US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano met yesterday with leaders from global shipping companies, including UPS, DHL, FedEx, Atlas and TNT along with U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, to reiterate the Obama administration's commitment to strengthening air cargo screening and security efforts while facilitating the flow of commerce following the disrupted attempt by terrorists to conceal and ship explosive devices onboard aircraft bound for the United States in October.

During the meeting, Secretary Napolitano underscored her continued commitment to partnering with the shipping industry to strengthen cargo security through enhanced screening and preventative measures - including the successful partnership between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the air cargo industry that, starting this month, will allow DHS to collect more comprehensive cargo information in order to make better informed decisions regarding whether high-risk shipments should be loaded on an aircraft. Together, UPS, DHL, FedEx, Atlas and TNT employ more than one million employees in hundreds of countries around the world.

Secretary Napolitano also highlighted the Department's continued collaboration with our federal, state, local and private sector partners and international allies to secure the global supply chain through a layered security approach to identify, deter and disrupt threats through initiatives such as CBP's Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and TSA's Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP). C-TPAT is a voluntary public-private sector partnership program which strengthens cargo security by working closely with importers, carriers, consolidators, licensed customs brokers, and manufacturers to validate and enhance security throughout participating companies' international supply chain. CCSP strengthens security by certifying more than 1,000 entities responsible for conducting air cargo screening throughout the supply chain, facilitating the movement of commerce while ensuring that 100 percent of all cargo transported on passenger aircraft that depart U.S. airports is being screened commensurate with screening of passenger checked baggage -as required by the 9/11 Act.

Secretary Napolitano previously spoke with leaders of the global shipping industry in November to coordinate response and enhanced security efforts following the thwarted terrorist plot in October.

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