Gov. Gregoire welcomes Homeland Security secretary to Washington

For Immediate Release: July 27, 2009

SEATTLE � Gov. Chris Gregoire today welcomed U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to Washington state to tour the Olympics Coordination Center in Bellingham, discuss border safety issues and review security and counter-terrorism programs. Joining Gregoire and Napolitano for the visit were U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg and Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste.

�This is our opportunity to share with Secretary Napolitano the great progress we�ve made to secure our land and maritime borders,� Gregoire said. �Especially with the 2010 Winter Olympics quickly approaching, we have to ensure that all our borders are protected while still allowing efficient travel for tourists and commerce. I appreciate Secretary Napolitano�s willingness to visit our state, and am confident she will take our ideas and make them part of the national discussion on security issues.�

Napolitano began her visit in Bellingham to tour the OCC, where she declared the center fully operational. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, the OCC will allow more than 40 federal, state, local and international agencies to meet, prepare and coordinate a response to any incident from one central location.

Following the tour of the facility, Gregoire and Larsen escorted Napolitano on a tour of the border crossings in Blaine where they discussed traffic congestion and construction projects at the crossings, border security and the use of the enhanced drivers license, which expedites travel across borders but does not cost as much as a passport.

�I thank Secretary Napolitano for visiting Northwest Washington to see first-hand the unique challenges and opportunities we face on our common border with Canada,� said U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, who represents Washington's 2nd District including Whatcom County. Larsen is also co-chair of Gregoire�s 2010 Olympics Task Force. �I look forward to working with Secretary Napolitano, Governor Gregoire and local stakeholders to ensure that the investments we have made to prepare for the Olympics leave the legacy of a more secure and efficient border for the long-term.�

�Through our government�s work with Governor Gregoire and our leadership together in promoting cross-border action on our priorities, we have been successful in taking positive steps to reduce border delays and ensure smooth and safe flow of legitimate trade and travel,� British Columbia�s Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations Naomi Yamamoto said as she was part of today�s border tour. �I am very pleased Secretary Napolitano has taken the time to personally review the unique needs of border crossers in this region prior to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. We want Canadians and Americans alike to be able to share in the excitement and tremendous opportunities to showcase our region to the world during the Games.�

Gregoire and Napolitano also met with Homeland Security and other federal and state law enforcement officials at the U.S. Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in Seattle. In addition, they met with industry leaders and various stakeholders to discuss cybersecurity, counterterrorism and immigration issues.