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Port of Beaumont to Pilot Homeland Defense System

Texas port adds biometric system

BEAUMONT, Texas -- The Port of Beaumont will install the Biometric Verification -- Homeland Defense System from Homeland Defense Inc. together with a number of subsystems, including identity verification and a port protection subsystem.

This agreement is the result of the port security concerns expressed by Texas Congressman Nick Lampson and the cooperation of the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Beaumont, represented by its executive director, Chris Fisher.

In commenting on this agreement, Ted Combs, Congressman Lampson's chief of staff said, "Traditional security methods such as fences and guardsmen are not enough, the only answer to today's security concerns is technology."

Recent reports show that the oil refineries and port facilities of East Texas have been recognized as vulnerable targets by Al Qaeda with a high threat alert over the 4th of July holiday weekend.
Miriam Jones is a former chief copy editor of Government Technology, Governing, Public CIO and Emergency Management magazines.