I appreciate the chairwoman of the Rules Committees interest in this bill. In particular. she has stressed. as she did again In her statement today. the challenges of protecting the northern border and also the concerns that she and many others have about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. We are directing the Department in this bill to increase by over 40 percent the number of border patrol agents at the northern border. That will comply with the levels called for in the Intelligence Reform Act. She also expressed particular concerns about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The bill makes $100 million for implementation of that program unavailable for obligation until Customs and Border Protection reports on its experience with pilot programs. provides detailed information on infrastructure and staffing required. confirms the use of radiofrequency identification technology that has been adequately tested under operational conditions. and describes how it will ensure privacy protection. We worked with the chairwoman In putting those protections in place. and we appreciate the consistent interest she has shown in them and in this bill in general. So with that.
Keywords matched
Border Protection border patrol