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User Fees Removed From U.S. Maritime Security Bill
A provision to enact a user fee to help pay for security improvements to improve security at U.S. ports against terrorist attacks has been removed from a new maritime security bill, Lloyd’s List reported today (see GSN, April 9). The provision called for “a service fee on commercial transport entities that benefit from a secure system of international maritime transport to pay for the costs of port security services.” The language was stripped from the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2004 through an amendment offered by Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.), according to Lloyd’s List. Senator Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.), a supporter of the user-fee proposal, said he had no objection to a proposal supported by Lott that would direct some of the more than $15 billion paid in custom fees to port security. “I have no problem with providing this option to the administration,” Hollings said. “I would do whatever it takes to pay for port security,” he added. Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said the federal government could not fully cover the costs of improving U.S. port security. “We need to talk to the private sector. We don’t have enough public money to do everything that needs to be done,” Ridge said (John McLaughlin, Lloyd’s List, April 13).
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