[Presidential Decision Directives - PDD]
The White House Briefing Room
April 27, 1999
MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE THE SECRETARY OF LABOR THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AN...
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate
Release April 27, 1999
April 27, 1999
MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
THE SECRETARY OF LABOR
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY
CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR
NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
SUBJECT: Establishment of the Interagency
Commission on Crime and Security in U.S. Seaports
United States seaports are an integral part of our Nation's commerce.
Too often, however, they tend to be a major locus of crime, including
drug trafficking, cargo theft, and smuggling of contraband and aliens.
Moreover, the criminal conspiracies often associated with these crimes
can pose threats to the people and critical infrastructures of seaport
cities.
Many government agencies at the Federal, State, and local level are
addressing this significant problem, at times in partnership with the
private sector. I have determined that the Nation needs a comprehensive
review of the nature and extent of seaport crime and the overall state of
security in seaports, as well as the ways in which governments at all
levels are responding to this problem.
Therefore, I hereby direct as follows:
1. The Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General and the Secretary
of Transportation, in cooperation with other heads of executive
departments and agencies as appropriate, shall establish the Interagency
Commission on Crime and Security in U.S. Seaports (hereinafter, the
Commission).
2. The Commission shall be comprised of not more than 25 members and
shall be co-chaired by 3 Federal officials, one of whom shall be
appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury, one of whom shall be
appointed by the Attorney General, and one of whom shall be appointed by
the Secretary of Transportation.
3. The Commission members shall include senior officials of: the
Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, Agriculture,
Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Transportation; the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Management and Budget, the
Office of National Drug Control
more
(OVER)
2
Policy, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council,
and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. All members of the Commission shall be
full-time Federal employees.
4. The Commission shall undertake a comprehensive study of the nature
and extent of the problem of crime in our seaports, as well as the ways
in which governments at all levels are responding. The study shall
address all serious crime relating to the maritime context, including but
not limited to drug trafficking, cargo theft, and the smuggling of
contraband and aliens. Moreover, the study shall carefully examine the
role of internal conspiracies often associated with such crime in
seaports, including the potential threats posed by terrorists and others
to the people and critical infrastructures of seaport cities.
5. In the course of its work, the Commission shall seek input from, and
take full account of, the expertise and views of the many different State
and local government agencies with relevant responsibilities, as well as
the involved private sector interests.
6. The Commission shall complete its work within 1 year of the date of
its establishment. On or before that date, the Commis-sion shall submit
a report to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the
Secretary of Transportation, including the following:
+ An analysis of the nature and extent of serious crime and an
assessment of the overall state of security in U.S. seaports;
+ An overview of the specific missions and authorities of Federal
agencies with relevant responsi-bilities, together with a
description in general terms of the typical roles played by
State and local agencies as well as by the private sector;
+ An assessment of the nature and effectiveness of the ongoing
coordination among the Federal, State, and local government
agencies; and
+ Recommendations for improving the response of Federal, State,
and local governments to the problem of seaports crime.
7. Within 3 months of the submission of the Commission's report, the
Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of
Transportation shall forward the report, together with their joint
recommendations, to the Chief of Staff to the President for final review
and appropriate action.
8. The Secretary of the Treasury shall appoint an Executive Director who
will oversee the support staff and a working group to be established to
further the work of the Commission. The Executive Director shall report
directly to the Co-Chairs of the Commission.
9. With the exception of the personnel costs (including the salaries and
any necessary travel expenses) of the members of the Commission and the
working group, which shall remain the responsibility of their parent
agency, the Department of the Treasury shall fund the Commission,
including all costs for support staff, office space, and logistics.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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