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Before Thanksgiving, I attended a House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee hearing in Houston to discuss the importance of harnessing American innovation to pave the way for clean energy solutions, like carbon capture. It was great to be back in the community to discuss this pressing issue with the bipartisan Houston delegation.
For a recap of the hearing, click on the image or click here.
In addition to attending a hearing in Houston, I went out west to the Santa Teresa Port of Entry outside of El Paso, Texas, for a House Homeland Security Committee field hearing about port security. The visit provided members with a firsthand look at the screening process at ports of entry and exemplified how important it is that the process is safe and effective.
Ensuring our border is secure is one of my biggest priorities, which is why I'm on a bill with fellow Homeland Security Committee member Rep. Torres Small (NM-02) that aims to improve border security through advanced detection technology, such as non-intrusive inspection (NII) systems, in order to shorten the amount of time it takes for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to screen a vehicle before it enters the United States. As the frontlines of defense against terrorism and traffickers trying to enter our country, CBP’s job is incredibly important. That’s why we’re focused on helping CBP do its job and recruit more staff. In addition to implementing improved technology, we are also trying to make the hiring process at CBP easier through the Anti-Border Corruption Act, which would allow CBP to waive the polygraph test for a narrow set of applicants who are veterans and state, local and federal law enforcement officers.
When it comes to securing the border, safety and efficiency are vital to an effective screening process. I'm grateful for the opportunity to visit a port of entry and to hear from people on the ground about ways Congress can help maintain safety and security at our ports of entry.
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