Neutralizing The Nuclear And Radiological Threat: Securing the Global Supply Chain (Part Two)

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations had two days of hearings entitled “Neutralizing The Nuclear And Radiological Threat: Securing the Global Supply Chain.” On March 28th, the Subcommittee hearing focused on the domestic and international deployment of radiation detection equipment, as well as U.S. Government efforts to prevent radiological or nuclear terrorism. Three Government Accountability Office Reports will be released at the March 28th hearing. These reports include: (1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Radiation Portal Monitor Program (RPMP) to install Radiation Portal Monitors (RPMs) at U.S Ports of Entry; (2) the Department of Energy Second Line of Defense program to install RPMs at key international border crossings and ports; and (3) the successful importation of radiological sources across the Northern and Southern Border.

On March 30th, the Subcommittee hearing focused on the security of the global supply chain and update the May 2005 hearing, “The Container Security Initiative and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism: Securing the Global Supply Chain or Trojan Horse?” A Subcommittee staff report on global supply chain security was released at the March 30th hearing.

In addition to examining forthcoming reports, the hearings will examine the other programs that form our layered defense against nuclear terrorism including the Container Security Initiative, the Megaports Initiative, and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. Moreover, these hearings examined the role of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, a new office created within DHS to coordinate global nuclear detection architecture.

The Subcommittee’s Report, “AN ASSESSMENT OF U.S. EFFORTS TO SECURE THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN” and the three GAO Reports (GAO-06-545R, GAO-06-389, and GAO-06-311) are all available in the final Printed Hearing Record which can be accessed via the link at top left of this webpage.