View Video of Senator Rosen’s Questioning HERE
WASHINGTON DC – During an oversight hearing of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) highlighted the importance of combating fentanyl smuggling at the southern border. In her questioning, she asked Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the advanced technology like high-tech scanners that are currently sitting unused in warehouses. Senator Rosen also highlighted the need to pass the bipartisan border security supplemental, which included funding for installing of these scanners.
Senator Rosen has consistently worked across the aisle to secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl. Earlier this month, Rosen voted to advance two bipartisan bills to improve U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) resources to better detect illicit drugs like fentanyl and other contraband smuggled across the U.S. southern border. Last month, her bipartisan END FENTANYL Act was signed into law, which will help crack down on drug smuggling by requiring the CBP Commissioner to update its drug interdiction guidance to ensure it is up to date. Senator Rosen has also called on the Biden administration to prioritize additional resources to stop the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl through ports of entry along the border, pushed for increased resources to support border personnel, and voted to advance legislation to provide nearly $14 billion in funding to strengthen border security and humanely process migrants.
Below is an excerpt from Senator Rosen’s opening remarks:
In January, I did visit the Southern border again and spoke directly with federal law enforcement personnel about the work that they do to stop the flow of illicit drugs into our country and halting the flow of deadly substances like fentanyl.
It’s one of my top priorities, your top priorities, I think it’s everybody’s top priority. And I’ve been proud to work across the aisle to pass commonsense, bipartisan legislation to keep our communities safe.
And just last month, I’m proud to say President Biden signed into law the END FENTANYL Act, which I introduced with Senator Scott, on this committee, Rick Scott, and Senator Hassan.
The new law is going to help us crack down on drug smuggling by requiring CBP to update its guidance for drug seizures at least once every three years and be sure it’s up to date on all our new substances.
During my visit to the border, I was also able to see how CBP officers use tools – including advanced technology – to improve security at the border.
However, I was extremely concerned to see a recent report of many of the high-tech scanners that we provided CBP officers to identify and stop the fentanyl.
It’s coming in through vehicles, right.
They’re sitting unused in warehouses. And that’s because Congress hasn’t provided the funding to install them.
And so the bipartisan border security supplemental, that you helped negotiate, I was proud to vote for, did include money for the installation, but some of my colleagues across the aisle blocked the passage of this bill from the Senate.
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