even before i came to congress i worked with my spread says for jane harmon in working to change the criteria for port security grants so it was risk, vulnerability, and consequence as part of how we appropriate that. i advocated that last session in keeping the airport security grants as a separate program. i am unhappy that the appropriation granted them into one long program and that the association is attempting to dot same thing. i think port security is crucial. i still feel like our ports are really some of our most vulnerable entryways into this country. so i want to go on record and make you can talk about how you still think that this is an adequate way to fund security efforts at our seaports across the country. at the same time, currently i've heard that they have a hard time utilizing the grants that they've been awarded. they are concerned about the bureacracy and reimbursement. so sometimes they are willing to purchase commitment and programs that they know definitely are going to be reimbursable as opposed to getting what they think is the most appropriate equipment o

jane harmon begins this 90- minute discussion. >> ok. good morning.ilson center. almost a year now. time flies when you're having fun, and it is truly an honor to be the head of this extraordinary center. today's panel has attracted an enormous amount of press attention, as it should. the title of "israel, iran, and the arabs, a regional perspective." that is something we surely need. the presence of the press does remind me, however, that, as i think everyone here knows, a very highly regarded reporter and former wilson scholar lost his life in syria last week. just today, the news is that a noted journalist and her photographer have been killed. these are people who obviously put themselves at risk to bring us accurate information. the wilson center also endeavors to bring you and the press and policy-makers accurate information, obviously at less risk than those who are in war theaters. we think it matters enormously to use the convening power of this non-partisan institute to provide what we call a safe political space for people from different co