Group applauds Rep. Henry Cuellar and Sen. John Cornyn for work to preserve DAP, proven mechanism to improve border infrastructure 

WASHINGTON (December 21, 2020)—The Border Trade Alliance applauded passage of a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending package that included an extension of the Donation Acceptance Program, which allows local governments and stakeholders to partner with the federal government to enhance infrastructure that facilitates trade and travel.

DAP was slated to officially sunset this month, but legislation to extend the program by one year was introduced earlier this month in the House by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and in the Senate by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and was cosponsored by members of both parties.

“The Border Trade Alliance thanks Rep. Cuellar and Sen. Cornyn for this successful bipartisan effort to extend the life of a program that has proven to be an effective tool for the public and private sectors to work together to modernize border infrastructure,” BTA Chair Sergio Contreras said. “Cross-border trade volumes are poised to grow under USMCA, so DAP helps border communities meet that demand.”

The BTA has strongly supported the DAP since its 2013 inception and has advocated for additional partnerships between the federal government and local governments and/or the private sector trade community.

“We thank Rep. Cuellar, Sen. Cornyn, and their colleagues in both parties for promoting collaboration between agencies like CBP and GSA and the trade community,” BTA President Ms. Britton Mullen said. “We look forward to working with Congress and the administration over the next year to strengthen this already successful program.”

More about DAP and its use by CBP and the trade community is available here. 

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Since 1986, the BTA has served as a grassroots, non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues pertaining to the environment, border development, quality of life and trade in the Americas. A network of public and private sector representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada, BTA’s core values include a commitment to improving the quality of life of border communities through trade and commerce.