Congressmen tour Port of Houston facilities

Congressman Gene Green

HOUSTON— U.S. Rep. Gene Green (District 29, TX-D) and U.S. Rep. Al Green (District 9, TX-D) focused on security measures in a January 26 briefing and tour of the Port of Houston Authority’s facilities.
Al Green, a recent appointee to the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, came at Gene Green’s invitation. Gene Green represents a majority of the Port of Houston.

Both congressmen received briefings from PHA officials, a representative of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Portwide Strategic Security Council – on PHA’s port security strategies and the cooperation and integrated communications among federal, local and private partners. Additionally, the congressional members toured the PHA’s Port Coordination Center and Mobile Command Center.
“I was impressed with the technology and sophistication of the security system at the Port Authority,” Al Green said. “But I was just as impressed with the personnel running the systems.”
“Each time I come to the Port of Houston, I see improvement in the security system and each time technology improves, security improves at the port,” Gene Green said.
Both lawmakers pledged that – as funds are needed – they will work tirelessly to ensure the Port of Houston stays on the leading edge of security technology.
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 7,000 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and 10th largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston’s development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee “C” futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade’s Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com