{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-introduces-bill-improve-texas-ports-entry", "Cornyn Introduces Bill To Improve Texas Ports of Entry", "2013-12-17", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONU.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Emergency Port of Entry Personnel and Infrastructure Funding Act, to provide emergency resources to our nation's ports of entry. A version of the bill was introduced by Representative Beto O'Rourke (TX-16) in the House of Representatives, and is co-sponsored by Reps. Filemon Vela (TX-34), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), and Pete Gallego (TX-23).By equipping our ports of entry with next generation infrastructure and technology, as well as providing the necessary resources for personnel, I'm confident we can make big improvements and achieve significantly lower wait times at these critical border crossings. Doing so will facilitate legitimate trade and travel and greatly boost security.This innovative partnership will ensure that our Texas border communities are safer, and their local economies are more prosperous.Background on the Emergency Port of Entry Personnel and Infrastructure Funding Act\n Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to make improvements at current land ports of entry and construct new ports on the northern and southern border.\nDirects the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire, train, and assign 5,000 additional CBP officers and 350 support personnel at land border crossings over six years.\nRequires DHS to provide all CBP officers with secure communications equipment to streamline communications.\nEstablishes a federal grant program to enable state and local law enforcement on the Southern border to purchase identification and detection equipment as well as mobile, hand-held 2 way communication devices.\nAuthorizes $6 billion over six years to carry out staffing increases and infrastructure improvements, fully offset by spending reductions elsewhere in the federal budget.\nRequires GSA to evaluate and respond to alternative financing proposals for POE infrastructure from interested public and private entities. \nDirects CBP to standardize wait time data collection and assess data collection automation. \nRequires CBP to develop and adopt a standardized staff allocation model across land port of entry.\nAdds new outcome-based performance measures that support trade facilitation goals to current performance measure criteria.\n Support for the billI applaud Sen. Cornyn and fellow members of the Texas Congressional delegation for their leadership and commitment to helping South Texans capitalize on our opportunities for enhanced trade and commerce, job creation and economic growth in the region. I hope this bipartisan measure will receive the wide backing and swift approval it merits so we can take the steps needed to make significant improvements to our ports of entry and remove obstacles for safe and efficient trade and commerce.- Rene Ramirez, Former Hidalgo County JudgeI strongly support the proposed legislation that Senator Cornyn has introduced that will allow CBP to properly staff the primary and secondary inspection lanes at the Port of Entries. Requiring GSA to consider alternative financial tools to support needed infrastructure at our Port of Entries will ensure that infrastructure will be improved in a timely manner. Finally, requiring CBP to develop a standard staff allocation plan and standardizing the wait time model allows bridge owners to be more competitive in providing needed mobility and luring traffic to their respective bridges.-Judge Carlos Cascos, Cameron CountyAs Superintendent of Bridges for the City of McAllen and in charge of the Administration of City owned bridge operations I applaud Senator John Cornyn for his efforts to help expedite legitimate trade and travel. Providing resources necessary to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the average wait times of commercial and passenger vehicles at our international ports of entry will greatly enhance our competitive edge and increase economic activity in our border region.-Rigoberto \"Rigo\" Villarreal, Superintendent of the McAllen International Toll BridgeThe USHCC remains committed to Senator Cornyn and Texas House Delegation efforts to pass Port of Entry legislation. The legislation provides direct solutions to a present system that hinders commerce.-Marc Rodriguez, Chairman, United States Hispanic Chamber of CommerceI appreciate the leadership and knowledge Sen. Cornyn and Representatives O'Rourke, Cuellar and Vela have provided on this issue. Improving our ports of entry and adequately staffing them is a business issue and it's a national issue. We lose money every day our ports are not ready.-Julian Alvarez, RGV Partnership CEOSenator John Cornyn has continually been an advocate for a safe and economically thriving U.S/Mexico Border Region. This legislation impacts on the facets of job creation, business expansion and efficient international commerce. Should this legislation pass it will do much toward building a border whose multi-faceted responsibility includes promoting prosperity for our great nation.-Ruben Villarreal, Mayor, Rio Grande City We are grateful to Senator Cornyn and Representative Henry Cuellar for their bi-partisan leadership in introducing the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act of 2013.' Mexico has long been our largest partner in trade and our neighbor in security concerns. The City of Laredo has always been an advocate for not only strengthening our border, in both directions, against illegal trade, but also for facilitating the open and efficient flow of legal commerce. Congress has an opportunity to enhance our trade partnerships and improve port security infrastructure. We are also grateful that the legislation recognizes the role local public safety entities, such as the Laredo Police, Fire and Health departments, play in partnership with our federal and state agencies to keep the nation, and Texas, safe. For Laredo, hometown security has always meant homeland security. While this is of upmost importance to this community and country, keeping commerce flowing between our two nations drives the economic engine of this country, of this region.- Carlos Villarreal, City of Laredo City Manager", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-introduces-bill-improve-texas-ports-entry"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0747709311544895, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}