6 March 2007

 

 

 

            Scanning all containers before they depart foreign ports for the United States is an idea that refuses to die. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is expected Tuesday to offer another proposal calling for 100 percent scanning, according to trade groups that are closely tracking the issue.

 

            Menendez will offer the plan as an amendment to a bill that would implement the remaining recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. Last week senators voted to table a similar amendment by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. …

 

            Schumer’s amendment would have given the Department of Homeland Security five years to implement a scan-all program after completion of a pilot program under the Secure Freight Initiative….

 

            The Menendez amendment has no time limit, but would require Homeland Security to design a plan to achieve 100-percent scanning, and report annual benchmarks of progress.