**DEMOCRATS WERE OUTRAGED BY SECRETIVE APPROVAL OF ALLOWING COMPANY
OWNED BY U.A.E. TO MANAGE SIX U.S. PORTS**

***Although There Will Now Be a 45-Day Investigation, Democrats Insist
There Must Be A Congressional Vote on Approval of Port Deal At End of
Investigation***

**[Key Facts and Timeline on Proposed Port Deal and Latest
Developments:]{.underline}**

-   Dubai Ports World is a company that is owned by the government of
    the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

-   If approved by the U.S. government, the acquisition by Dubai Ports
    World of another company would lead to it managing terminal
    operations at six major U.S. ports -- New York, Newark,
    Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami and New Orleans.

-   On January 17, the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the
    United States (CFIUS) approved the port deal sought by Dubai Ports
    World -- with little review and no input from the affected
    communities.

-   The CFIUS did [not]{.underline} initiate a 45-day national security
    investigation -- despite the fact that UAE has direct links to 9/11
    and the Department of Homeland Security raised security concerns.

-   By February 13, both Democratic and Republican Members of Congress
    began speaking out against the deal, insisting on further review.

-   On February 21, President Bush stated he would veto any legislation
    that would delay the port deal.

-   On February 26, the Dubai Ports World -- seeing the likelihood that
    Congress would pass a bill by a veto-proof margin that would insist
    on the 45-day national security investigation -- announced that it
    was voluntarily seeking the 45-day investigation.

-   Democrats insist that, in addition to the 45-day investigation,
    there must also be a congressional vote on approval/disapproval of
    the port deal after the investigation is completed and shared with
    Congress.

**[Facts on the UAE -- Why A UAE-Owned Company May Raise National
Security Concerns:]{.underline}**

-   Two of the 9/11 hijackers were from the UAE.

-   Money supporting the 9/11 hijackers went through UAE banks. The 9/11
    Commission concluded in its report, "The vast majority of the money
    funding the Sept. 11 attacks flowed through the UAE."

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-   UAE was one of the three countries to recognize the Taliban as the
    legitimate government of Afghanistan.

-   UAE was a key transfer point for illegal shipments of nuclear
    components to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

**[Why Port Security Matters:]{.underline}**

-   U.S. seaports handle more than 95 percent of our nation's foreign
    trade, worth more than \$1 trillion a year.

-   A weapon of mass destruction detonated in a container at a seaport
    could cause tremendous numbers of casualties, and an estimated
    economic loss ranging from \$58 billion to \$1 trillion.

-   The 9/11 Commission report concluded that terrorists have the
    "opportunity to do harm as great or greater in maritime and surface
    transportation" than the 9/11 attacks.

**[Handling of UAE Port Deal is Just One of The Many Failures of
Republicans on Port Security:]{.underline}**

-   More than 4 years after 9/11, [only 6 percent]{.underline} of
    containers entering our ports are screened.

-   Over the last four years, the GOP Congress has only appropriated a
    total of \$765 million for port security -- whereas the Coast Guard
    has stated that [\$5.4 billion]{.underline} is needed over 10 years.

-   In December, the 9/11 Commission gave the Administration and
    Congress [a grade of "D"]{.underline} for checked bag and cargo
    screening, including cargo screening at ports.

-   Republicans [rejected]{.underline} a Democratic Homeland Security
    substitute that would have provided an additional \$400 million in
    funding for port security in FY 2006 beyond the Republican bill,
    including funding to double the number of new overseas port
    inspectors. \[2005 Roll Call Vote #187; 5/18/05\]

-   In his budget, the President is once again proposing to
    [eliminate]{.underline} port security grants by rolling them into a
    larger grant program -- thereby forcing port officials to compete
    for funding against rail and mass transit.

Office of the House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, February 27, 2006

[www.HouseDemocrats.gov](http://www.HouseDemocrats.gov/) /
[www.DemocraticLeader.house.gov](http://www.DemocraticLeader.house.gov/)