CUELLAR: TIME FOR SENATE TO CONFIRM CBP COMMISSIONER
Written by admin, Mar 18, 2010, 0 Comments
Border Members Urge Senate to Confirm CBP Boss in Wake of Escalating Border Violence
Courtesy Ashley Patterson,
Washington, DC – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, released a letter signed by the Congressional Border Caucus urging Senate leaders to swiftly confirm the President’s nominee to lead Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the wake of escalated Southern Border violence and the thwarted terrorist attack on Christmas Day Flight 253.
Since January 3, an Acting Commissioner has filled the post following the retirement of Jayson P. Ahern.
“Now is not the time for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to be without a permanent leader,” wrote the ten Members of Congress. “This agency needs to have a Commissioner with experience in border security and direction to ensure that our nation is in a position to be as safe and secure as possible.”
In September 2009, President Obama nominated Alan Bersin to be confirmed as the Commissioner of CBP. Bersin is currently the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs. During the Clinton Administration, Bersin served as Special Representative for the Southwest Border to coordinate Border law enforcement from South Texas to Southern California.
“Alan Bersin has nearly two decades of border law enforcement experience with a proven track record of securing our shared border with Mexico,” said Congressman Cuellar. “At a time of escalating violence just across the border, it’s time to put permanent leadership in place at CBP to set a direction and course of action for the future.”
The letter, signed by ten Members of Congress from Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico, was addressed to Senator Max Baucus, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Senator Charles Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance. The Senate Finance Committee has jurisdiction over the confirmation of the CBP Commissioner.
To see a copy of the letter, please visit: http://www.cuellar.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Bersin_Letter.pdf
