California Ports Seek Funds From TSA

ASHINGTON — Officials of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach visited legislators here Nov. 6 to lobby for millions more in federal funding to secure their facilities, the third-busiest seaport complex in the world.

Of the $68 million it has requested, the Port of Los Angeles has received only $4 million in Transportation Security Administration grants, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn told reporters after her visit to Capitol Hill.

The Long Beach facility has received $18 million of $60 million it requested, said Bill Ellis, the port’s director of security, who traveled with Hahn to Washington. In addition, Los Angeles has spent $7 million of its own money to beef up security after 9/11, Hahn said.