Congressman Al Green’s 2009 Amendment Helps Influence Houston’s Inclusion in the “Securing the Cities” Initiative

(Houston, TX)--Congressman Al Green (TX-09), while a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, worked with then-Chairman Bennie Thompson (MS-02) and the Committee to include Houston in the “Securing the Cities” (STC) Initiative by authoring a 2009 amendment to H.R. 2611, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Securing the Cities Initiative of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. The Committee approved the amendment and the overall legislation was approved by the House of Representatives, but it ultimately was not signed into law. On September 14, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security decided to make the change administratively and announced Houston’s inclusion in STC and that the region would receive up to $30 million over five years.

On Thursday, June 2, 2016, Congressman Al Green attended the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) kickoff meeting and press conference about the implementation of STC in Houston. STC has enabled the DNDO to work with local law enforcement and first-responders to identify potential nuclear or radiological threats in the Houston area. Houston, which includes the diverse 25-mile-long complex of the Port of Houston along with a number of chemical security facilities, is at high risk of a terrorist attack. 

"Houston is among the highest threatened cities in the nation. Our region includes many critical infrastructure assets, including our world-class port and petrochemical sector,” Congressman Al Green said.  “I am heartened that my amendment and other efforts while on the House Homeland Security Committee were able to have such a substantial influence. The implementation of STC should benefit our communities by providing the necessary resources to detect and intercept illicit radiological material before it can be used in a weapon by would-be terrorists.”