{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bipartisan-bill-cosponsored-by-collins-king-to-protect-northern-border-unanimously-passes-senate", "Bipartisan Bill Cosponsored by Collins, King to Protect Northern Border Unanimously Passes Senate", "2016-11-17", "2016", "2016-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bipartisan Bill Cosponsored by Collins, King to Protect Northern Border Unanimously Passes Senate\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tBill would require examination of threats & needs along Northern Border to improve resources, security\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 17, 2016\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that a bipartisan bill they cosponsored to help assess and strengthen American security at the Northern Border \u2013 the longest common land border in the world \u2013 passed unanimously in the U.S. Senate.\r\nThe bipartisan legislation, the Northern Border Security Review Act, would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a comprehensive examination of the current resources and personnel levels \u2013 as well as fully evaluate security threats and challenges at the border. At 5,500 miles long, including 1,500 miles between Alaska and Canada, the Northern Border has 120 border crossings, many of which are small and in rural areas. \u201cMaine law enforcement officers and border patrol agents are the first line of defense in maintaining the security of our border with Canada and protecting Maine from threats,\u201d Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. \u201cBy understanding the northern border's needs, strengths, and vulnerabilities, addressing recruiting and retention issues, and ensuring access to critical resources in rural areas, this legislation will play a significant role in bolstering our border security, supporting law enforcement, and keeping Maine citizens safe.\u201dApproximately 300,000 people and $910 million in trade cross the Northern Border every day, representing the largest bilateral flow of goods and people in the world. The Northern Border Security Review Act would require a comprehensive examination of the following issues:\r\n \r\nRecruiting and retaining border security officials to cover the Northern Border, including at more remote areas of the border;\r\nDetermining tools border security officials need to effectively combat drug and human trafficking at the Northern Border;\r\nIdentifying technology that could expand the reach of border agents; and\r\nFinding vulnerabilities in cooperation between Canadian, state, county, local, and tribal law enforcement.\r\n \r\nThe legislation was introduced by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.). Additional cosponsors include Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Click here to view a summary of the bill.\r\n###", 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.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bipartisan-bill-cosponsored-by-collins-king-to-protect-northern-border-unanimously-passes-senate"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.690746983513236, "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"}