AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 17, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Texas House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Port Security will visit the Port of Houston on Wednesday, August 18 to see first-hand the security measures that are in place and the recent security upgrades that have been implemented. Additionally, the Subcommittee will hold a public hearing at the Hilton Houston Hobby Airport beginning at 2:00 p.m. "Our first hearing was held at the Port of Corpus Christi, and the committee received valuable information for our report to the full Legislature. I would like to thank the Port of Houston Authority for allowing us to tour their facility and the opportunity to study other issues that will help the Committee make recommendations that may better improve the security of our ports," said Chairman Gene Seaman, House District 32. "We need to make sure we protect our citizens and economic impact that the Port has on the State and the Country."
The hearing will feature three homeland security panels who will talk about strengths and vulnerabilities regarding port security, regulations in place and discuss ways that the State can play a more cooperative role in protecting Texas' ports. The three panels will include officials from various federal agencies, port industry organizations and Ellington Field task force members.
The Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Seaman, consists of Rep. Rick Noriega D-Houston and Rep. Dianne White-Delisi R-Temple. As a subcommittee of the full House Committee on Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations, Chairman Frank Corte Jr. R-San Antonio, and Rep. Leo Berman R-Tyler will also attend the hearing and tour the Port. This is the second hearing of the Subcommittee. The first was held at the Port of Corpus Christi. The Subcommittee will develop recommendations to submit the 79th Legislature on ways that the State can change state law and policies to help play a more cooperative role in securing our ports.
Rep. Seaman is currently serving his fourth term in the Texas House of Representatives. He represents House District 32, which includes San Patricio, Calhoun, Aransas and a portion of Nueces county. For more information regarding the Texas Legislature, please visit www.house.state.tx.us.