Dear Chairman Capito and Ranking Member Tester:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your distinguished leadership. I would also like to thank you for supporting many of my priorities in the FY 2020 Senate Homeland Security appropriations bill.
As you work to resolve Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations and begin conference discussions with your counterparts in the House of Representatives, I wanted to emphasize the importance of securing our borders while also ensuring the safe and efficient passage of law-abiding people and goods. In particular, I respectfully request your continued support of the below requests.
1. CBP Office of Field Operations Facilities Improvements. This request of $22,364,000 focuses on funding the modernization of infrastructure at ports of entry, such as the customs plaza at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan. This bridge is one of the five busiest port crossings in North America and carries tens of millions of dollars of commerce per day. Completion of that and similar projects are essential for local communities and the regional economies along both our Northern and Southern borders.
2. CBP Operations and Support: Gordie Howe International Bridge. This request of $15 million for procurement of inspection and screening systems for the Gordie Howe International Bridge will allow for faster, more effective examinations of cargo and passengers when it is completed. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will provide a vital new connection between the United States and Canada, and this technology is necessary to both secure our nation and enhance the flow of commerce. In addition, I ask you to consider providing $5 million for acquisition of land border integration systems for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Thank you for your consideration of these requests. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), I appreciate the opportunity to continue working with you to strengthen homeland security and ensure effective use of taxpayer dollars, both at the Department and across the federal government.
Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
