Washington Notebook: U.S. ports receive $100 million in security funding

   The Department of Homeland Security on Friday announced $100 million in grant allocations for port security, part of $1.6 billion in awards to states and localities for a range of programs tied to homeland security preparedness.
   Port security grants are used to help port authorities, private terminals and local law enforcement protect infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve risk management, and plan recovery in the event of a disaster.
   Applicants are required to provide a 25-percent match for any federal funding. 
   The New York City Police Department, with a grant of $5.8 million, is the largest recipient, followed by the Port of Long Beach, with $3.6 million. Port Tampa Bay received $1.6 million for a new public safety complex, a new port security boat and ramp, unspecified waterside improvements, and a tower for security equipment, it said.
   Seven port areas, including New York/New Jersey and Los Angeles/Long Beach, were designated as high risk and had claim to a larger share of the $100 million fund.
   Congress has whittled the annual Port Security Grant Program to its current level from $400 million several years ago.