PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL
MAIN PAGE | EVENTS & PROGRAMS | 2002 | MID-TERM | SENATOR JOHN BREAUX

U.S. Sen. Breaux to Address PBEC in Mexico The senior senator from Louisiana has been at the forefront on the issue of Port Security. HONOLULU (13 September 2002) — United States Senator John Breaux will address senior business leaders from throughout the Asia Pacific region as they convene in Los Cabos from Oct. 21-23 for the 2002 Mid-term Meeting of the Pacific Basin Economic Council. Senator Breaux has been at the forefront of the push for increased port security and a comprehensive maritime security plan. Since Sept. 11, he has drafted key legislation to address what he calls “one of the most important concerns facing the transportation industry, and least understood vulnerabilities of the American economy.” He highlights the fact that the government can only inspect 2 percent of the 2 billion tons of ocean freight that enter the country each year, and media reports that 25 Islamic extremists entered the U.S. in March as stowaways. Senator Breaux has also been heavily involved in the nation’s efforts to build a Homeland Security Department, and most recently he has been frequently working with congressional leaders on the evolving U.S. policy on Iraq. A third-term Democrat from Louisiana, he has served as Chief Deputy Whip since 1993. He is a senior member of the Finance Committee, a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and leader of the Centrist Coalition of Senate Democrats and Republicans. He is a graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) and the Louisiana State University School of Law in Baton Rouge. PBEC’s Mid-term Meeting brings together the organization’s inner circle to discuss and issue policy recommendations, to participate in working committee meetings on areas ranging from electronic commerce to transparency, and to chart the future direction of PBEC. The MTM also provides ample networking opportunities to forge close business and personal relationships. This year’s Mid-term meeting is being held just before the APEC Leaders meetings in Los Cabos. Senator Breaux will be addressing a joint audience of PBEC delegates as well as members of the APEC Business Advisory Council. For more information on PBEC, its Mid-term Meeting, and Senator John Breaux, please visit the PBEC website at http://www.pbec.org/events/2002/midterm/. For more information: Steve Olson Acting President PBEC International Secretariat 900 Fort Street, Suite 1080 Honolulu, HI 96813 Tel.: 808-521-9044 Fax: 808-521-8530 E-Mail: steve@pbec.org Web: http://www.pbec.org