SENATE BACKS BILL THAT WOULD BOOST SECURITY AT PORTS.

Byline: LISA FRIEDMAN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to pump nearly $7 billion into seaport security, even as it roundly rejected efforts to require every cargo container to undergo radiation scanning before setting sail for the United States.

The 98-0 vote underscored the election-year importance of national security for Democrats and Republicans alike. In addition to shipping money to U.S. ports, the measure also incorporates funding for rail and mass-transit security.

Lawmakers hailed the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act as a major step toward protecting cities such as Long Beach and Los Angeles from the threat of a dirty bomb or other terrorist attack.

``America's ports were vulnerable before 9-11 and remain an attractive target for terrorists who seek to harm our people and cripple our economy,'' said Rep. Jane Harman, D-El Segundo, whose district includes the Port of Los Angeles. ``Today's action in the Senate represents a step forward for national security and legislative sensibility.''

A similar measure she co-wrote with Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Sacramento, passed the House in May. Negotiators now must hammer out funding differences and other elements between the measures before a final vote that would send the bill to President George W. Bush's desk.

Throughout Southern California, the bill enjoys broad support.

Calling it a ``strong and critical step toward raising the security standards at ports nationwide,'' Los Angeles port leaders said in a prepared statement that funding from the legislation will help fast-track the implementation of an identification-card program for workers.

They said it also will provide for more Customs and Border Protection personnel and equipment.

In addition to authorizing $6.7billion over the next six years, the legislation gives $400million in federal grants to individual ports.

It calls for equipment to be installed at America's 22 busiest seaports by the end of next year to screen containers for radioactive material, and it requires the Department of Homeland Security to come up with a plan for detecting chemical and biological weapons at ports.

It also mandates that the federal government create a plan to restore commerce in the event of a terrorist attack or other disaster.

And while the bill requests that 100percent of cargo containers be subjected to inspections in the near future, Senate leaders beat back an attempt by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., to mandate the scanning at foreign ports of every container that enters the country within four years. ``What are we waiting for?'' Schumer said.

On a mostly party-line vote, lawmakers agreed 61-37 to table -- essentially, kill -- Schumer's amendment. Both California Democrat Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein voted to keep the measure alive.

A proposal by Boxer to ensure that every passenger plane carrying cargo has at least one blast-resistant container also was among last-minute Democratic amendments.

Boxer blasted Republican leaders for blocking a vote on her measure, noting that the 9-11 Commission had specifically recommended the containers. She maintained the new protections could be implemented for ``as much money as the war in Iraq costs in five hours.''

lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com

[phone]