WASHINGTON – The President recently signed into law the DHS Border Services Contracts Review Act, which U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced. The bipartisan legislation requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess contracts for services performed along the U.S.-Mexico border and implement a plan to improve procurement and delivery of those services.
“We need to continue working across the aisle to strengthen border security,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation is one additional way to better achieve that mission, and I am pleased that the President has signed it into law. It will help ensure that the Department of Homeland Security and its contractors are operating as effectively as possible at the border.”
The DHS Office of Inspector General has previously reported instances when U.S. Customs and Border Protection failed to timely contract for adequate facilities at the Southern border.
Senators Hassan and Cornyn’s legislation will mitigate this issue by requiring the DHS Under Secretary for Management to assess contracts valued at a minimum of $50 million for services performed by contractor personnel along the Southern border. DHS will also be required to develop a strategy and implementation plan to improve procurement and delivery of services. As part of the analysis, DHS is required to consider the impact of contracts on the ability of Border Patrol agents to carry out their primary mission responsibilities.
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