Senate-Approved CBP Commissioner, Sequestration Among Top Border Trade Alliance Issues Following Election

The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) would like to see a Senate-approved commissioner of CBP now that the Presidential and Congressional elections have been decided, said BTA President Nelson Balido in a blog post. The blog post, titled "A Post-Election To-Do List for the Administration and Congress on the Border," also pointed to sequestration as an area of concern for BTA.

The blog post is (here).

With rumors of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano moving to another position, it may be a good time to appoint and confirm a CBP Commissioner. David Aguilar, previously acting commissioner and now deputy commissioner, has served in the top spot at CBP since 2011. "If we can make an early Christmas wish, it would be that the president nominates individuals to these posts who not only can pass muster with the Senate, but who understand that trade and security must go hand and hand and need not be at odds with one another," said the BTA.

(See ITT's Online Archives 12091219 for summary of CBP officials changing titles due to federal requirements.)

The possibility of major cuts through sequestration is also a worry, said the BTA. "We can't afford for CBP to get hit by the oncoming sequestration train. An agency that in fiscal year 2010 facilitated $2 trillion worth of trade is too vital to our country's economic health to be subject to such indiscriminate cuts."

(See ITT's Online Archives 12091723 for summary of the effect of sequestration on CBP.)