SOUTHLAND PORTS GET SECURITY FUNDING.Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , which had requested $35 million to beef up security along the world's largest seaport complex, were awarded $15 million Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States . Local authorities said they were pleased with the funding level. They also applauded an additional $17.4 million in grants for local governments, private companies and a major pilot program aimed at analyzing cargo security. ``This funding is the first step in ensuring that the port (complex) receives sufficient federal funds Federal Funds Funds deposited to regional Federal Reserve Banks by commercial banks, including funds in excess of reserve requirements. Notes: These non-interest bearing deposits are lent out at the Fed funds rate to other banks unable to meet overnight reserve to help protect the complex and our entire region,'' said Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard Lucille Roybal-Allard (born June 12 1941), an American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 33rd and 34th District of California (map), which includes downtown Los Angeles. , D-Los Angeles. Homeland Security Noun 1. Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Department of Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States Director Tom Ridge Thomas Joseph Ridge (born August 27 1945 near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives (1983–1995), Governor of Pennsylvania (1995–2001), Assistant to the President for Homeland Security announced the $170 million in total nationwide grants during a visit to Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth, city (1991 pop. 670,653), Eastern Cape, SE South Africa, on Algoa Bay, an arm of the Indian Ocean. It is a tourist center and a major seaport that ships diamonds, wool, fruit, and other items. , N.J., where he touted the Bush administration's port security efforts. He also announced new initiatives to identify and search high-risk cargo before it reaches the United States. ``We know that true maritime security demands that government and industry work together, which is why we are continually collaborating with industry, states and local authorities to secure our ports and waterways,'' Ridge said. In California, 25 key ports and facilities will receive a total of $28.5 million in grants. The total share for the Los Angeles and Long Beach region is about $20 million. Congressional Democrats criticized the Bush administration for not devoting enough to improving security at the nation's 361 seaports and lambasted Republicans for voting down measures to hike funding. Local officials, however, said they were pleased. ``This is the largest effort so far to help the city of Long Beach, which we're delighted about,'' said Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill. Port of Los Angeles The Port of Los Angeles is located on San Pedro Bay in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, approximately 20 miles (30 km) south of downtown. Also called Los Angeles Harbor and WORLDPORT LA spokeswoman Theresa Adams-Lopez called the money ``a good amount of funding.'' Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn's spokeswoman, Julie Wong, called it ``a great start.'' In addition to the ports, local agencies like the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority and private contractors like Pacific Harbor Line The Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) was formed in 1998 to take over the Harbor Belt Line (HBL). In 1998 the Alameda Corridor was nearing completion, allowing a massive amount of railroad traffic from the largest harbor in the Western hemisphere; the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Inc. received money for security. The dollars are expected to pay for a range of efforts including the boosting of security at and near docks, upgrading of surveillance equipment at bridges and roads, and the building of new command centers. About $8.2 million will go directly to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for a pilot program aimed at encouraging the development of new technologies to ensure the security of cargo containers. Wong said the program would focus on ways to inspect cargo before it leaves a foreign port, rather than waiting to conduct searches until containers have arrived at local shores. Port officials also are testing different technologies to better secure containers. Together, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handle about 35 percent of the nation's container traffic. Last year the complex was awarded $6 million for security, despite having requested $70 million. Earlier this month, Ridge announced another $9 million for the complex as part of a grant to protect urban centers and critical infrastructure. Sen. Dianne Feinstein criticized that funding as inadequate and has requested that Ridge spend more money on California ports. |
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