Bipartisan Bill to Increase CBP Ports of Entry Staffing Re-Introduced
Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, have reintroduced a bill, the Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act, that would hire at least 600 additional CBP officers a year until airports, seaports and land ports of entry are fully staffed.
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Peters said in a press release announcing the bill, “Shortages of Customs and Border Protection officers at ports of entry in Michigan and the United States threaten CBP’s ability to facilitate safe and lawful trade and travel across our borders. We must ensure these dedicated officers, who have served on the frontlines throughout the pandemic, have the support they need to perform critical functions, like detecting and preventing illegal drugs from reaching our communities. This bipartisan legislation will take significant steps to ensure CBP has the personnel they need to secure our nation’s ports of entry -- and maintain Michigan’s status as an international hub of commerce.”
The release said that CBP is short more than 900 officers. It would also authorize hiring more technicians and mission support staff. The bill is supported by a number of trade groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. That group said in the press release that with more staffing, there would be reduced wait ties at the border for trade shipments and travel. A similar bill was introduced by Peters in 2019, and was reported out of committee, but did not get a vote on the floor (see 1904040021).