[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 162 (Thursday, November 14, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H7063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE BORDER PATROL PAY REFORM ACT

  (Mr. O'ROURKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. O'ROURKE. Madam Speaker, I have the honor of representing more 
than 2,500 Border Patrol agents in El Paso, Texas. They are a big 
reason why our border with Mexico is as secure as it has ever been, and 
they help keep El Paso the safest city in the United States; it was 
this year, the year before, and the year before that.
  Now, despite their successful track record, their vigilance at our 
borders with Mexico and Canada, and the tough conditions under which 
they work, they are working with an antiquated, unfair, and inflexible 
pay system. That is why I am happy to work across the aisle with the 
gentleman from Utah, Representative Chaffetz, to introduce H.R. 3463, 
the Border Patrol Pay Reform Act. This provides a fair, flexible, and 
fiscally responsible way to compensate our Border Patrol agents. It 
allows management to deploy resources where they are most needed; it 
gives our agents some predictability in their work schedule; and it 
saves the American taxpayer over $1 billion over the next 10 years.
  During a time of sequester and tight budgets, we need to use existing 
resources as judiciously as we can. I think this bill accomplishes that 
while supporting our Border Patrol agents. I urge my colleagues to join 
me in supporting this bill.

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