"Earlier today, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called me to let me know that he is awarding $1.2 billion in contracts for the next generation of radiation detectors to screen for nuclear devices and dirty bombs in shipping containers.  I am pleased that the New York City Police Department and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will be working with the Department of Homeland Security on the development of these dirty bomb and nuclear detectors. As I have often said, the number of containers that go in and out of America by truck, airplane, and ship is so great that we could never physically inspect every single one and still have a functioning economy. We need to find ways to keep ourselves safe while still going about our normal lives, and the Department of Homeland Security's Advanced Spectroscopic Portal offers extremely promising technologies to do just that. All of us who live or work in or around New York City should appreciate that Secretary Chertoff has spearheaded this important program."