LOCAL OFFICIALS PUSHING BILL TO BOOST PORT SECURITY.

Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau

Throwing some new muscle behind an old refrain for more security funding, Port of Los Angeles officials lobbied Congress on Thursday on legislation to boost federal aid as much as $16 billion.

The bill, sponsored by Reps. Doug Ose, R-Sacramento, and Jane Harman, D-El Segundo, directs a portion of U.S. Customs Bureau funding to beef up port security and also calls for national port security standards.

``We need to step up our one voice to really urge the federal government to take a different look at port security,'' said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who led the local delegation's lobbying blitz.

``If somebody wanted to attack the global economy in some way, it would be to do something to affect the port complexes,'' Hahn said. ``With every container that comes through there, we feel we're at risk. We don't feel safe yet.''

In addition to Hahn, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Larry Keller and the port's Police Chief Noel Cunningham pitched lawmakers for more money as well as multiyear funding so security officials could plan long-term strategies.

Port of Long Beach officials also attended, but did not lobby on legislation.

Local officials blamed the annual grant application process for the fact that the Port of Los Angeles has requested about $68 million since Sept. 11, 2001, but has received only about $4 million.

Most of what the port has received has gone toward studying the creation of a joint container-inspection site. The shortfall, however, means the port still has been unable to install water sensors, radiation detection equipment, baggage screening equipment and other measures.

Noting that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach bear the load of 43 percent of the nation's cargo imports and exports, Cunningham said Congress should set funding based on the size and risks of various ports.

``Pure mathematics alone will tell you, if you believe a weapon will come through a U.S. seaport, there's a 43 percent chance that when it does come in, it's going to come through L.A./Long Beach,'' he said.

On Nov. 13, the House plans to hold a hearing on port security financing.

Rivaling Ose and Harman's bill is one by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R- Huntington Beach, that would impose a fee on containers to pay for port security. Los Angeles port officials object to that bill, arguing it would make them less competitive and drive business to Mexico or Canada.

Rohrabacher, however, said he preferred to have foreign manufacturers foot the security bill than American taxpayers.

Lisa Friedman, [phone]

lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com