[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E197-E198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 5273 SECURING AMERICA'S PORTS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 21, 2020

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the Committee 
on Homeland Security, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5273, the 
``Securing America's Ports Act.''
  I voted for H.R. 5273 because it secures America's land ports of 
entry along the border by increasing the rate of expeditious scanning 
of commercial and passenger vehicles entering the United States.
  But Madam Speaker, this bill does more than just secure the border.
  H.R. 5273 also encourages the continuation of cross-cultural 
interactions through tourism and trade across an increasingly secure 
border and encourages the rich diversity of interactions and 
cooperation between the United States and Mexico as well as ensures 
mutual economic success.
  As many of you know, Texas shares the longest border with Mexico of 
any states in the Union at 1,254 miles.
  Over time, the southwest region of the country has become the largest 
manufacturing corridor in the world.
  In 2019, it was estimated that two-way trade between the United 
States and Mexico surpassed $600 billion.
  Trade between Texas and Mexico alone was approximately $200 billion 
each year.
  In fact, in a single day, more than one million people come and go 
across the border, along with 300,000 vehicles and over 75,000 trucks.
  This magnitude of crossings at the border demands our attention.
  Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses these systems to inspect 
contents of commercial and passenger vehicles for potential contraband, 
such as drugs, without physically opening or unloading the vehicles.
  My congressional district is home to one of the most racially and 
culturally diverse communities in the United States .
  In the 18th Congressional District of Texas, 39.1 percent of people 
identify as Hispanic or Latino, 39.9 percent identify as Black or 
African American, and 45.4 percent identify as White.

[[Page E198]]

  Throughout my time in Congress, I have sought to propose and support 
legislation that increases the efficiency of operations at the border 
in addition to encouraging trade for the economic betterment of Texans.
  For example, I supported H.R. 4940, the Border and Port Security Act, 
which prioritized improving the level of efficiency at the border by 
requiring the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire, train, and 
assign at least 500 new officers.
  By adding qualified CBP agents, H.R. 4940 would help resolve CBP's 
understaffing crisis and efficiently address not only the high volumes 
of commercial and passenger vehicles that cross the border every day 
but also the seasonal surges that leave our CBP officers overwhelmed.
  Today, the Securing America's Ports Act is building on previous 
initiatives like H.R. 4940 and improving the processes at our border.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 5273 understands and acts upon the nuances 
between the need to secure the border and achieve safety and security 
while also promote the robust exchange of goods, services, people, and 
ideas that we have enjoyed and profited from for years.
  I ask all members to join me in voting for H.R. 5273, the Securing 
America's Ports Act.