Cornyn Bill to Promote Public-Private Partnerships at Border Passes Senate

Press Release

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced to encourage public-private partnerships to boost staffing and make infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry without adding to the national deficit:

"Our border communities and the entire state's economy benefit from robust trade with Mexico," said Sen. Cornyn. "Facilitating more efficient trade through our ports of entry will demonstrate our commitment to both growing Texas' economy and the vibrant U.S.-Mexico relationship."

U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) is the lead sponsor of the companion bill in the House of Representatives. The legislation, based on input from border community leaders, would give U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the authority to enter into innovative partnerships with local governments and private sector entities. As federal resources remain scarce, port communities have sought alternate avenues to ensure essential needs are met in the face of continued federal inaction. This authority allows CBP to better leverage limited resources to speed up the flow of traffic at international ports of entry. Partnerships with local governments and the private sector will support improvements to border infrastructure and enhance staffing levels across port environments.

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