Security & Safety Briefs - Oct. 14 - Oct. 20
The Latest Headlines:
- Bush Signs Homeland Security Spending Bill
- Mack Renews 'Share the Road' Sponsorship
- Report Finds Better Security Needed at U.S. Ports
- Ridge Says Terrorist Turned Away at Border Every Day
- Mack Renews 'Share the Road' Sponsorship
Bush Signs Homeland Security Spending Bill
President Bush on Monday signed $33 billion legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security for the current fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, the Associated Press reported.The legislation was about $900 million more than Bush had originally proposed, AP said.
Bush said the law would improve national security by through outlays for port security, Coast Guard patrols, the federal air marshal program, anti-missile technology for aircraft, foreign visitor inspections and security at chemical facilities, nuclear plants, water-treatment plants, bridges, subways and tunnels.
Mack Renews 'Share the Road' Sponsorship
Paul Vikner, chief executive officer of Mack Trucks Inc., said Oct. 4 Mack would again serve as primary sponsor of American Trucking Associations’ Share the Road program.ATA said the program was designed to enhance the safety of America’s roadways by teaching millions of motorists each year how to safely drive on highways with large trucks.
2005 will be the fifth year Mack has supported the program, the company said. Transport Topics
Report Finds Better Security Needed at U.S. Ports
A report by the Homeland Security Department concluded that federal inspectors of shipping containers need to improve their detection equipment and search procedures to prevent terrorists from sneaking weapons into U.S. ports, the Associated Press reported.Homeland's Inspector General Clark Kent Ervin said that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has made security changes since the 9/11 terrorist attacks but more changed are needed.
Homeland also said last week that increased demands and a deteriorating fleet of ships would make it difficult for the Coast Guard to do its job in the coming years, AP said. Transport Topics
Ridge Says Terrorist Turned Away at Border Every Day
Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said that people with links to terrorists have been turned away at U.S. borders every day since the 9/11 attacks, Canadian Press news service reported.Speaking Thursday in Canada after a meeting with Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan, Ridge said improved intelligence and border security have made both nations safer, CP reported.
Also Thursday, the officials said that Canada would participate in the U.S. Container Security Initiative. Under the plan, Canadian border agents would be deployed to a foreign marine port next year to search shipping containers bound for North America.
In addition, they said initial plans were underway to install fast lanes for trucks at crossings in Washington state and Detroit, and that trucking companies would be included in discussions on a pre-screening project at the Peace Bridge which connects Fort Erie, Ont. and Buffalo. Transport Topics
