Bill would increase recruiting, expedite hiring of separating U.S. military service members for Border Patrol

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) applaud the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 2835, the Border Jobs for Veterans Act, introduced by U.S. Representative Martha McSally and companion legislation to Senate approved S. 1603, the Border Jobs for Veterans Act. This bipartisan legislation will help put veterans to work as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at understaffed U.S. ports of entry without raising costs or impacting existing veteran hiring authorities.

“I am pleased to see the Border Jobs for Veterans Act, which I cosponsored with Senators Flake, McCain and Schumer, pass the House last evening. This is an important, incremental step towards enhancing our border security,” said Johnson. “Since becoming chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I have looked closely at border security through a series of site visits, committee hearings and roundtables. One common theme that has emerged is that manpower plays a vital role in securing the border, both at and between our ports of entry. This bill gives former service members an opportunity to continue serving by ensuring the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense work together to identify these qualified applicants and provide DHS with the best candidates to fill vacancies in remote ports of entry along our borders.  Now, with the House’s action, we can quickly get this to the President’s desk for signature.”

“Veterans need jobs and our ports need CBP officers. Solutions don’t get more straightforward than that,” said Flake. “This legislation will put veterans to work, improve national security, increase trade, and grow the economy—all at no additional cost to the taxpayer. I thank my colleagues in the House, especially Congresswoman McSally, for their efforts in bringing this legislation closer to the President’s desk.”

“I came to Washington to get things done and advance solutions that will make a difference for the people of Southern Arizona. Today’s bill does just that,” said McSally. “It’s a win-win for our district. It boosts staffing at our ports of entry and helps returning service members find jobs, and is the result of numerous conversations I’ve had with CBP officers working along our border. The failure to fully staff our ports slows trade coming across the border, hurting not just local communities, but our entire region’s reputation as a leading trade hub. My bill helps to solve this problem by ensuring the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security are working together to fill these positions with already-trained and qualified veterans.”

“This bill offers a common-sense solution to help separating service members find much-needed jobs, overcome staffing deficiencies at U.S. ports of entry, and enhance the security of communities in Arizona and across the U.S. on our southern border,” said McCain. "I thank Congresswoman McSally for advancing this bipartisan effort in the House, which will provide veterans vital opportunities to continue serving and protecting the nation.”

“This legislation connects our veterans to jobs they’re already qualified to fill, improves the flow of tourism, goods and services, and secures our borders. It is a win-win-win and I’m glad the House has passed it. It’s our solemn responsibility to take care of our veterans when they return home, and that means helping them to find a good-paying job. The fact that veterans can fill much-needed positions along the Northern Border in New York is an added bonus. This bill is just plain common sense, and I hope we get it to the President’s desk quickly,” said Schumer.

The text of the Border Jobs for Veterans Act can be viewed here.

Background: At an April 28 hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Flake pressed Sec. Johnson on concerns over the slow pace of hiring CBP officers to staff ports of entry, resulting in the recent admission that CBP will not hit its staffing target for Fiscal Year 2015. Video of the hearing can be viewed here and Sec. Johnson’s written response can be viewed here.

On May 5, Flake and McCain sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Sec. Johnson proposing that both agencies partner to help military service members reentering the civilian workforce get jobs at understaffed ports of entry. The Flake-McCain letter and the responses from both agencies can be viewed here.

On August 4, the Greater Nogales Santa Cruz County Port Authority sent a letter to Flake and McCain reiterating the economic ramifications of understaffed ports of entry on the Arizona-Mexico border and expressing the group’s support for the Border Jobs for Veterans Act. That letter can be viewed here.

On Sept. 9,  the Senate unanimously passed S. 1603, the Border Jobs for Veterans Act.

###