UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE AND BORDER SECURITY

10/03/2001

SUBCOMMITTEE ON TREASURY AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Chairman Dorgan, Ranking member Campbell, thank you for the opportunity to provide this testimony. As President of The National Treasury Employees Union, I am proud to represent the over 13,000 Customs Service employees who serve as the first line of defense against terrorism and the influx of drugs and contraband into the United States. In light of the recent tragedies at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center Customs personnel have been called upon to implement heightened security procedures at our land, sea and airports.

Customs personnel are working under heightened Level 1 border security as a result of the tragedy of September 11th 2001. They are not only continuing to do their normal duties but they are also assisting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Marshal Service at security checkpoints in all major airports. Customs personnel assisting the FAA and U.S. Marshals have provided invaluable assistance during this heightened state of awareness all around the country.

A fact that must not be lost is that the workload of the Customs Service employees has dramatically increased every year including more commercial entries that must be processed, more trucks that must be cleared and more passengers that must be inspected at the 301 ports of entry. There has been a relatively small increase in personnel worldwide, despite the dramatic increases in trade resulting from NAFTA, the increased threat of terrorism, drug smuggling and the opening of new ports and land border crossings each year. In 2000, Customs Service employees seized over 1.5 million pounds of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and other illegal narcotics --- as well as over 9 million tablets of Ecstasy, triple the amount seized in 1999. Customs also processed nearly 500 million travelers last year , including 140 million cars and trucks and over $1 trillion worth of trade. This number continues to grow annually, and statistics show that over the last decade trade has increased by 135%.

In addition, Customs employees have become responsible for preventing international money-laundering and arms smuggling. Yet, the Customs Service has confronted its rapidly increasing workload with relatively static staffing levels and resources. In the last ten years, there have not been adequate increases in staffing levels for inspectional personnel and import specialists B the employees who process the legitimate trade and thwart illegal imports.

It's very clear that funding must be increased to allow Customs to meet the challenges of the future. In recent years Customs has seen a decrease in the level of funding, relative to other Federal law enforcement agencies, even while having significantly higher workloads and threats along America's borders. Customs' recent internal review of staffing, known as the Resource Allocation Model or R.A.M., shows that Customs needs over 14,776 new hires just to fulfill its basic mission for the future. The Administration and Congress must show the men and women of the Customs Service they respect and support the difficult and dangerous work these officers do 365 days a year by providing increased funding for the Customs Service.

NTEU recommends deploying the new hires to our nation's ports of entry along the area ports on the Northern Border where some ports are unmanned and where the threat of international terrorism has forever changed the landscape. We must also deploy new hires along the busy Southwest land border where wait times hinder trade facilitation and drug smuggling is at its peak. In addition to the busy land borders, NTEU recommends focusing attention on the seaports and airports across the country. The understaffed and overworked inspectors at the U.S. seaports and airports currently contend with corruption, theft and safety issues that are a direct result of the lack of staffing. As one Southwest Border Senator aptly phrased it: "U.S. seaports and airports are under siege by smugglers, drug traffickers and other criminals, yet law enforcement agencies that regulate them are understaffed and outgunned."

This year, Congress acknowledged the shortage of staffing and resources by appropriating additional money for staffing and other resources for Customs, but it is not enough. Quite simply, the resources have not been provided for Customs Inspectors', Canine Enforcement Officers and Import Specialists to adequately do their jobs. With the new challenges facing the Customs Service since September 11, 2001 this is an untenable situation that must be addressed immediately.

Another important issue that must be addressed is law enforcement status for Customs Inspectors and Canine Enforcement Officers. The U.S. Customs Service Inspectors and Canine Enforcement Officers continue to be the nation=s first line of defense against terrorism and the smuggling of illegal drugs and contraband at our borders and in our ports. Customs seizes millions of pounds of narcotics annually. Customs Service Inspectors have the authority to apprehend and detain those engaged in terrorism, drug smuggling and violations of other civil and criminal laws. For example, it was Customs Inspectors who stopped a terrorist attack planned for New Years Day 2000 by identifying and capturing a terrorist with bomb making material as he tried to enter the country at Port Angeles, Washington.

Canine Enforcement Officers and Inspectors carry weapons, and twice a year they must qualify and maintain proficiency on a fire arm range. Yet, these Inspectors and CEO's do not have law enforcement officer status. They are being denied the benefits given to their colleagues who they have been working beside to keep our country safe. Customs employees face real dangers on a daily basis, granting them law enforcement officer status would be an appropriate and long overdue step in recognizing the tremendous contribution Customs personnel make to protecting our borders from terrorism and drugs. I ask for the Subcommittee's support on this issue of fairness.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony on behalf of the Customs Service employees on these very important issues.