[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 159 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NORTHERN BORDER SECURITY

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                        HON. JOHN ELIAS BALDACCI

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2001

  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, today I join a number of my colleagues in 
urging President Bush to address the severe shortage of inspectors 
along the Northern Border. This shortage is detrimental to individuals 
and businesses that operate across the border, and leaves our nation 
vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
  The Northern Border is currently not secure. There are too many 
understaffed and unmanned points of entry to maintain security. While 
there are 128 points of entry along the Northern Border, only 64 are 
staffed 24 hours a day. When unmanned, many are ``secured'' simply by 
placing cones or signs in the road. That is hardly an adequate 
deterrent.
  Although the Northern Border accounts for a little more than 40 
percent of the points of entry into the United States, only 14 percent 
of Customs agents are currently assigned there. Clearly we need to 
increase the number of Customs agents and deploy significantly more 
resources on the U.S./Canadian Border.
  While I am very concerned about security, I also know the impact that 
unmanned border crossings are having on business. Closed crossing 
points mean that trucks have to travel far out of their way to cross. 
The reduced numbers of open points of entry means longer lines, 
inconveniencing those crossing for business or pleasure.
  I will be supporting an effort by Representative Obey to add $145 
million to the Defense Appropriations/Supplemental bill to fulfill the 
U.S. Customs Service's emergency request for an additional 800 border 
security guards in the wake of the September 11 tragedy. It is 
unconscionable that we would not meet this need to ensure security 
along the Northern Border and provide Americans with the service they 
need to be able to conduct cross-border business and visits.

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