(August 16, 2007) Los Angeles, CA – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today applauded Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and fellow Congressional leaders for appropriating extra funding to secure the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and Southern California’s transportation infrastructure.

“When Washington D.C. recently cut our Homeland Security funding by $8 million, we stood up and requested our fair share,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “Fortunately, our Congressional representatives were listening, and they agree that securing our nation’s largest port complex is a top priority. I am especially grateful to Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard for her unyielding efforts to provide the funds we need to protect our ports, which are a cornerstone of the national economy.”

As part of the latest Iraq Supplemental bill, Congress included $8,053,509 to enhance security at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. These funds will help port security officials and other law enforcement agencies expand counter-terrorism efforts, reinforce the ports’ infrastructure and improve interagency communications.

In addition, the money will enable port leaders to boost their rapid response capabilities, further develop disaster preparedness plans, and train thousands of police to counter potential attacks.

“The Port of Los Angeles is very pleased that additional DHS funding has been provided,” said John M. Holmes, Deputy Executive Director of Operations at the Port of Los Angeles. “We believe that it will greatly assist the port partners in enhancing security.  With respect to the Port of Los Angeles specifically, any funding identified will help us in accelerating our strategic plan for safety and security, particularly in the areas of incident response and continuity of operations planning.”

Democratic leaders also allocated $4,300,000 in transit security grants for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) area that includes Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim.

“These federal resources are critical to helping us safeguard the Los Angeles-Long Beach Port Complex – our nation's largest port complex – and the region's transit system against potential acts of terrorism,” said Representative Roybal-Allard, a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. “The additional funding illustrates the commitment of the new Democratic leadership in Congress to supporting key first responder programs and port security grants that give the men and women who respond to emergencies the tools and resources they need to protect our communities.”

In July, Mayor Villaraigosa joined Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and LAPD Chief William Bratton to demand the LA region’s fair share of UASI funds after the Department of Homeland Security allocated $72.6 million to the LA area – a 10 percent cut from the previous year.  The Mayor and other local leaders also criticized the federal government’s decision to provide just $22 million – out of almost $1 billion across the country – to better coordinate intelligence sharing and communications throughout LA County.