Flake and McCain Statement on Committee Approval of Border Jobs for Veterans Act

Press Release

U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) today issued the following statements regarding the unanimous passage of S. 1603, the Border Jobs for Veterans Act out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today.

The bipartisan bill -- introduced by Flake, McCain and U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) -- would require the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to cooperate to recruit and expedite the hiring of separating U.S. military service members for U.S. Customs and Border Protection jobs at U.S. ports of entry.

The bill seeks to address delays associated with CBP's necessarily thorough hiring process, which have left land ports of entry along the U.S. border understaffed despite funding for 2,000 additional officers. The bill would not raise costs or impact existing veteran hiring authorities.

"Solutions do not get simpler than the Border Jobs for Veterans Act," said Flake. "Those leaving the military need jobs and CBP needs officers to serve at our ports. The sooner DoD and DHS understand they are the answer to each other's problem, the better for trade, national security, and the veterans community as a whole. I thank Chairman Johnson and the committee for their support and I look forward to working with my colleagues to bring this bill before the Senate without delay."

"This bill offers a common-sense solution to help separating service members find much-needed jobs, overcome staffing deficiencies at U.S. ports of entry, and enhance the security of communities in Arizona and across the U.S. on our southern border," said McCain. "I thank the Committee for advancing this bipartisan effort to provide veterans vital opportunities to continue serving and protecting the nation."

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