[JURIST] The US House [official website] on Wednesday voted to keep language in an emergency appropriations bill [HR 4939 summary] that would block the transfer of operations at six US ports to United Arab Emirates-owned Dubai Ports World [corporate website], despite the company's decision to transfer all US port operations [JURIST report] to an American company. DP World confirmed Wednesday that it will sell all its US port operations to a US buyer within four to six months and until the sale is complete, its US operations will operate independently.

The House voted 377-38 [roll call] against an amendment that would have removed Section 3011 [PDF text], approved [JURIST report] by the House Appropriations Committee [official website] last week, from the emergency appropriations bill. Despite the vote, several lawmakers have expressed satisfaction with DP World's decision to give up control of the US ports, though Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) [official website], chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, warned that Congress will continue to monitor the situation. AP has more.