Press Release

Rep. Meek: More Border Patrol Agents Needed

Congressman Warns Against Staffing Shortages’ Affect on National Security, Calls for Law Enforcement Officer Status for Customs and Border Protection Officers

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (FL), the Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Management, Integration and Oversight, called border agents “the first line of defense in securing the country” during debate last week on H.R. 6160, the More Border Patrol Agents Now Act of 2006. Meek managed the bill for the Democratic side on the floor of the House.

The bill mandates policies that promote retention of present and recruitment of future U.S. Border Agents. The legislation offers financial incentives to increase the recruitment and retention of border patrol agents. “These men and women deserve a financial leg up, not Boeing Company,” said Meek, referring to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recent announcement that Boeing won a contract worth a projected $2 billion to build a high technology fence along the U.S. border with Mexico and Canada as part of the Secure Border Initiative Network (SBInet).

“As a former Captain in the Florida Highway Patrol, I am pleased that this bill encourages the Department to rehire retired border patrol agents to train the 6,000 new agents by 2008. This is sound policy,” Meek added.

At the same time, Meek expressed serious concern that the legislation did not offer similar benefits to Customs and Border Protection Officers (CBPO).

“It is inconceivable that CBPOs, who carry firearms, make arrests and have the power to detain, do not have Law Enforcement Officer Status like Border Patrol Agents. The Homeland Security Committee, of which I serve, remedied this in our FY 2007 Authorization Bill. Republican leaders then removed that critical piece of legislation from the final bill. This is wrong.”

“The glass here is half full. It is a good first step that will help Border Patrol Agents, and it is worthy of support for that reason. However, it fails to help CBPOs. On this point, our Management Subcommittee worked in a bipartisan manner. The Republican leaders, as usual, did not.”

Congressman Meek also serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Meek represents the 17th Congressional District of Florida, which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

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