Congressmen Gonzales, Cuellar Introduce Bill to Streamline CBP Port of Entry Repairs

Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) and I introduced the Reducing Excessive Vetting Authorities to Maintain our Ports (REVAMP) Act which would allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to conduct minor repairs at land ports of entry (LPOEs), without involving the General Services Administration (GSA). Removing GSA from the approval process for low-cost projects at LPOEs will help streamline repairs and updates at these ports, while allowing GSA to focus its resources on larger-scale projects. This legislation is endorsed by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), which represents 29,000 CBP Office of Field Operations employees.

Each year, billions of dollars flow into our economy by way of land ports of entry. These facilities are gateways to international commerce, so their upkeep is critical to the continued flow of trade and travel. That is why I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that cuts red tape by allowing CBP to bypass GSA and conduct its own repairs at ports of entry. The last thing our Customs officers should have to worry about is arbitrary delays for basic facility maintenance.

“The REVAMP Act is critical to ensure our land ports of entry have the resources needed to make critical improvements in a timely manner,” said Congressman Cuellar, Vice Chair of the House Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee. “In my district, Laredo is the number land port of entry for trade and commerce. Billions of dollars flow through the port each year. Our land ports of entry are vital pieces of infrastructure that require immediate upkeep for the benefit of our South Texas communities, and the greater American economy. Thank you to my friend, Rep. Gonzales for his continued support on this important legislation.”

A similar, bipartisan bill (S.3903) has been introduced in the United States Senate by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and Sen. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ).