Aderholt Questions Customs and Border Patrol Officials on FY13 Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 29, 2012
CONTACT: Anne Marie Malecha, 202.225.4876

Aderholt Questions Customs and Border Patrol Officials on FY13 Budget
Demands Answers on Border Security Technology, Air and Marine Assets and Cuts to Frontline Operations and Critical Mission Support

Washington, D.C.— Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officials Chief Michael Fisher, Assistant Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, Assistant Commissioner Michael Kostelnik and Assistant Commissioner Borkowski testified before the Subcommittee regarding CBP’s priorities and FY13 budget request.

“Protecting our borders is one of the core responsibilities of the federal government and this subcommittee has worked to robustly support frontline personnel and operations,” said Aderholt. “However, the President’s FY13 budget request cuts resources from critical mission support that will take uniformed personnel off the frontline to perform administrative tasks. That is simply unacceptable and if CBP and the entire Department are unwilling to prioritize limited taxpayer dollars to securing our borders, this subcommittee will.”

“The FY13 request cuts air and marine procurement by $72 million, -52%. Every year the Administration has cut air and marine, expecting Congress to bail them out. That’s not truth-in-budgeting or transparency and we simply cannot afford to gamble when it comes to border security. Additionally, with rising fuel prices, cuts to Coast Guard assets and aging aircrafts already flying reduced flight hours, this proposal could seriously jeopardize our Nation’s border security capabilities.”

“While this subcommittee has asked all agencies in the Department to look for efficiencies and to adhere to strict fiscal discipline, we expect proposed efficiencies to be real and based on analysis – not prorated cuts to mission support, information technology support, and equipment that will likely impact front line operations. The bottom line is the FY13 CBP budget puts the investments this subcommittee and this Congress have made in border security over the years at great risk.”

“This FY13 budget request does not provide a straightforward picture of its impact and while we expect CBP to be responsible in managing its resources, as we put your officers and agents in harm’s way—we must ensure that we are providing them the tools and capabilities they need to perform the mission—and I’m afraid this year’s budget misses the mark,” concluded Aderholt.

Click here to view Chairman Aderholt’s entire opening statement as prepared for delivery.

Aderholt currently serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security for the powerful House Appropriations Committee, is a member of the Committee’s Commerce, Justice and Science; and Agriculture Subcommittees, and also serves on the Helsinki Commission.

For more information about Aderholt’s work in Congress visit www.aderholt.house.gov.