releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6E6A5D75-56BD-4239-ACEA-2F4AF495E53B
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6E6A5D75-56BD-4239-ACEA-2F4AF495E53B | Heitkamp Visits Northern Border at Portal, Reinforces Need to Boost Security by Improving Hiring, Worker Retention and Technology | 2016-11-04 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Senator Introduced Bills to Help Address Threats along Northern Border, Improve Recruitment & Retention of Workers & Is Advocating for Better Technology, Infrastructure Investments on Northern Border PORTAL, N.D. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today visited the Portal Point of Entry where she met with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and management to learn more about challenges they face in helping secure the country’s 5,500-mile-long Northern Border. Underscoring the need to improve the ability of federal agencies to attract, hire, and retain hardworking employees along the nation’s vast Northern Border – especially in remote locations – Heitkamp discussed with CBP leaders and employees the need for her legislation which would give federal agencies the ability to hire and retain the thriving workforce it needs. Heitkamp’s efforts particularly aim to tackle challenges in areas like Portal – the Northern Border’s third-busiest loaded rail car crossing for trade goods. She also spoke about how her bipartisan bill would help address issues recruiting and retaining workers, as well as work to improve the tools, technology, and cooperation needed to protect, secure, and monitor the Northern Border. “We need long-term solutions to protect America’s borders – and that means investing in the infrastructure, technology, and tools to recruit and retain quality personnel to help keep our nation safe,” said Heitkamp. “Today I visited Portal, one of the Northern Border’s busiest rail crossings, to talk with Customs and Border Protection leaders and employees about the challenges they face in keeping our border secure. In the Senate, I introduced legislation to address these concerns head on to help hire and retain a strong border security workforce especially in remote locations like Portal, and improve the tools needed to protect our Northern Border. With $1.6 billion in commodities and goods crossing the Northern Border every day, it’s critical that we equip the dedicated men and women working at the border with the tools and manpower they need to make sure what enters our country is safe for our communities.” According to the Congressional Research Service, $1.6 billion in commodities cross the Northern Border every day, which 55 million people crossed in 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, representing the largest bilateral flow of goods and people in the world. Heitkamp has been at the forefront of working to address challenges law enforcement and CBP employees face in maintaining a secure Northern Border with adequate staffing. In July, Heitkamp introduced her Flexible HIRE Act, which aims to help the federal government recruit and retain an effective, and dynamic workforce across the country – including in remote areas like Portal. In July 2015, Heitkamp’s bipartisan Northern Border Security Review Act – which she introduced two months after bringing then-U.S. Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to Pembina to directly respond to concerns she heard from law enforcement – unanimously passed in the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, where she serves as a subcommittee ranking member. Heitkamp’s bill would help tackle recruitment and retention challenges, and examine the best ways to improve technology, infrastructure and tools to help law enforcement in securing the border. Heitkamp’s visit today follows a variety of actions Heitkamp has taken to make sure the Northern Border receives the proper attention, including: Bringing DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to North Dakota. When Heitkamp brought Mayorkas to Pembina’s Port of Entry and Border Patrol Facilities in April 2015, they spoke about ways to improve issues federal border security officials and local county sheriffs face in attracting and maintaining a strong workforce. During the visit, they also discussed ways to improve efforts to combat human and drug trafficking, as well as ways to expand the use of technology to help protect the border. Making the Northern Border a key issue for a U.S. Senate committee. Following Mayorkas’ visit, Heitkamp successfully called for the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to hold a hearing on the Northern Border. When that hearing took place, Heitkamp questioned federal border security officials about the issues she heard about firsthand in Pembina with Mayorkas. In March, Heitkamp pressed DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson on the need to pay closer attention to protecting the Northern Border, and reinforced this point to Johnson as well as Federal Bureau of Investigations Director James Comey in September. In June 2014, she brought U.S. Senator Tom Carper, now Ranking Member of the Committee, on a tour of the Northern Border. Reducing drug crime and flow at the border. In August 2014, Heitkamp joined White House Drug Czar Michael Botticelli to unveil a new national strategy to fight drug crimes in the Bakken and at the Northern Border that she specifically pushed for. Holding border security meetings in Minot and Grand Forks. Heitkamp visited the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Grand Forks in January 2014, and she held a discussion in June 2014 with law enforcement in Minot to discuss stressed law enforcement personnel in the border region. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |