Chertoff: U.S. 'Unequivocally' Safer Now From Attacks

He said in his written testimony that a proposed new rule would strengthen passenger screening requirements for private aircraft entering and leaving the United States. It would establish procedures similar to those for commercial airliners and allow inspectors more time to deal with potential threats.

He also underscored concerns about threats from "more than 17 million small boats, ranging from commercial enterprises to passenger ferries to canoes and personal watercraft." The Department of Homeland Security worries about the use of such boats to smuggle in "a weapon of mass destruction" or to serve as "a water-borne improvised explosive device," he said.

In addition, "we want to prevent the use of a small vessel to smuggle dangerous people into our country," Chertoff said. "And finally, we're concerned about these boats being used as launching pads for an attack on the maritime industry or on critical infrastructure."

In a pilot program to screen small boats for nuclear or radiological material, local officials will be equipped with detection gear so they can run tests in key choke points in the Seattle harbor, he said. Chertoff said plans call for similar programs to be rolled out in New York and other locations.

In response to questions from the committee chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Chertoff said his intent is to remain in his current post until the end of President Bush's term. Thompson pressed Chertoff on his plans in light of reports that he may be a candidate to replace Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, who has announced he will step down on Sept. 17.

Stressing that he serves at the pleasure of president, Chertoff said that "so long as it pleases him . . . I'm happy to continue to do this job up until the last day of the administration." He declined to discuss any conversations he has had with the White House, but said, "I indicated what my intent is."

Thompson also challenged Chertoff about a list of reported shortcomings in homeland security efforts.

He said committee staff found in July that nearly a quarter of senior leadership positions in Chertoff's department were vacant. Meanwhile, Thompson said, political positions have been added, giving DHS more political appointees than much larger departments such as Veterans' Affairs and Defense.

Thompson also charged that DHS has failed to provide Congress with critical programs, plans and reports, including a revised National Response Plan, a strategic plan for deploying explosives-detection equipment at airport checkpoints and final regulations for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program. Known as TWIC, the program initiated by the Coast Guard and the TSA aims to provide tamper-resistant ID cards to an estimated 750,000 maritime workers with access to secure areas in ports and offshore facilities.