Vicky Hartzler: “Last week, our U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents announced the discovery of a highly sophisticated, illegal…”

“Last week, our U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents announced the discovery of a highly sophisticated, illegal, 4,309-foot cross-border tunnel from Mexico into California built by the drug cartels. Unfortunately, while the tunnel was first found in August of 2019, it will still take several months to close the tunnel as the agency completes a mandatory environmental review and a lengthy contractor bidding process. In October of 2018, I visited the southern border and heard directly from Customs and Border Patrol agents in Arizona, and I heard a similar story. The process of closing drug tunnels is arduous and time-consuming. It often takes 3 to 4 months to abate this threat. That is unacceptable. Last year, I introduced H.R. 3968, the Eradicate Crossing of Illegal Tunnels Act, to address these problems. This bill expedites the approval process by removing the unnecessary red tape currently preventing our CBP agents from addressing this critical vulnerability. It allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the environmental review and for indefinite contracts to be secured so drug tunnels can be filled in a timely manner. We need to ensure our Border Patrol agents have the tools necessary to efficiently and effectively remove illegal access into our country, hurting our community with illegal drugs. It is time to pass this crucial legislation, and I call on my colleagues to support my bill. ____________________”