Seaports are a major source of economic activity in the United States.
However, because of the tremendous volume of cargo and passengers passing through U.S. seaports on a daily basis, the federal agencies with regulatory and law enforcement authority in our seaports are often overwhelmed. As a result, U.S. seaports are extremely vulnerable to criminal activities that threaten our national security and adversely impact commerce and international trade. The Commission has one year to conduct a thorough analysis of operations in U.S. seaports and the ability of federal agencies to carry out their various law enforcement and regulatory missions in the maritime environment. The Commission will explore various seaport crime and security issues including terrorism, narcotics trafficking, firearms smuggling, trafficking in nuclear materials and weapons of mass destruction, cargo theft and illegal immigration. The Commission is chaired by the Departments of the Treasury, Justice and Transportation, and includes twenty-five representatives from executive branch departments and agencies with an interest and expertise in seaport crime and security, as well as other relevant maritime issues.