Photo Release -- Health & Human Services Secretary Leavitt Visits Port

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``Consumers are demanding what the world can provide,'' SecretaryLeavitt said. ``With 825,000 different shippers and $2 trillionworth of goods imported every year, however, we can't inspecteverything. So we must build quality in at every step ofthe way.''

U.S. Rep. Gene Green, who was also in attendance, said,``The Port of Houston is the largest port in the Gulf ofMexico. We must ensure the purity of import products inthe containers that enter out port.''

Leavitt recently presented President Bush with an ActionPlan developed by an intra-governmental Import Safety WorkingGroup to provide specific recommendations to enhance thesafety of the increasing volume of imports entering theUnited States. Increased penalties of up to $10 million,new certification methods, enhanced enforcement authorityand a larger U.S. presence at overseas facilities are justsome of the provisions of the Action Plan.

Officials took a short tour on the Houston Pilots Boat toobserve cargo ships docked at Barbours Cut. Products seizedby both agencies were on display and officials were givena close-up look at the CBP's VACIS machine, which uses gammaray technology to view cargo. A CBP staff member and hercanine partner also gave a demonstration of package inspection.

``Our food supply is safe,'' Leavitt said. ``But it's not perfect.We must continue to improve. And when you're shopping fortoys or other products during the holidays, don't just readthe label but heed the label. Be assured that our productstandards are the highest in the world and we will continueto improve.''

The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the publicfacilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile-longcomplex of diversified public and private facilities designedfor handling general cargo, containers, grain and otherdry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and othertypes of cargo. Each year, more than 7,000 vessels callat the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterbornetonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and 10th largestin the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuringnavigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, whichhas been instrumental in Houston's development as a centerof international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminaland Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S.port facilities to develop and implement an innovative EnvironmentalManagement System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery pointfor Coffee ``C'' futures contracts traded on the New YorkBoard of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange.

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Members of the public who wish to speak at a Port Commissionmeeting will be asked to sign in at the 4th floor lobbyarea. They may speak when the Chair calls on them duringthe appearances portion of the agenda and their commentswill be limited to three minutes. The public comment protocolis available on the PHA Web site, at:

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