On May 22nd and 23rd, the Border Trade Alliance continued the push for solutions to border wait-times and other 21st century border issues at the first ever Americas 2020 Summit in Austin, Texas, hosted by the Border Legislative Conference and the Texas Department of Transportation. The goal of the conference was to draw leaders from government and private sector stakeholders from the U.S., Canada and Mexico to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges we face in moving people and products safer, faster and smarter.
The Summit focused on three main areas: North America Infrastructure Competitiveness, Secure Trade and Travel, and 21st Century Intelligent Border Crossings. Speakers discussed U.S. immigration policies, trusted traveler programs, the role of science and technology, trade corridors, supply chain security and infrastructure.
The purpose of the Summit was to provide a forum for conference participants to engage in discussions based on the issues presented, and then make recommendations to lawmakers, government agencies and private sector stakeholders about how to address challenges like infrastructure funding and increased staffing at the ports of entry so that North America can stay competitive in an ever increasing global economy. The Summit ended with working group sessions for each of the three main Summit areas.
BTA President Maria Luisa O’Connell led the 21st Century Intelligent Border Crossings working group, which explored ideas for defining what it means to be an intelligent border crossing, and how we can use technology, legislation, funding and trilateral relationships to make our border crossings self-sustainable. Some of the recommendations for making intelligent border crossings self-sustainable included increased public-private partnerships for funding solutions, creating viable coalitions with our Mexican and Canadian neighbors and supporting legislation that authorizes and appropriates funding for infrastructure and additional staff at the ports of entry.
BTA highlighted the PORTS Act (H.R. 5662), recent legislation introduced by Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) that authorizes, among other things, increases in funding for infrastructure and personnel. Also highlighted were the Border Infrastructure and Technology Modernization Act of 2007 (H.R. 2431) introduced by Congressman Cuellar (D-TX) that authorizes appropriations for border and transportation security personnel and technology, and the Emergency Port of Entry Personnel and Infrastructure Funding Act of 2007 (S. 2474) introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) that provides additional resources and funding to address inspection delays, additional inspection lanes and an increase in inspectors at U.S. ports of entry, as well as recruitment and retention incentives for CBP officers who serve on the Northern and Southern borders.
President O’Connell encouraged the working group participants to support legislation that addresses these needs at the land ports of entry because additional funding for infrastructure and personnel will make our borders more secure, help to alleviate onerous border wait times and will strengthen the U.S. economy by allowing for the efficient movement of people and goods across the borders. The recommendations from the three working group sessions are available here:
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