Speech #1090098922

Again. the problem is that the truckers get waved through the FAST lane. but the trucking companies facilities are rarely. if ever. inspected to validate that the security policies theyve promised to implement are fact or fiction. This makes the FAST program. really the "FAST ONE" program. since truckers are pulling a fast one on our country by getting benefits without having to demonstrate the promised security policies. My amendment would have required Customs and Border Protection to verify the security measures at the facilities of each member of the CTPAT and FAST programs within one year of the enactment of this bill and twice a year thereafter. Moreover. the amendment would require Customs and Border Protection to establish policies if members do not live up to their obligations under the CTPAT and FAST programs. Now. some of my colleagues may argue that we simply do not have the resources to conduct these validations. Or real validations would bring global commerce to a grinding halt. The numbers simply do not support this assertion. Customs and Border Protection has approximately 100 inspectors to conduct validations. and there are approximately 11.000 "STAND PAT" and "FAST ONE" members. If each inspector performed only about 2 validations per week. all the facilities could be validated in less than a yearwithin 45 weeks or so. When it comes to these two programs. we should follow the Reagan Doctrine of cargo inspection and Trust and Verify that the shippers are performing as promised.