(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced major investments to
bolster security around the Puget Sound region. The funding, which will be used
to increase port and transit security, was included in the Fiscal Year 2010
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act and awarded on a competitive
basis around the country.
“As
we continue working to boost the economy and create jobs, it is so important
that our ports remain safe, secure and open for business,” said Senator Murray. “With millions of
containers passing through our ports each year, and with thousands of good
paying jobs on the line, these grants are critical to ensuring that proper
training methods and technology are being employed to protect our ports from
attacks.”
As a
senior member of the Budget and Appropriations committees, Senator Murray
fought to secure funding for necessary programs to keep our communities, ports
and transportation systems safe.
A full
breakdown of the funding appears below:
Port
Security – $20,203,798
Ports
in the Puget Sound will receive over $20 million in grants for critical port
security infrastructure that will help protect the port from terrorism. The
funding will help ports enhance their risk management capabilities, training
and exercises, and capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover
from attacks involving improvised explosive devices and other non-conventional
weapons. Port Security grants were a critical element of Sen. Murray’s
SAFE Port Act and has provided support to vulnerable ports across the country.
Transit Security – $2,604,894
Puget
Sound transit authorities will receive grants to protect critical
infrastructure and travelers from acts of terrorism, major disasters and other
emergencies.
Buffer
Zone – $2,500,000
The Buffer
Zone Protection Program provides grants to build security and risk management
capabilities to secure critical infrastructure sites including chemical
facilities, financial institutions, nuclear and electric power plants, dams,
stadiums, and other high-risk/high-consequence facilities.
Driver’s
License Security – $1,098, 276
Funding
from the Driver’s License Security Grants is meant to prevent terrorism by
reducing fraud and increasing and improving the reliability and accuracy of
personal identification documents issued by states and territories. These
grants are intended to address a key recommendation made by the 9/11 commission
to improve the security of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification
cards.
Emergency
Communications – $1,067,000
The
Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program provides planning,
training and exercise funding to states, territories, local and tribal
governments to perform initiatives to improve emergency communications
including collective response to natural disasters and acts of terrorism.
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