For Immediate Release: March 9, 2006
Contacts: Kimberly Allen, (202) 226-8364
Rothman's Committee Forces Dubai Ports World to Abandon Plan to Take Over Six U.S. Ports
Critical vote convinces Dubai Ports World to transfer management control of six U.S. Ports, including Port Newark, to an American entity
(Washington, DC)— Late last night, Representative Steven Rothman (D-NJ) voted with his colleagues on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee to prohibit Dubai Ports World, a company controlled by the United Arab Emirates, from taking management control of six major U.S. ports. The vote was taken on an amendment sponsored by Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) during the consideration of a $91 billion supplemental emergency spending bill for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and for hurricane relief. The amendment passed by a vote of 62-2.
“Last night, my fellow committee members and I sent a strong message to the President that the United Arab Emirates should not be running any American ports. Finally, the Congress has taken a step to correct President Bush’s latest serious error in judgment,” said Rothman.
At the time of the vote, Dubai Ports World was in the process of acquiring the British-owned Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, the current operator of the six U.S. ports in question. Yet, Dubai Ports World announced this morning that it would hand over its stake in U.S. port operations to a U.S. entity, demonstrating the strong impact that the Appropriations Committee vote had on the impending port takeovers by foreign interests.
“I have heard from hundreds of my constituents about their opposition to this deal. I was honored to cast my vote against the United Arab Emirates taking control over six of our nation’s ports, including the Newark Elizabeth port located here in Northern New Jersey. This clearly sent a message to President Bush that the American people were not willing to risk their security no matter what the President’s assurances were,” added Rothman.
The amendment passed by the Appropriations Committee blocks the deal by banning federal agencies from using government resources to pursue the Dubai Ports deal. The Fiscal Year 2006 supplemental spending bill passed out of the Appropriations Committee by voice vote and is expected to be considered by the full House of Representatives next week.
###
