Committee Advances Two of Senator Hassan’s Bipartisan Bills to Increase Security at the Southern Border

WASHINGTON – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today voted to advance two of U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH)’s bipartisan bills to increase security at the Southern border. The bipartisan Contraband Awareness Technology Catches Harmful (CATCH) Fentanyl Act will help improve the process for inspecting cars, trucks, and cargo containers for fentanyl and other forms of contraband at the Southern border, and the bipartisan Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act will increase inspections of traffic going from the U.S. to Mexico, which would help combat the flow of illegal firearms and money that fuel drug cartels.

“Securing our borders is a critical part of combatting the fentanyl crisis and protecting our national security,” said Senator Hassan. “These two bipartisan bills will reduce the flow of fentanyl, illicit firearms, and money across both directions of the Southern border, helping keep communities in New Hampshire and across the country safe. I am grateful for my colleagues’ collaboration on these measures and will continue to push for the passage of these bills.”

The CATCH Fentanyl Act will require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to test new technology at land ports of entry, including artificial intelligence and quantum sensors, to determine how to better scan for contraband, reduce wait times, and lower costs. The Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act will require an increase in southbound vehicle inspections and authorizes additional personnel and x-ray inspection systems to conduct southbound inspections. Traffic leaving the U.S. can often include the illegal firearms and bulk cash that are used to arm and fund the drug cartels in Mexico.

These bills are part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to support border security. Last month, 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. Last year, Senator Hassan, as part of bipartisan Congressional Delegation trips, visited Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and China where she spoke with foreign officials about economic and public safety priorities – in particular the need to crack down on fentanyl, the precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, and other drug trafficking. To address the issues raised on these trips and in other briefings and hearings, she has worked to increase funding for border security. 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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