The Homeland Security Department said Friday it had distributed $844 million in fiscal 2008 grants for protection of ports, transit systems and other components of the nation's critical infrastructure.

Funding is intended to support terrorism and disaster prevention, protection, response and recovery capabilities.

'With this year's funding, the department will have provided roughly $3 billion in grants for securing the nation's critical infrastructure and transportation systems,' Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a press release. 'As capabilities mature, we're encouraging state and local governments and the private sector to prioritize [improvised explosive device] prevention and protection, communications capabilities, information sharing and regionally based security cooperation.' ....