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Senator Murray Celebrates Port of Tacoma Intermodal Radiation Test CenterOn Friday May 11, Senator Murray joined with representatives of the Port of Tacoma, Coast Guard, Customs, DNDO, port workers, and members of the Tacoma business community to celebrate the
"If we want to secure our ports we have to work to develop and test new technologies and processes," said Senator Murray. "We know that current technologies that are effective for trucks do not necessarily work for trains. That is why I fought for the Intermodal Radiation Test Center in the SAFE Ports Act. If we want to ensure that our communities and economy are safe we need to look at cutting-edge technology and take a comprehensive approach." Senator Murray has established herself as a nationwide leader on port security. Last year, after five years of work, Murray's SAFE Ports Act was signed into law. The SAFE Ports Act raises security standards for all cargo entering the U.S., creates a streamlined system to track and monitor cargo, creates a system to resume trade after an incident, and authorizes port security grants. Murray has also included substantial funding in the Senate Budget Resolution for port security for Fiscal Year 2008 and secured $295 million for port security initiatives in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. And just this week, Murray announced that she helped to secure over $18 million in port security grants for Washington state ports, including over $11 million for critical security improvements at the Port of Tacoma. .................................................................................... Murray Announces More Than $18 Million in Grants for Washington State PortsOn May 9th, Senator Murray announced that she has helped to secure $18,269,051 for ports across Washington state. The funds will go toward infrastructure security improvements including chemical detectors, cameras, security gates, access controls, and training and exercises. The funding for these grants was included in the Fiscal Year 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Senator Murray is a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee and a national leader on port security. Murray was a principal author of the SAFE Ports Act (P.L. 109-347), which President Bush signed into law last October.
The funding included in the bill will be distributed to the following ports: Port of Seattle - Total: $5,573,887
Port of Vancouver, WA - Total: $359,050
Port of Longview - Total: $262,500 Port of Tacoma - Total: $11,760,272
Port of Grays Harbor - Total: $313,342 This funding is a particular help to the Ports of Vancouver, Longview and Grays Harbor. None of those ports received port security grants in FY2006. .................................................................................... Cargo Security NewsPort safety screeners tackle moving targets Now, with the help of $5 million in federal funds and cooperation from various federal and local groups, the Port of Tacoma will be a testing ground for new technology that would scan the huge steel cargo containers without stopping the trains. Murray said money for enhanced port security is long overdue, in part because early anti-terrorist efforts and funding were directed mainly at airports. - Seattle Times - May 12, 2007 ......................................... Port of Tacoma will house radiation detection center "With this center, we have the opportunity to continue our state's long history as the birthplace of innovation and technological breakthrough," said Sen. Murray. "It is only fitting that the radiation detection equipment that could protect all of our nation's ports will have its roots right here in Tacoma." - Tacoma Daily News - May 15, 2007 ......................................... Port grant to fund perimeter fencing, strategic lighting “This will completely replace what perimeter fencing there is, with 8-foot heavy-duty fencing topped with barbed wire,” said Lisa Benn, a Port staffer, who has been working with Sen. Patty Murray and Homeland Security for several years to obtain funding to improve the Port’s security. - Grays Harbor Daily World - May 14, 2007 .................................................................................... Previous Cargo Security Updates
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