Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D – Westlake Village), announced that the Port of Hueneme will receive more than $400,000 in funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Fiscal Year 2014 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP).
“The Port of Hueneme is a connection to world markets, serving as a priority gateway for the Western United States, and it is critical to the economic health of Ventura County and Southern California,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “I am pleased to announce for a second consecutive year that the Port of Hueneme will receive this crucial funding to ensure its safety and security.”
“This funding comes at a critical time as we continue to partner with our community law enforcement partners to ramp up security and maximize the safety of the citizens we serve,” said Port of Hueneme CEO & Port Director Kristin Decas. “A special thank you to Congresswoman Brownley, who has been most instrumental in leveraging the legislation necessary to ensure all ports receive essential funding for important security projects.”
“The Congresswoman has been a true leader in securing grant funding,” said Port of Hueneme President Mary Anne Rooney. “These funds make the Port more secure and competitive, and bring much needed dollars to our community.”
The Port of Hueneme will receive $409,410 from the FY2014 PSGP. The funds will help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide maritime security risk management, and maintain or reestablish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities.
Because the original House FY2014 Homeland Security Appropriations Act did not provide specific funds for the PSGP, Brownley offered an amendment to provide $97.5 million for port security grants, which passed with broad bipartisan support. Ultimately, the final legislation that was signed into law provided $100 million for this critical program.
Brownley recently authored a letter to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx in support of the Port of Hueneme’s FY2014 Port Security Grant Program application. Brownley’s letter can be found here.
Issues: 113th Congress, Defense, Jobs, Economy, and Small Business, Local Issues