Senate budgets $150 million for port security grants

Senate budgets $150 million for port security grants    The Senate approved an amendment to its 2006 budget resolution for $150 million in funding for port security grants. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chairwoman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and ranking Democrat Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, restores port security funding to the 2005 level set by Congress.
   President Bush’s fiscal 2006 budget removed port security grants as a separate line item and lumped seaport infrastructure security into a $600 million catch-all grant program that covers domestic transportation systems and other types of critical infrastructure.
   The American Association of Port Authorities and other maritime interests have been pushing for at least $400 million in grants during the next appropriation cycle.