Port Security in Toledo

Sherrod discusses the UAE port deal at a Toledo news conference

Sherrod repeated his concern for Ohio's safety after it was revealed that the White House approved a deal of U.S. port security to state-owned company in the United Arab Emarites (UAE). It was also recently discovered that the U.S. is in trade negotiations with the Mideast nation. Sherrod has called on former Ohio Congressman and current United States Trade Ambassador Rob Portman to halt the trade negotiations until a thorough national security review of the nation is completed.

Click here to listen to audio.

He also discussed plans to introduce legislation that would strengthen national security review and Congressional oversight in U.S. trade agreements.

Here are some excerpts of his remarks:

Recently, the Bush administration approved the takeover of six United States ports' security by Dubai Ports World, a state-owned company controlled by the United Arab Emirates.  

Unfortunately, while this important decision had significant national security implications, it was made by the administration under the cover of darkness with no Congressional review.

Leadership in both political parties and both chambers of the U.S. Congress have joined together to strongly condemn the Bush administration for this arrangement.  

They were joined by families of 9/11 victims in urging that the Dubai Ports World deal should be reevaluated.

The Bush administration has been outsourcing jobs for five years, and now they want to outsource our national security.

In a post 9/11 world, trade agreements are no longer just vehicles for economic development.  

They are an integral part of national security and efforts to combat terrorism.

We must revamp U.S. trade policy to meet our homeland security demands to better secure our borders and protect our communities.  

Trade agreements lower tariffs and open markets.  But they also open our ports, our infrastructure, and our transportation lines.  

When we open our borders, the American people must know that we have done everything possible to protect them.

02/26/2006 / Permalink / Sherrod Brown, Toledo, Trade, (all tags)

Senate candidate visits Toledo, discusses security, domestic policy

From Toledo Blade:

Brown defends intelligence votes
Senate candidate visits Toledo, discusses security, domestic policy

U.S. Senate candidate Sherrod Brown defended his 1990s-era votes to cut intelligence funding yesterday and vowed to take the campaign fight on national security to Republican incumbent Mike DeWine.

...After blasting President Bush's budget at a food bank and talking health care and free trade with social justice activists, Mr. Brown said he would not change his past votes on intelligence.

"Part of it was we wanted more oversight of what was happening," Mr. Brown said. "Intelligence gathering, they had a lot of money and were not using it well. And clearly in 9/11, the Bush Administration had intelligence they didn't use. We needed internal reforms in intelligence gathering."

Click here to read full article.

02/22/2006 / Permalink / National Security, Toledo, (all tags)