Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff helped pass a bipartisan bill to strengthen checkpoint operations along the Southern Border.
Today, Sen. Ossoff voted in the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to advance the bipartisan CHECKPOINT Act, legislation to strengthen border security and oversight along the southern border. The bipartisan bill passed the Committee with bipartisan support and heads to the full U.S. Senate for consideration.
The bipartisan bill would also ensure there is proper data collection of drug seizures and other enforcement actions at border checkpoints.
“I want to commend you, Mr. Chairman, and the members of the Committee for advancing today S. 2367, the CHECKPOINT Act, to ensure robust oversight of checkpoint operations along the southern border to protect our national security, a matter that requires our urgent attention. I’m glad to see that legislation advancing with bipartisan support,” Sen. Ossoff said.
A June 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that Border Patrol agents inconsistently documented certain types of data collected at checkpoints, making it difficult for Border Patrol to assess checkpoint effectiveness or ensure proper resourcing. The bipartisan CHECKPOINT Act would implement GAO recommendations from this report to help secure the border and keep families safe.
Sen. Ossoff continues working to strengthen border security and has worked to advance bipartisan legislation to hire and retain more border security officers.
Last year, Sen. Ossoff helped pass the bipartisan Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act through the U.S. Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, which would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire, train, and assign no less than 600 additional CBP officers a year, until the agency’s staffing needs are met, to secure ports of entry across the country.
Last year, Sen. Ossoff also helped pass the bipartisan Border Patrol Enhancement Act through the U.S. Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee to ensure U.S. Border Patrol can hire, train, and fairly pay law enforcement officers who are keeping our borders safe.
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s remarks.
Please find a transcript of Sen. Ossoff’s remarks below:
SEN. OSSOFF: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
“First, I want to commend you, Mr. Chairman, and the members of the committee for advancing today S. 2367, the CHECKPOINT Act,to ensure robust oversight of checkpoint operations along the southern border to protect our national security, a matter that requires our urgent attention.
“I’m glad to see that legislation advancing with bipartisan support.”
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