New Senate Bill on Add'l CBP Staff, Improved Land Ports of Entry
On September 22, 2011, Senator Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Emergency Port of Entry Personnel and Infrastructure Funding Act of 2011 (S. 1604). According to Senator Cornyn’s office, S. 1604 would:
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- Additional CBP officers, staff for land borders - directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire, train, and assign 5,000 additional CBP officers and 350 support personnel at land border crossings over five years;
- Land port of entry improvements - authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to make improvements at current land ports of entry and construct new ports on the northern and southern border;
- Communications equipment - require DHS to provide all CBP officers with secure communications equipment to streamline communications between ports of entry and inspection stations, and with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies;
- Grant program for communications equipment, biometric devices - establish a federal grant program to enable state and local law enforcement on the Southern border to purchase mobile, hand-held 2 way communication equipment and biometric devices;
- Authorization of $6 billion to fund staff increases, infrastructure - authorize $6 billion over six years to carry out staffing increases and infrastructure improvements; and
- Offsetting provision - include a new offsetting provision directing the Office of Management and Budget to rescind appropriated discretionary funds equal to any new outlays.
S. 1604 available here