Washington, D.C.—Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) helped secure $2.8 billion for land ports of entry in the Financial Service and General Government Appropriations bill for the fiscal year 2021. This critical funding will be used for new construction, major repair, and alterations to LPOEs. This funding was secured in the Financial Service and General Government Subcommittee markup, it will then head to full Appropriations Committee markup.

“Improving infrastructure at our ports of entry, the places where a significant amount of trade and travelers comes through, is critical for our country’s economic growth,” said Congressman Cuellar. “These funds will ensure our land ports of entry run effectively and efficiently, meaning less congestion for travelers, more safety and security at our borders, and more legitimate commerce coming into the United States. I am committed to fighting for improvements for our land ports of entry, which are indispensable components of our local and country’s economy.

“I want thank Appropriations Chairwoman Lowey and Ranking Chairwoman Granger as well as Appropriations Financial Service Subcommittee Chairman Quigley and Ranking Member Graves for working with me to help secure this funding. I look forward to working with Senator Cornyn, Senator Cruz, Congressman Gonzalez, Congressman Vela, and Congresswoman Escobar on this issue.”

List of planned investments in LPOE infrastructure, in priority order:

1. San Luis I, Arizona – Design and Construction
2. Calexico West, California (Phase II-b) – Construction
3. International Falls, Minnesota – Design and Construction
4. Alcan, Alaska – Design and Construction
5. Sumas, Washington – Design and Construction
6. Coburn Gore, Maine – Design and Construction
7. New Commercial Crossing, Douglas, Arizona – Design and Construction
8. El Paso-Bridge of the Americas, Texas – Site and Design
9. Brownsville-Gateway, Texas – Site and Design
10. Calais-Ferry Point, Maine – Design and Construction
11. Raul Hector Castro, Douglas, Arizona – Design and Construction
12. Alburg Springs, Vermont – Design and Construction
13. Beebe Plain, Vermont – Design and Construction

The land border between the United States and Mexico is more than 1,900 miles long. Each year, there are hundreds of billions of dollars in trade, and approximately 350 million legal crossings every year.

Steady global and regional growth has funneled more people and goods through the Nation’s aging LPOE inspection infrastructure than it is able to handle. Two-thirds of the LPOE inventory has not had repairs over the past decade. The average age of the land ports is 39 years. Such circumstances have resulted in both congestion and delays (that can exceed 1 hour on a daily basis) at many high-volume border crossings for both commercial and noncommercial traffic.

To read the GSA’s Report on the State of the Land Ports of Entry Portfolio, click here.

To read the language for the fiscal year 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, click here.