Port Security Bill gets Unanimous Senate Approval

The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a port-security bill that would require, among other things, installation of radiation monitors at more than 20 domestic ports. The bill also authorized a new program at three foreign ports where all containers headed to the United States would be scanned. A plan to inspect every inbound cargo container for nuclear weapons was rejected.

The 98-0 vote also approves the establishment of a new office within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate port security. The bill, which authorizes more than $3 billion in port security funding over the next six years, will now have to reconciled in conference with the House version of the bill. A total $400 million in grants to individual ports is included in the package.