FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT:
August 6, 2014 Brenda Lopez 956.544.8352
PRESS RELEASE: Congressman Vela Announces $705K Grant for Brownsville Navigation District
Funds are provided by the Port Security Grant Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Filemon Vela (D-Brownsville) announced a $705K grant for the Brownsville Navigation District, which is also known as the Port of Brownsville. The funds will help upgrade fire suppression systems on oil docks, the port wide risk management plan, and contribute to various other improvements that will make the Brownsville Navigation District safer and more efficient.
“The Port of Brownsville is an economic driver that allows the 34th Congressional District of Texas to remain competitive in today’s globalized economy,” said U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela. “It is vital that we constantly improve the infrastructure and risk mitigation plans for the Port of Brownsville, so that we can continue to operate the most successful exporting port of American commodities – these grant funds do just that.”
The Port of Brownsville generates billions of dollars of economic activity for the 34th Congressional District and serves Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 62, which in 2013, was ranked number one in exports to foreign countries by exporting over three billion dollars of American commodities. Exploration and production platforms, petroleum products, metals, and steel were the primary commodities exported.
The funds were provided by the Port Security Grant Program, which provides funding for transportation infrastructure security activities to implement Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and facility security plans among port authorities, facility operators, and state and local government agencies required to provide port security services.
For more information on U.S. Rep. Vela, visit vela.house.gov. Learn more about U.S. Rep. Vela by liking his Facebook page or by following him on Twitter.
U.S. Representative Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, represents the 34th District of Texas, which is anchored in Cameron County and runs nearly 300 miles north to Gonzales County. Vela is on the House Committee on Agriculture, the House Committee on Homeland Security, and is the Co-Chair of the Border Caucus.
