Cornyn Introduces Bill To Improve Texas Ports of Entry

Press Release

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Emergency Port of Entry Personnel and Infrastructure Funding Act, to provide emergency resources to our nation's ports of entry. A version of the bill was introduced by Representative Beto O'Rourke (TX-16) in the House of Representatives, and is co-sponsored by Reps. Filemon Vela (TX-34), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), and Pete Gallego (TX-23).

"By equipping our ports of entry with next generation infrastructure and technology, as well as providing the necessary resources for personnel, I'm confident we can make big improvements and achieve significantly lower wait times at these critical border crossings. Doing so will facilitate legitimate trade and travel and greatly boost security.

"This innovative partnership will ensure that our Texas border communities are safer, and their local economies are more prosperous."

Background on the Emergency Port of Entry Personnel and Infrastructure Funding Act

* Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to make improvements at current land ports of entry and construct new ports on the northern and southern border.
* Directs the 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 six years.
* Requires DHS to provide all CBP officers with secure communications equipment to streamline communications.
* Establishes a federal grant program to enable state and local law enforcement on the Southern border to purchase identification and detection equipment as well as mobile, hand-held 2 way communication devices.
* Authorizes $6 billion over six years to carry out staffing increases and infrastructure improvements, fully offset by spending reductions elsewhere in the federal budget.
* Requires GSA to evaluate and respond to alternative financing proposals for POE infrastructure from interested public and private entities.
* Directs CBP to standardize wait time data collection and assess data collection automation.
* Requires CBP to develop and adopt a standardized staff allocation model across land port of entry.
* Adds new outcome-based performance measures that support trade facilitation goals to current performance measure criteria.

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