Henry Cuellar: “I want to thank Representative Vela for yielding time to me and also Chairman McCaul and the folks who have been working…”

“I want to thank Representative Vela for yielding time to me and also Chairman McCaul and the folks who have been working on this particular bill. CBP currently has a staffing deficit of 3,000 individuals for the uniform components, that is the U.S. Border Patrol, Office of Field Operations, Air and Marine Operations, which jeopardizes our national and our economic security. This legislation does not cover ICE. CBP, Border Patrol, and Air and Marine. Nobody else. This has nothing to do with deportation. Long before President Trump became a candidate for the office, Congress authorized CBP to hire an additional 2,000 officers. That was about 4 years ago. Chairman Carter, Michael McCaul, we authorized 2,000 officers. Up to now, Mr. Speaker, we have not been able to hire those 2,000 officers because of the polygraph exam. In fact, 65 percent of those individuals who applied for CBP are rejected, which is twice the amount that you have for other Federal officers, FBI, DEA, when they take their polygraph. I am talking about polygraph exams. Again, this does not cover ICE. What this bill actually does, it will strengthen CBP's efforts to secure our border by filling those positions. I represent Laredo, the largest inland port, 14,000 traders a day. They have been delayed because we don't have enough CBP officers, and we need to get them. What this bill does, it does not lower the standards. I emphasize, it does not lower the standards.…”