Sen. Jim DeMint has resubmitted a bill to the Senate that would restrict the ability of certain felons to obtain employment at America's ports. This bill, the Secure Port Workforce Act, deserves to be approved by the Senate, just as it was last time around before being stricken in conference committee from a wider ports bill.

The proposal is the same as one that passed unanimously earlier this year. It would deny access to secure areas of this nation's ports to those who have been convicted of various felonies within the past seven years. It also would bar anyone every convicted of espionage, sedition, treason, terrorism, crimes involving transportation security, unlawful use of explosives, murder, and organized crimes.

That makes perfect sense. Securing our nation begins, in part, with securing the ports of entry -- like our port facilities. And that begins with making sure the people who staff those ports can be trusted.

DeMint is right when he says about this legislation, "A serious felon is a prime target for those trying to smuggle a nuclear device or chemical weapon into our country. Trusting convicted murderers and weapons smugglers with secure access to our ports allows the fox to guard the henhouse and this legislation will put a stop to it."

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If terrorists are going to smuggle nuclear or chemical weapons into this nation, there's a good chance it would come through our ports. The people who handle that cargo or control access to those facilities must be trustworthy. A history of criminal activity particularly can call that trustworthiness into question.

In short, as DeMint said, "We can spend all the money in the world screening cargo, but if we don't screen the people working at our ports, we can't expect to prevent a terrorist attack."

DeMint says the International Longshore and Warehouse Union lobbied to have the language taken out of the prior bill. DeMint quotes a reference in the union's October newsletter: "We have heard rumors that Senator DeMint is particularly angry with the ILWU's successful lobbying effort to strip his anti-labor provision. He may attempt to amend another piece of legislation, so the union is on guard to protect its members' interest."

That union should resist blocking this bill. The legislation is aimed specifically at making this nation safer. It's irresponsible to fight it on grounds that it is anti-labor. When this bill comes up for a vote, Congress should ignore special interests and vote to make our ports and our nation safer from terrorism.

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