Democrats push 100% scans in 9/11 bill
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives Friday introduced legislation to implement the recommendations of the Sept. 11 Commission, including ones to inspect containers at U.S. ports.
The 9/11 Commission submitted a report more than two years ago on how to improve homeland security, but Democratic lawmakers say the Bush administration and the previous Republican Congress failed to implement many of them.
The bill says that all containers entering the country must be scanned using imaging technology and have an approved seal within three years if coming from a high volume port, and within five years for all other ports.
The bill also calls on the Department of Homeland Security to establish a program within three years to inspect 100 percent of cargo carried onboard passenger aircraft. Under the phased approach, 35 percent of cargo must be inspected by the end of fiscal year 2007.