US Senate and House conferees reached agreement in principle on The Port and Maritime Security Act of 2002 (S. 1214), legislation to significantly improve security at the nation's seaports. Initially introduced in 2000, the bill is the culmination of a two-year effort by Sen. Fritz Hollings and Sen. Bob Graham to close the security gaps that exist at ports along America's coast. This news was greeted with enthusiasm from gateways as diverse as the ports of Oakland, New York/New Jersey, Brownsville, Charleston, Everglades, and Baltimore. Citing the urgent need to enact the bill's security provisions during this session of Congress, Sen. Hollings rescinded his recent proposals to institute a user fee and to extend a maritime tonnage duty to defray the associated costs. As agreed to by conferees, the bill establishes local port security committees to integrate the myriad federal, state, local and private law enforcement agencies overseeing the security of the international borders at America's seaports.