Klobuchar-Sponsored Bipartisan Bill to Encourage Public-Private Partnerships to Improve National Security and Trade Across Northern Border Passes Senate

Press Release

Today, Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that bipartisan legislation she has sponsored to encourage public-private partnerships to improve border security and trade across the U.S.-Canada border has passed the Senate. The Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act of 2015, which Klobuchar introduced with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), passed the Senate today. The legislation would encourage public-private partnerships to strengthen border security and make infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry.

"As co-chair of the Canada-United States InterParliamentary Group, I've been working with the Department of Homeland Security and Canadian officials to improve national security and efficiency at our northern border for years," said Klobuchar. "This bill will allow the Department of Homeland Security to improve infrastructure and hire more border security agents at land ports of entry like the one in International Falls. This bill will help make sure that we are doing everything we can to strengthen economic ties by improving safety and efficiency at the northern border."

The legislation would expand the authority of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the General Services Administration (GSA) to enter into innovative partnerships with local governments and private sector entities. Partnerships with local governments and the private sector will support improvements to port of entry facilities and infrastructure and enhance processing and staffing at our border crossings.

Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) has introduced the House companion version of this legislation.

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