[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 140 (Monday, September 28, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H6285-H6287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  BORDER JOBS FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2015

  Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2835) to actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who 
are separating from military service to serve as Customs and Border 
Protection officers, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2835

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Border Jobs for Veterans Act 
     of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Customs and Border Protection officers at United States 
     ports of entry carry out critical law enforcement duties 
     associated with screening foreign visitors, returning United 
     States citizens, and imported cargo entering the United 
     States.
       (2) It is in the national interest for United States ports 
     of entry to be adequately staffed with Customs and Border 
     Protection officers in a timely fashion, including meeting 
     the congressionally funded staffing target of 23,775 officers 
     for fiscal year 2015.
       (3) An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 members of the Armed 
     Forces separate from military service every year.
       (4) Recruiting efforts and expedited hiring procedures must 
     be enhanced to ensure that individuals separating from 
     military service are aware of, and partake in, opportunities 
     to fill vacant Customs and Border Protection officer 
     positions.

     SEC. 3. EXPEDITED HIRING OF APPROPRIATE SEPARATING SERVICE 
                   MEMBERS.

       The Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider the 
     expedited hiring of qualified candidates who have the ability 
     to perform the essential functions of the position of a 
     Customs and Border Protection officer and who are eligible 
     for a veterans recruitment appointment authorized under 
     section 4214 of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 4. ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING PROGRAMS TO RECRUIT SERVICE 
                   MEMBERS SEPARATING FROM MILITARY SERVICE FOR 
                   CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICER 
                   VACANCIES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense, and acting 
     through existing programs, authorities, and agreements, where 
     applicable, shall enhance the efforts of the Department of 
     Homeland Security to recruit members of the Armed Forces who 
     are separating from military service to serve as Customs and 
     Border Protection officers.
       (b) Elements.--The enhanced recruiting efforts under 
     subsection (a) shall--
       (1) include Customs and Border Protection officer 
     opportunities in relevant job assistance efforts under the 
     Transition Assistance Program;
       (2) place U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials or 
     other relevant Department of Homeland Security officials at 
     recruiting events and jobs fairs involving members of the 
     Armed Forces who are separating from military service;
       (3) provide opportunities for local U.S. Customs and Border 
     Protection field offices to partner with military bases in 
     the region;
       (4) include outreach efforts to educate members of the 
     Armed Forces with Military Occupational Specialty Codes and 
     Officer Branches, Air Force Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted 
     Classifications and Officer Designators, and Coast Guard 
     competencies that are transferable to the requirements, 
     qualifications, and duties assigned to Customs and Border 
     Protection officers of available hiring opportunities to 
     become Customs and Border Protection officers;
       (5) identify shared activities and opportunities for 
     reciprocity related to steps in hiring Customs and Border 
     Protection officers with the goal of minimizing the time 
     required to hire qualified applicants;
       (6) ensure the streamlined interagency transfer of relevant 
     background investigations and security clearances; and
       (7) include such other elements as may be necessary to 
     ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are separating 
     from military service are aware of opportunities to fill 
     vacant Customs and Border Protection officer positions.

     SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and by December 31 of each of the 
     next three years thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, 
     shall submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security 
     and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of 
     the Senate that includes a description and assessment of the 
     efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to hire 
     members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military 
     service as Customs and Border Protection officers under 
     section 4.
       (b) Content.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include--
       (1) a detailed description of the efforts to implement 
     section 4, including--
       (A) elements of the enhanced recruiting efforts and the 
     goals associated with such elements; and
       (B) a description of how the elements and goals referred to 
     in subparagraph (A) will assist in meeting statutorily 
     mandated staffing levels and agency hiring benchmarks;
       (2) a detailed description of the efforts that have been 
     undertaken under section 4;
       (3) the estimated number of separating service members made 
     aware of Customs and Border Protection officer vacancies;
       (4) the number of Customs and Border Protection officer 
     vacancies filled with separating service members; and
       (5) the number of Customs and Border Protection officer 
     vacancies filled with separating service members under 
     Veterans Recruitment Appointment authorized under section 
     4214 of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this Act may be construed--
       (1) as superseding, altering, or amending existing Federal 
     veterans' hiring preferences or Federal hiring authorities; 
     or
       (2) to authorize the appropriation of additional amounts to 
     carry out this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Arizona (Ms. McSally) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Vela) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 2835, the Border Jobs for 
Veterans

[[Page H6286]]

Act of 2015. This bill, which I introduced in June, seeks to increase 
the hiring of military veterans for Customs and Border Protection 
officer positions vital to our security here at home.
  The Border Jobs for Veterans Act addresses two critical priorities: 
ensuring full staffing at our ports of entry and helping separating 
servicemembers transition to civilian life.
  My district includes over 80 miles of the U.S. border as well as 
several ports of entry. I visited our ports in Nogales and Douglas 
numerous times to hear about their operations firsthand and have seen 
the critical law enforcement duties carried out by CBP officers at 
these ports, such as screening visitors, returning U.S. citizens, and 
cargo entering the United States.
  In June, the Port Authority chair for the Mariposa port of entry in 
Nogales, just outside my district, reported that, while staffing 
numbers have grown nationally, ``staffing numbers at Nogales and the 
Tucson Sector have remained essentially stagnant in recent memory while 
demand continues to grow.''
  The port also estimates that CBP's Tucson field office is currently 
operating at a 20-percent staffing deficit. While new hires have 
occurred since then, CBP estimates the Tucson field office still needs 
to fill roughly 200 officer positions.
  In my conversations with CBP officers, they have repeatedly told me 
that inadequate staffing levels hamper their ability to do their jobs. 
They cite problems with recruiting and retention of new officers as 
well as lengthy and cumbersome hiring process, including delays due to 
backlogs of the necessary background checks. After a recent reduction 
in that process by roughly 50 percent, it still takes 180 days to hire 
a new officer at ports where there is a strong need now.
  These hurdles to hiring acts as an impediment to cross-border trade 
that powers both Arizona and the Nation's economy. According to the 
Arizona-Mexico Commission, more than 41.6 billion dollars' worth of 
trade flows through Arizona's ports of entry, $16 billion of which is 
attributed to bilateral trade with Mexico.
  But inadequate staffing at these ports of entry slows the flow of 
trade coming across the border, costing businesses millions of dollars, 
and ultimately hurts our attractiveness as a transportation and trade 
hub, something we simply cannot afford.
  Each year approximately 250,000 to 300,000 members of the Armed 
Forces separate from military service. I recently visited the Veterans 
One-Stop Center in Pima County in my district, which helps veterans 
find employment after they leave the military, and I listened to their 
challenges and their stories firsthand.
  Who better to address this shortfall and help to secure our ports 
than the highly trained patriotic Americans who just recently separated 
from the Armed Forces?
  That is why H.R. 2835 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
work with the Department of Defense to enhance our efforts to recruit 
members of the military who are separating to serve as Customs and 
Border Protection officers.
  These efforts must include participation in relevant job fairs, 
transition programs, partnerships between CBP field offices and local 
military bases, and the identification of ways to streamline the 
transfer of background checks and security clearances.
  This bill offers the men and women of our military another 
opportunity to serve the Nation. All DHS has to do is make sure that 
they are aware of the opportunities available at our Nation's 329 ports 
of entry.
  I want to thank my colleagues, Senators Flake, McCain, Johnson, and 
Schumer, and their staffs for working on the Senate companion 
legislation and their help on the text of this bill.
  I also want to thank Chairman Thornberry and his staff for working 
with us to move this bill forward.
  I urge all Members to join me in supporting the Border Jobs for 
Veterans Act of 2015.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                               Washington, DC, September 25, 2015.
     Hon. Michael McCaul,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning H.R. 2835, the Border 
     Jobs for Veterans Act of 2015, which has been referred to the 
     Committee on Armed Services. In order to expedite this 
     legislation for floor consideration, the committee will forgo 
     action on this bill.
       The committee's waiver is conditional on our mutual 
     understanding that you will amend H.R. 2835 to reflect the 
     changes agreed to by our staffs. Forgoing consideration of 
     the bill does not prejudice the committee with respect to the 
     appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional 
     claim over the provisions contained in the bill or similar 
     legislation that fall within the committee's Rule X 
     jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to appoint 
     members of the committee to any conference committee convened 
     to consider such provisions.
       Please place a copy of this letter and your response 
     acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the committee 
     report on H.R. 2835 and into the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of the measure on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                               Washington, DC, September 28, 2015.
     Hon. Mac Thornberry,
     Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thornberry: Thank you for your letter 
     regarding H.R. 2835, the ``Border Jobs for Veterans Act of 
     2015.'' I appreciate your support in bringing this 
     legislation before the House of Representatives, and 
     accordingly, understand that the House Armed Services 
     Committee will forego action on the bill.
       The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual 
     understanding that the language in the bill reflects the 
     negotiations between our staffs and that by foregoing 
     consideration of this bill at this time, the House Armed 
     Services Committee does not waive any jurisdiction over the 
     subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation 
     in the future. In addition, should a conference on this bill 
     be necessary, I would support your request to have the House 
     Armed Services Committee represented on the conference 
     committee.
       I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional 
     Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor. 
     I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael T. McCaul,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. VELA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 2835, the Border Jobs for Veterans 
Act of 2015.
  First of all, I would like to thank my colleague, Congresswoman 
McSally, for introducing this wonderful piece of legislation. It not 
only helps us expedite the flow of traffic in trade at our borders, but 
it also helps and assists with our veterans we all represent.
  H.R. 2835, the Border Jobs for Veterans Act of 2015, would require 
the Secretary of Homeland Security to consider expediting the hiring of 
qualified veterans to serve as U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
officers.
  The bill also authorizes DHS to enhance its efforts to recruit 
members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military service to 
serve as CBP officers and requires DHS to report to Congress on its 
efforts.
  Through their service, our Nation's veterans have demonstrated their 
unwavering commitment to our country and its security. CBP would 
benefit greatly from their service within the agency's ranks.
  At the same time, expediting the hiring of qualified veterans could 
help alleviate the continued shortage of CBP officers at our ports of 
entry, helping to better secure our borders while facilitating 
legitimate trade and travel.
  With that in mind, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
2835, to facilitate the recruitment and hiring of America's military 
veterans for new careers serving our country as U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection officers.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2835.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland 
Security Committee, and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Border 
and Maritime Security, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2835, ``Border 
Jobs for Veterans Act of 2015.'' which would guarantee more jobs for 
our many deserving veterans.
  This bill requires the Homeland Security Department to prioritize the 
hiring of U.S. veterans as Custom and Border Protection (CBP) officers.

[[Page H6287]]

  The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate for 
our veterans is 7.2%, which is roughly 573,000 unemployed veterans 
nationally.
  A study commissioned by the Department of Commerce's International 
Trade Administration found that in 2008, delays at POEs at the U.S.-
Mexico border cost the U.S. economy 26,000 jobs, $600 million in lost 
tax revenue, and $5.8 billion in lost economic output.
  According to CBP, 2,000 additional CBPOs will lead to the creation of 
approximately 66,000 new jobs and increase the Gross Domestic Product 
(GDP) of the U.S. by up to $4 billion.
  The bill will ensure that:
  CBP officials will be at recruiting events and jobs fairs for armed 
service members;
  Partnerships are fostered between military bases in regions where CBP 
Officers work;
  Opportunities for the expedited hiring of certain service members 
with qualifications needed by CBP are prioritized; and
  Transfers of relevant background investigations and security 
clearances are streamlined to facilitate transitions from military life 
to employment at the CBP.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 76, the ``Helping to Encourage Real 
Opportunity for Veterans Transitioning from Battlespace to Workplace 
Act of 2015,'' the HEROS Act, which is very similar to spirit to the 
bill before the House.
  Studies have shown that more than 80% of veterans transitioning from 
military service to the civilian sector regard employer-provided 
Veterans support programs as ``critical'' or ``important'' to their 
success.
  The ``HERO Transitioning from Battlespace to Workplace Act of 2014'' 
addressed these problems by providing strong incentives for employers 
to hire, retain, and employ veterans in positions that take maximum 
advantage of their skills and experience.
  Nearly 90% of veterans believe they have the general skills needed to 
land their ideal job such as problem solving, leadership, ethics, and 
time management and most believe they possess specific marketable 
skills, such as information technology, health care, mechanical, and 
aviation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. McSally) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2835, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. McSally. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________