Sen. Cornyn Introduces Bill To Reduce Wait Times At Bridges

WASHINGTON, DC — Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced legislation Thursday that will address growing delays at all U.S. ports of entry along the Mexican border. Cornyn is the ranking member of the Immigration and Border Security subcommittee.

The legislation would provide immediate relief by allocating emergency funding and resources to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities.

“We must maintain a balance between security and legitimate trade and travel along the border,” Sen. Cornyn said. “This bill will begin to provide immediate relief to a growing problem that harms economic growth on the Texas border.”

The bill is known as the Emergency Port of Entry Personnel and Infrastructure Funding Act. It will require the immediate construction of additional inspection lanes at all ports on entry. The bill will also authorize CBP to hire more inspectors and provide incentives to retain current officers.

Cornyn says the legislation was drafted to address the concerns of officials and leaders along the border. Members of the Texas Border Coalition and the Border Trade Alliance provided input, he adds. “The bill will maintain security and relieve congestion and wait times — which will help expand job opportunities along the border.”

“This legislation provides much needed manpower and funding to vital ports of entry on our northern and southern borders,” says Pat Townsend, vice chairman of the Texas Border Coalition. “The emphasis on Texas ports is extremely critical to the continued growth of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and activities with our trading partner: Mexico.”

Cornyn recently co-sponsored legislation introduced by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) which authorizes the Department’s of Labor and Commerce to conduct a six-month study on border wait times.

If passed, the act will increase inspectors for primary and secondary inspections at ports of entry by 2,000 between the fiscal years 2009-12. It will also add an extra 1,000 inspectors to work at air and sea ports of entry.

Texas itself will be assigned an extra 750 CBP land inspectors and 500 for air and sea ports.

Requires increase of CBP land port of entry inspectors in Texas by 750 for land ports and 500 for air and sea (FY 2009-12)

The bill will also require annual law enforcement training for CBP officers, increases the base salary level for CBP officers, supervisors and border patrol agents; and authorizes recruitment and retention bonuses.