House backs bill for cargo screening

WASHINGTON -- The House overwhelmingly approved legislation yesterday to try to stop nuclear weapons from being smuggled into the country by screening nearly all cargo for radiological materials at seaports. Yet, the technology will not be available, the Bush administration said.

The 421-to-2 vote capped months of election-year debate in Congress over how to make the 140 US seaports less vulnerable to terrorist threats without curbing commerce.

The bill ''will improve the safety of the American people and the security of our global supply chain," said Representative Dan Lungren, Republican of California. He said it ''ensures our shores are our last line of defense, not our first."

The Homeland Security Department opens for inspections 6 percent of the 11 million cargo containers that enter US seaports annually. Those containers are considered high-risk for reasons such as the security of the originating port or a shipper's history, said department spokeswoman Leah Yoon.

The department aims to screen 65 percent of goods for radiological materials by October, Yoon said. The administration said it may not have the money to put nuclear detectors at 22 major ports by next year as the legislation requires. It also termed as unnecessary a $400 million annual grant program over six years to pay for other security measures at ports.

A statement by the White House Office of Management and Budget said it was concerned about parts of the $5.5 billion bill ''that have serious resource implications."

Congress made port security a priority after the fight this year over a Dubai company's purchase of a British firm that controlled some operations at six American ports. The outcry led Dubai Ports World to sell the US operations to an American company.