Port security

Governor Crist Signs Legislation Strengthening Florida’s Seaport Security; House Bill 7141 increases access to Florida ports while maintaining strict security standards already in place

June 15, 2009 -- FORT LAUDERDALE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today signed legislation strengthening Florida’s international trade by increasing worker access to Florida ports while maintaining strict security standards. Signed by the Governor at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, House Bill 7141 reduces the cost of doing business by eliminating unnecessary and redundant security reviews.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Detroit—The Honorable Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Honorable Peter Van Loan, Canadian Minister of Public Safety, toured port operations today on both sides of the shared United States/Canada border and signed an agreement to make Shiprider—joint law enforcement teams stationed along the international maritime border—permanent.    » read more »

N.J. Sens Act After Bush Administration Admits It Will Miss Deadline To Screen 100 Percent Of Nation's Cargo

June 23, 2008 -- NEWARK, NJ – Today, Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) joined executives from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as they announced their introduction of a new bill to increase security at the nation’s 361 ports.

Their bill comes after the Bush Administration admitted to Senator Lautenberg that it will miss a deadline to screen 100 percent of the nation’s cargo for radiological and nuclear weapons. Their bill would, for the first time, create minimum security standards for all containers entering the United States.    » read more »

May 27, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton issued the following statement today in reaction to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that reveals gaps in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program designed to strengthen port security:

Container ship: Photo by Patrick Boury (CC)    » read more »

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard alerted the maritime community today that Iran has been placed on the port security advisory list.

The Coast Guard determined that Iran has not maintained effective anti-terrorism measures. The determination was made in accordance with the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, which authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into account several factors, including whether a foreign port poses a high risk of introducing terrorism to international maritime commerce.    » read more »

October 4, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chairman of the Commerce, Science & Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security, issued the following statement at this morning’s hearing on port security:    » read more »

August 16, 2007 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released today supplemental Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 grant guidance and application kits for three grant programs: the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), and Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program. The supplemental announcement of $260 million is in addition to $567 million awarded from the regular FY 2007 appropriations for these programs, totaling roughly $827 million this fiscal year.    » read more »

Aug. 14, 2007 -- HOUSTON – Texas Governor Rick Perry today ceremonially signed House Bill 3011, allowing the creation of a ship channel security district for the Port of Houston and empowering local authorities to partner with private sector companies to take an integrated, system-wide approach to enhancing port security. Perry was joined by legislators, federal and local officials, and members of the energy industry.    » read more »

Bill to strengthen the vetting system for foreign purchases of companies in U.S. on its way to president's desk

July 11, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Congress today gave final approval to legislation first proposed last year in the wake of the Dubai government’s purchase of commercial operations of six major U.S. ports (including the Port of New York/New Jersey). U.S.    » read more »

July 11, 2007 -- Washington, DC - “Our nation, and New York in particular, faces serious threats.

We need serious analysis, serious homeland security strategies, and serious leadership more concerned with keeping people safe than keeping people afraid.

More than five years after 9/11, we still must secure America’s borders, railways, mass transit systems, ports, chemical plants, nuclear facilities, and more. State and local agencies still need real interoperable communications. Our nation still requires risk-based – and not politically-based – security funding.    » read more »

June 28, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today in response to Republican objections to appointing members to a conference committee on the 9/11 Commission Recommendations bill. A statement issued by the 9/11 Families, which calls for passage of the bill appears below.    » read more »

29 May 2007 -- Russia has successfully test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile and a tactical shorter range cruise missile.

The Russian Defense Ministry says the RS-24 intercontinental missile is capable of carrying multiple, independently targeted warheads. It was launched Tuesday from a site in northwestern Russia, and successfully hit its target on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

Russian military officials also say a new Iskander cruise missile was successfully tested in the Astrakhan region.    » read more »

May 11, 2007 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today said Pennsylvania’s ports in Erie, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will be more secure now that the state and private entities that operate them are receiving $8.6 million worth of grants. The grants will be awarded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s port security grant program.    » read more »

May 10, 2007 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today applauded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for announcing more than $30 million in funding to help secure California’s bustling ports, an increase of approximately $17 million over FY06 levels.    » read more »

11 May 2007 -- Security at container ports in the United States has been a major concern since the terrorist attacks in 2001. Bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress increased funding for port security and placed an emphasis on testing all cargo for radiological material. As a deadline for implementing that testing at all U.S. ports nears, VOA's Kane Farabaugh visited one testing site in New York City.

They come and go by the thousands each day -- millions each year around New York City.    » read more »