Covers Health, Safety
U.S. Help Near For Disaster Personnel

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

Legislation passed by Congress at the end of last month strengthening security at U.S. ports also included a provision to protect the health and safety of rescue workers, residents, and volunteers who respond to terrorist attacks and other national disasters. The Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 was passed Sept. 30, but needs President Bush's signature to become law. White House officials have indicated he will sign it.

PETER T. KING: 'An essential step.'

Sparked by Privatizing

The bill grew out of Congressional concerns over Bush Administration approval last January of a deal that would have put control of several U.S. seaports - including some in the tri-state region - in the hands of Dubai Ports World.

DP World eventually agreed to sell off its interests in U.S. port operations.

Included in the final version of the SAFE Port Act was a measure guaranteeing medical protections for first-responders, residents and volunteers whose health could be affected in the aftermath of a disaster.

The provision gives the President authority to create a certified monitoring program to include protection, assessment and study of the health and safety of individuals with high levels of exposure. Affected individuals will be informed of potential health risks, monitored periodically for health and mental health impacts, and referred to health-care practitioners as needed.

The addition was the result of a bipartisan effort by U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton and her Republican colleague, George Voinovich, and U.S. Rep. Peter King of Long Island. Senators Clinton and Voinovich steered the measure in the Senate, and Congressman King fought successfully in the House-Senate Conference Committee to keep it in the final version of the SAFE Port Act.

'Program Needed'

"Sept. 11 showed us that we need a national program to fully track - and thus enable us to treat - the health effects of disasters," said Senator Clinton.

She continued: "Responders and volunteers who came to New York from all over the country and people who lived and worked near Ground Zero but have since moved to other parts of the country are experiencing health effects their local health providers may not connect to 9/11. For the protection of those who will answer the call to help in the wake of future tragedies, I am proud the Senate has approved what will become a critical part of our public health preparedness."

'We Owe Them This'

Congressman King said the amendment was "absolutely essential to protect the health and safety of our first responders. The legacy and lessons of 9/11 require no less."

The SAFE Port Act also requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop plans to resume trade and minimize economic loss should an act of terrorism occur at a port. It also establishes a new Office of Cargo Security Policy to work with international partners.

The legislation also codified many interim security measures put in place post- 9/11, such as the Container Security Initiative that demands foreign ports notify U.S. officials about cargo being shipped to American ports. The Bush Administration will continue to loan radiation-scanning equipment to overseas shipping companies and assist in training port workers in less-developed nations.

To Speed Transit IDs

SAFE Port also put in place a system to speed up the implementation of a transportation worker identification card system.

Several pilot programs with biometric ID cards will begin no later than six months after the bill becomes law. Additional security improvements like fences, sensors, lights, gates and surveillance cameras have been authorized, as well as an expansion of existing programs mandating 100 percent cargo screening for shipments coming from specific ports.

The White House has indicated it will hold a special signing ceremony when the President approves the SAFE Port Act, but as of press time no date had been set.