April 8, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington state ports will receive $30.3m for port security efforts across the state this year. The funds, which will now begin to be distributed to state ports, will go toward infrastructure security improvements including chemical detectors, cameras, security gates, access controls, and training and exercises.
“As we work to stabilize our economy and spur investment in Washington state, it is critically important that our ports remain secure and open for business,” Senator Murray said. "With millions of containers passing through our region each year, and with thousands of good paying jobs tied to our ports, these grants are critical to ensuring that our state's ports employ the right technology and training methods to help prevent possible attacks.”
The funding for these grants was included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Port Security Grant Program. Senator Murray, a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee and a national leader on port security, fought for strong national funding of the Port Security Grant Program.
Senator Murray was a principal author of the SAFE Port Act (P.L. 109-347), which President Bush signed into law in October 2006.
The Port Security funding will be distributed to the following ports in Washington state:
Puget Sound- $26,888,749
Columbia-Snake River System- $3,238,369
Port of Grays Harbor- $208,424
In addition to the Port Security Grant Funding, the Department of Homeland Security announced the following FY 2009 grants directed toward Washington state:
Intercity Bus Security Grant Program- $43,141 to Discovery Tours LLC
Freight Rail Security Grant Program- $75,000 to Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad
Transit Security Grant Program- $2,130,790 to King County Dep. Of Transportation
$829,280 to Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority
Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program- $1,185,623
Buffer Zone Protection Program- $600,000
Drivers License Security Grant Program- $1,169,839
Emergency Operations Center Grant Program- $1,000,000 for Snohomish County
$1,000,000 for Thurston County