Senators Push For Action
Texas Insider Report: Washington D.C. U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are leading the effort to push for a Senate hearing to investigate inefficiencies and delays at our ports of entry.
A copy of this letter is below.
The bipartisan group of Senators today sent a letter to Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy D-VT formally requesting that he hold a hearing on U.S ports of entry and infrastructure along our southern border.
This bipartisan push comes as the Associated Press yesterday issued an analysis that concluded:
The federal government hasnt come up with a comprehensive strategy to secure the U.S.-Mexico border even as an all-out war between Mexico and its violent drug gangs has claimed 35000 lives and pushed hundreds of thousands of immigrants into the United States."
March 31 2011
Dear Chairman Leahy:
We would like to request that the Judiciary Committee hold a hearing on U.S. ports of entry and infrastructure on the southern border. Mexico is our nations third largest trading partner and second largest export partner and it is critical
that we find ways to facilitate the free flow of legitimate trade across the U.S.-Mexico border.
We have heard from southern border officials and advocates about the negative impact on border economies when delays occur at U.S. ports of entry. Many southern border ports of entry need additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and infrastructure improvements.
In some instances southern border ports of entry also require expansion to accommodate the high volume of traffic that passes through the ports on a daily basis.
We hope you can accommodate our request as soon as possible.
A hearing would provide an opportunity to assess the Administrations strategy to improve U.S. ports of entry and an opportunity for Senate Judiciary Members to hear from State and local leaders on the matter.
Sincerely
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein
U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl
