Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee Susan Collins today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be awarding Maine $1.7 million in port security funding for Fiscal Year 2008, which is an increase of more than $600,000 from the Fiscal Year 2007 level. The Portland Port Area will receive $1.2 million with $1.1 million going to the City of Portland, $63,000 to Sprague Energy Corporation, and $30,000 to the City of Falmouth. In addition, the City of Bar Harbor will receive $485,000 and the Eastport Port Authority will receive $63,000.
The grants are funded by federal appropriations made available to DHS for administration of the Port Security Grant Program. The SAFE Port Act which is now law and was co-authored by Senator Collins increased the authorized funding for the DHS Port Security Grant Program. Using her leadership position as Ranking Member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Collins has worked to increase funding for port security and other DHS grant programs.
Senator Collins said, “Funding under these grant programs is important to protect and strengthen the security of Maine’s ports and surrounding infrastructure. It is good news that for the first time, port security grants have been funded at the $400 million level authorized in the SAFE Port Act that I coauthored. That additional funding will enable Maine’s ports to make the investments that they need to enhance the safety and security of all Mainers.”