[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2124-S2125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRAMM (for himself, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Grassley, Mr. 
        D'Amato, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Gorton, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Bingaman, 
        Mrs. Murray, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Domenici):
  S. 1787. A bill to authorize additional appropriations for United 
States customs Service personnel and technology in order to expedite 
the flow of legal commercial and passenger traffic at United States 
land borders; to the Committee on Finance.


                   united states customs legislation

  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, on behalf of Senators Hutchison, Kyl, 
Feinstein, Boxer, Bingaman, McCain, and Domenici (all the Southwest 
Border senators), as well as Senators Grassley, D'Amato, Gorton, and 
Murray, I am introducing legislation today which will authorize the 
United States Customs Service to acquire the necessary personnel and 
technology to reduce delays at our border crossings with Mexico and 
Canada to no more than 20 minutes, while strengthening our commitment 
to interdict illegal narcotics and other contraband.
  I am very concerned about the impact of narcotics trafficking on 
Texas and the nation and have worked closely with federal and state law 
enforcement officials to identify and secure the necessary resources to 
battle the onslaught of illegal drugs. At the same time, however, our 
current enforcement strategy is burdened by insufficient staffing, a 
gross underuse of vital interdiction technology and is effectively 
closing the door to legitimate trade.
  At a time when NAFTA and the expanding world marketplace are making 
it possible for us to create more commerce, freedom and opportunity for 
people on both sides of the border, it is important that we eliminate 
the border crossing delays that are stifling these goals. In order for 
all Americans to fully enjoy the benefits of growing trade with Mexico 
and Canada, we must ensure that the Customs Service has the resources 
necessary to accomplish its mission. Customs inspections should not be 
obstacles to legitimate trade and commerce. Customs staffing needs to 
be increased significantly to facilitate the flow of substantially 
increased traffic on both the Southwestern and Northern borders, and 
these additional personnel need the modern technology that will allow 
them to inspect more cargo, more efficiently. The practical effect of 
these increases will be to open all the existing primary inspection 
lanes where congestion is a problem during peak hours and to enhance 
investigative capabilities on the Southwest border.
  Long traffic lines at our international crossings are 
counterproductive to improving our trade relationship with Mexico and 
Canada. This bill is designed to shorten those lines and promote 
legitimate commerce, while providing the Customs Service with the means 
necessary to tackle the drug trafficking operations that are now 
rampant along the 1,200-mile border that my State shares with Mexico.

[[Page S2125]]

I will be speaking further to my colleagues about this initiative and 
urge their support for the bill.
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