Port security votes may come today

Port security votes may come today    House and Senate negotiators said late Thursday they have reached tentative agreement on port security legislation, the Associated Press reported. The two chambers and may vote on a compromise bill today before recessing until after the November elections.
   In addition to increased public security, passage of a bill is seen as important in some Congressional elections, where candidates want to demonstrate they are supporting antiterrorism programs.
   Meanwhile, legislation to fund harbor deepening and other civil works projects for the Army Corps of Engineers has been put on hold until after the November elections.
   “We just ran out of time,” said Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, in a statement issued Thursday. But he said members of the of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee vowed to complete a comprehensive Water Resources Development Bill after the elections.