Senate Passes GreenLane Port Security Legislation

The Senate passed the cargo security legislation authored by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) that is aimed to improve the security of America 's ports and cargo container system. Murray 's bill passed by a vote of 98-0. Senator Murray has spearheaded the effort to protect America 's ports since the terrorist attacks of September 11th. She spent the past week on the Senate floor managing debate on her bill. The bipartisan bill, which Murray introduced with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) – raises security standards for all cargo entering the U.S. , creates a GreenLane to track and monitor cargo, creates a system to resume trade after an incident, and funds port security grants. For Washington state, the bill will provide new security grants for Washington 's ports, a new regional coordination center, new radiation detection equipment at the Port of Tacoma , new Customs personnel for Seattle/Tacoma, and a new system to keep Washington 's trade-dependent economy moving.