow of trade and impose costly mandates on American business without providing additional security. The Chamber looks forward to working with the House and Senate to address these issues during the current session of Congress, and to ensure that measures to enhance domestic security do not needlessly harm the nation's economy.

More than 11 million containers arrive at our nation's seaports each year. Requiring 100% overseas scanning of each one would divert resources from other critical security functions. Such unilateral requirements could severely damage relations with our nation's trading partners, resulting in reciprocal burdens being placed on American exporters.

Just last year, Congress passed the bi-partisan SAFE Port Act, which requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct overseas container scanning pilot programs. The Chamber strongly supports this requirement, and urges Congress to allow these pilot programs to be conducted, and the results evaluated prior to establishing costly and burdensome new mandates with unclear benefits.

Additionally, the Chamber strongly opposes provisions requiring 100% cargo inspection on passenger planes within three years. Such a mandate could significantly disrupt businesses that rely upon passenger planes for the delivery of cargo for just-in-time manufacturing, emergency medicine, and highly perishable goods.

Once again, the Chamber looks forward to working with Congress in the coming months to address these concerns and to establish workable screening procedures for cargo coming into the United States by air and by sea.

Sincerely,
R. Bruce Josten