PORT ARTHUR — (November 24, 2009) – Senator Joan Huffman was presented with the key to the City of Port Arthur yesterday at a reception hosted by the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce. Mayor "Bobbie" Prince granted the distinguishing honor to Senator Huffman in the presence of constituents, industry leaders, city officials and other members of the community.

"We appreciate the Senator's service and are honored to present the key to the City to her," Mayor Prince said.

The reception was hosted at Lamar State College-Port Arthur, which Senator Huffman toured prior to the reception. LSCPA is a comprehensive, public, two-year college offering a range of associate degrees and a variety of certificates to its students. Established in 1909, the school serves nearly three thousand students and provides both general academic courses and a technical education curriculum.

"I appreciated the opportunity to visit Lamar State College, and see first-hand the educational resources the school provides students in the Port Arthur area,” Huffman said.

The Senator also toured six of Port Arthur's thirteen petrochemical and chemical refineries, which form a crucial segment of Jefferson County's economic vitality and significantly contribute to our nation's energy supply. Escorted by representatives from various local industries, the Senator made on-site visits to the operational facilities of BASF, Motiva, Valero, Chevron Phillips, Flint Hills and Total.

"I was impressed with the dramatic growth occurring in Port Arthur's industry and the extraordinary capital investment currently underway in the district," Sen. Huffman said. "Technological advancements and industrial growth here remain a strategic pillar of the Texas economy and significantly impact our nation's ability to produce the energy we consume."

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