2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Maintain A Minimum Of 22,000 Custom And
Border Protection Agents And Authorize $100 Million For Agent Retention
Bonuses. In May 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for the Secure The Border Act, which, "To bolster
operations and capacity of Customs and Border Protection, the bill would
require CBP to maintain at least 22,000 full-time agents by Sept. 30,
2025, and authorize up to $100 million for agent retention bonuses."
The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 219 to
213, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 209,
5/11/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/11/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2]
The Bill Would Authorize $110 Million Annually Through FY 2028
For Grants To Law Enforcement Agencies In Border States To Help With
Customs And Border Protection. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "It would authorize $110 million annually through fiscal
2028 for new DHS grants to law enforcement agencies in border states
to assist with CBP operations." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/11/23]
The Bill Would Allow Funding For CBP To Upgrade License Plate
Readers And Install Surveillance Systems At The Northern And
Southern Borders. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would
authorize funding for CBP to upgrade license plate readers and
install cameras, microphones, and surveillance and intrusion
detection systems at the northern and southern borders."
[Congressional Quarterly,
5/11/23]
The Bill Would Mandate CBP To Establish A Strategic Plan To
Bolster Border Security, Including Gaps Between Ports Of Entry,
Staffing Needs And Data Sharing. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "It would require CBP to issue and regularly update a
strategic plan to enhance U.S. border security, including to address
security gaps between ports of entry, staffing requirements and
information sharing." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/11/23]
The Bill Would Require DHS To Ensure CBP Air And Marine Operations
Carry Out A Minimum Of 110K Flight Hours Yearly And Operate Unmanned
Aircraft Systems Over The U.S.-Mexico Border 24 Hours A Day.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would require DHS to
ensure that the CBP Air and Marine Operations carries out at least
110,000 flight hours annually and operates unmanned aircraft systems
over the southern border 24 hours per day." [Congressional
Quarterly, 5/11/23]
The Bill Would Resume The Border Wall Construction, Raise Funding
For Border Agents And Upgrade Border Equipment, Re-Implement The
"Remain In Mexico Policy," Create New Restrictions On
Asylum-Seeking, And Enhance E-Verify. According to CNN, "The bill
would restart construction of a border wall, increase funding for
border agents and upgraded border technology, reinstate the 'remain
in Mexico' policy, place new restrictions on asylum seekers, and
enhance requirements for E-verify, a database employers use to
verify immigration status." [CNN,
5/11/23]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted To Exempt Some Veterans And Law Enforcement
Officers Applying For Customs And Border Protection Law Enforcement
Positions From Undergoing A Polygraph For. In June 2017, Fitzpatrick
voted to allow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner to
waive a requirement that certain applicants undergo a polygraph.
According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have
"authorize[d] the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
to waive the requirement that applicants for law enforcement positions
at CBP undergo polygraph examinations for specific groups of applicants.
Certain veterans and law enforcement officers who have already passed a
polygraph examination or stringent background investigation could
[have] be[en] exempt from the polygraph requirement." The vote was
on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 282 to 137. The
Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 294,
6/7/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/7/17; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
2213]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Establishing Standards Of Care For
Migrants In The Custody Of U.S. Customs And Border Protection. In July
2019, Fitzpatrick voted against a bill that would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to
establish and implement standards of care for migrants in CBP custody.
It would require CBP, in coordination with the Health and Human Services
Department, to develop guidelines and protocols for the provision of
health screenings and appropriate medical care. Among other
requirements, it would require that all detainees receive initial
in-person screenings by a licensed medical professional and require that
such screenings occur within 6 hours of arrival at a facility for
children, elderly individuals, and individuals who are pregnant or have
severe disabilities or illnesses. It would require CBP to provide
over-the-counter medications; private, safe, and clean restrooms, diaper
changing facilities, and personal hygiene products; interpretation
services for all detainees; facilities maintained at a reasonable
temperature; and at least one gallon of water and three meals per day
for each detainee. It would require CBP personnel to receive
humanitarian response training, including with regard to reporting and
identifying sexual abuse and exploitation. It would also require the
Homeland Security Department inspector general to inspect CBP facilities
and ports of entry, including to assess compliance with the bill's
provisions." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a
vote of 233-195. The bill was never taken up in the Senate. [House Vote
507, 7/24/19;
Congressional Quarterly,
7/24/19; Congressional
Actions,
H.R.3239]