[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.
____________________