Congresswoman Escobar Introduces Bill to Improve Port Staffing, Infrastructure Needs

This week, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced the Port Staffing Reporting Act , legislation requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess staffing levels, operational challenges, and infrastructure needs at ports of entry across the United States. “In El Paso, we see every day how our ports connect families, support businesses, and keep our economy moving,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “The Port Staffing Reporting Act will bring greater transparency and accountability to port operations and help ensure that our ports of entry are adequately staffed and performing at optimum for our region.” The Port Staffing Reporting Act would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit an assessment to Congress within 90 days of the bill’s enactment, and every year after. The report would assess: Staffing and personnel needs Wait times and traffic flow Infrastructure and technology Economic impacts Local port needs The legislation would also require the Secretary of Homeland Security to brief the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over homeland security within 30 days of submitting each assessment. Ports of entry are critical to border security, international commerce, and the lives of border residents. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported that staffing levels have remained relatively flat even as trade and passenger volumes have increased. Staffing shortages can strain operations, contribute to delays, and make it more difficult to keep traffic moving efficiently. “El Paso’s staffing challenges are real, but they’re also a symptom of a national problem across CBP. Field offices throughout the country are struggling to meet mission requirements with insufficient personnel. This bill represents a responsible and necessary step toward re‑evaluating staffing needs nationwide and ensuring Appropriators have the transparency required to fund CBP at levels that support recruitment, retention, and safe, effective port operations,” said Gus Sanchez, President NTEU Ch. 143. "The Texas Border Coalition supports Rep. Escobar’s efforts to ensure the land ports of entry along the Southern Border are well equipped and well-staffed to ensure the smooth flow of cross-border commerce. We hope this feasibility study will show how important our land ports of entry are, particularly those along our southern border, to both national security and international commerce," said t he Texas Border Coalition. “NTEU is proud to endorse the Port Staffing Reporting Act. America's ports of entry are the front line for both national security and economic prosperity, and our CBP workforce are the people who work hard every day to make both possible. For too long, chronic understaffing has made that mission harder than it has to be. We appreciate Rep. Escobar's efforts to support our members and ensure that Congress has the facts they need to understand and address these staffing shortages. Our members and the American people deserve nothing less,” said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald. Full text of the bill can be found here . # # #