Committee Advances Bipartisan Hassan, Lankford Bill to Improve Security at the Northern Border

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to advance a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and James Lankford (R-OK) to increase security at the Northern border. The bipartisan Cross Border Aerial Law Enforcement Operations Act would authorize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to create a program to enhance U.S. and Canadian border security by allowing federal law enforcement aircraft to patrol on both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the Northern border as long as law enforcement officers from both countries are on the aircraft.

“Improving security at our Northern border will help us keep New Hampshire and our country safe,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will make it easier for law enforcement who monitor the border from aircraft to coordinate with units on the ground to stop drug smuggling and other illegal cross-border activities. I am glad to see this bill advance on a bipartisan basis, and I will keep working to pass this bill as well as other measures to strengthen security at our borders.”

The Cross Border Aerial Law Enforcement Operations Act would authorize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to create a cross-border aerial law enforcement program at the Northern border, allowing for increased collaboration between U.S. and Canadian law enforcement officials. The program would function similarly to an existing program that supports joint law enforcement efforts between the U.S. and Canada by allowing for collaboration on ships in shared waterways. The program would commence following an agreement between the U.S. and Canada on terms for the program.

This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to support border security. Earlier this year, the Homeland Security Committee voted to advance two of Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bills to reduce the flow of fentanyl, illicit firearms, and money across both directions of the Southern border. Additionally, in March, Senator Hassan’s bipartisan END FENTANYL Act, which will help Customs and Border Protection crack down on fentanyl trafficking at the border, was signed into law. Senator Hassan also worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has provided Customs and Border Protection with additional tools to help detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids.

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