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Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston) announced $11.6 million in Houston-area port security funding in the recent round of Port Security Grant Program (PSPG) funding dedicated to the protection of the Houston Ship Channel and its critical energy and chemical facilities.
“Our efforts to educate the Department of Homeland Security about the critical infrastructure along the Houston Ship Channel continue to bear fruit,” said Congressman Gene Green. “Our local governments and business’ prepared good grant applications and their work is paying off.”
Congressman Green held a Port Security Grants Workshop at the Port of Houston in January 2005 with the Director of the Port Security Grant Program. The 2005 Port Security Grant Round then brought $35 million to the area, and the Department of Homeland Security now recognizes the Port of Houston as one of three “Tier 1” ports in the U.S.
On September 11, 2006, Congressman Green led a bipartisan group of six Houston-area Members of Congress in writing to Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff in support of the 2006 Port Security Grant applications from Harris County, Texas and the Port of Houston Authority.
According to DHS, Harris County received $9,145,907 in PSGP funding to improve their facility and perimeter security with an electronic intrusion detection system and Harris County will enhance interoperable communications by upgrading its infrastructure. Grant money will also be used to purchase an additional patrol boats for law enforcement in and around the port area.
“I am pleased that Harris County received 75% of their request,” Green said. “With the forming of the Port Strategic Security Council to include all stakeholders along the Ship Channel, we have improved our port security grant funding dramatically.”
In addition, the Port of Houston Authority received $1,754,801 in PSGP funding out of a $2.82 million request to improve their facility and perimeter security through the installation of enhanced security fencing and gates along with additional cameras and access control hardware.
“Given our energy and chemical facilities, we will need additional resources in the future, but today’s grant awards are further step in the right direction,” Green added.
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