BUILDING PLANS AT SMALL NORTHERN PORTS OF ENTRY WOULD WASTE OVER $200 MILLION, DORGAN SAYS
Saturday, September 19, 2009
(FARGO, N.D.) - The plan to construct new $15 million buildings at each of the 22 small northern border ports of entry, including nine in North Dakota, would waste over $200 million according to U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) who blew the whistle on the plan earlier this week.
The day following the Senator’s complaint, the Secretary of Homeland Security stopped work and ordered a review of the spending at the ports of entry.
“I’m in favor of strengthening security at our borders, including the border between the U.S. and Canada,” Dorgan said. “But the proposal by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to spend an average of $15 million at each of the small northern border ports was way out of line.”
“On average, these small ports are processing only five vehicles per hour,” he said. “It defies common sense that we would tear down existing buildings and rebuild ports of entry facilities, spending from $11 million to $21 million each, when these ports service an average of one truck and four cars an hour. It is an unbelievable waste of taxpayer money.”
“Our country is deep in debt, and we need to get serious about reducing spending. This is a prime example of where we need to put the brakes on unwarranted spending. I’m aware that much of this spending would be in our state, but I think it is a waste and I don’t support it.”
The Senator also said the government policy that is driving the port proposal is a set of “requirements” established by DHS in 2002 and 2006. He feels these requirements need to be revised with a strong dose of common sense.
“I appreciate that DHS Secretary Napolitano has taken immediate steps to freeze further action on these ports and to conduct a 30-day review of the spending plans,” Dorgan said. “My hope is that this review will result in an understanding of the need to change the requirements and to substantially reduce spending.”
“I intend to stay on the case and make sure that the plans are modified,” he said.
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