H.R. 2217, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2014

Floor Speech

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Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to the fiscal year 2014 Homeland Security appropriations bill that will provide $97.5 million for the Port Security Grant Program. I offer this amendment in conjunction with my colleague and friend, the gentlewoman also from California.

I represent Port Hueneme, a critical west coast commercial port and home of Naval Base Ventura County. The presence of the naval base makes the port a potential target of those who seek to do our Nation harm. I believe we must do more to protect Port Hueneme and other ports across this great Nation from potential threats.

The Port Security Grant program is a critical component of our strategy to protect our Nation's critical infrastructure against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks.

The vast majority of critical U.S. maritime infrastructure is owned and/or operated by State, local, and private sector maritime industry partners, which is why this State and local grant program is so critical.

The funds that the program makes available to non-Federal entities are intended to improve port-wide maritime security risk management, enhance awareness, support training and exercises, and support port recovery capabilities.

Grant recipients must use funds to address vulnerabilities in port security and support the prevention of, detection of, response to and recovery from attacks involving improvised explosive devices and other nonconventional weapons.

My amendment simply ensures that the Port Security Grant program will be funded at $97.5 million, which is at the same level as the previous fiscal year.

This program is a critical Homeland Security initiative for Port Hueneme in Ventura County and ports across our great country.

I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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