Congress Approves Border Jobs for Veterans Act

Statement

On Thursday, the Senate unanimously approved the Border Jobs for Veterans Act. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in the Senate and Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) in the House will help put veterans to work as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at understaffed U.S. ports of entry without raising costs or affecting existing veteran hiring authorities.

"I am pleased to see the Border Jobs for Veterans Act, which I cosponsored with Senators Flake, McCain and Schumer, pass the Senate yesterday. This is an important, incremental step toward enhancing our border security," said Johnson. "Since becoming chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I have looked closely at border security through a series of site visits, committee hearings and roundtables. One common theme that has emerged is that manpower plays a vital role in securing the border, both at and between our ports of entry. This bill is truly a win-win: It gives former service members an opportunity to continue serving by ensuring the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense work together to identify these qualified applicants and provides DHS with the best candidates to fill vacancies in remote ports of entry along our borders. Now this goes to the president's desk for signature."

Sen. Johnson's remarks on the Senate floor regarding the bill's final passage can be viewed here.

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