Speech #CREC-2017-05-17-pt1-PgH4271_t15

JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2281 the ``Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017.'' As a Senior Member on the House Committee on Homeland Security; and former Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, I know well the importance of protecting our nation's borders. I thank my colleague Congressman Vela for sponsoring this bipartisan legislation, which reauthorizes the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) program. An escalation in drug trafficking and transnational criminal activity along our nation's southern border has led to record levels of violence and drug trafficking-related homicides. Despite significant efforts to combat the drug trade, many governments in the region suffer from overwhelmed criminal justice systems and law enforcement agencies. There must be a multi-pronged approach to solving the drug crisis in the United States, it must include treatment upon demand; education; increase resources for border interdiction and seizure of illicit drugs and advanced technology to detect and track those who may be engaged in illegal activity along the border. The Border Enforcement Security Task Force is accomplishing the important law enforcement component of border security. The Border Enforcement Security Task Force achieves its goal of border security enhancement by facilitating collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies to execute coordinated activities in furtherance of border security and homeland security; and enhancing information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information among such agencies. The BEST program is currently administered by DHS, and involves information sharing and law-enforcement operations between personnel from federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law-enforcement agencies to combat criminal activity near the United States borders. This program has established teams of law enforcement agents from over 100 law enforcement agencies that form units to investigate transnational criminal activity. This approach supports better cooperation and collaboration among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies when investigating criminal activity along the southwest and northern borders, as well as at the nation's major seaports. Since their inception, BEST Units have collectively initiated more than 10,654 cases. These actions have resulted in more than: 2,718 criminal arrests 7,245 administrative arrests 110,711 pounds of cocaine 5,517 pounds of ecstasy 1,764 pounds of heroin 1,036,749 pounds of marijuana 6,325 pounds of methamphetamine 2,988,561 rounds of ammunition 4,657 vehicles $130.2 million in U.S. currency 15,062 weapons This bill instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security to also consider: The cross-border threats posed by transnational criminal organizations; The Department's homeland and border security strategic priorities; and The departmental Joint Task Forces and other multi-agency cross- border operations when establishing new BEST Units. In addition, this bill would update the Secretary's existing reporting requirement to provide an assessment of how BEST Units enhance information-sharing among law enforcement partners, coordinate with Departmental Joint Task Forces, and advance the Department's homeland and border security strategic priorities. This legislation will improve and update the information sharing practices between our law enforcement agencies so they will operate in a cohesive manner. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2281 the BEST program because it had proven throughout the years to improve our border security, along with improving how our law enforcement agencies operate and share vital information.