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Ports are the gaping hole in America's homeland security.

While port security remains one of our single greatest vulnerabilities, it makes little sense to give operational control of our ports to a foreign nation without first doing proper investigations.

Port Security is one of our weakest security links, and it must be one of our highest priorities.

And let us be frank, the security threats that emanate from our ports come from foreign cargo.

Our ports and our borders are the most unprotected fronts in the war on terror.

We know that the most fundamental responsibility of our Federal Government is to ensure the safety of its people and to protect and ensure our National security. And clearly port security has been left in limbo.

All those trucks and barges that carry our goods to port are vital connections to the only force which can balance our trade deficit: export. We must keep doing what we do best if we are going to get America out of the red.

Our ports are owned by local governments who are responsible for the ports. It is the Coast Guard and Customs that provide security. The federal government will never outsource our security.

I represent the Port of Philadelphia, and I know firsthand the important role that ports play in the national and global economy. I have also seen how simple accidents can have devastating impacts on the port system.

Michael Chertoff and the Department of Homeland Security, they have the primary responsibility of ensuring that our ports are secure.