WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) reintroduced the Reducing Excessive Vetting Authorities to Maintain our Ports (REVAMP) Act which would allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to conduct minor repairs at land ports of entry (LPOEs) without involving the General Services Administration (GSA). Removing GSA from the approval process for low-cost projects at LPOEs will help streamline repairs and updates at LPOEs while allowing GSA to focus its resources on larger-scale projects.
“Each year, billions of dollars flow into our economy through our land ports of entry. These gateways are vital to our nation’s economic success, and it is essential that our LPOEs remain fully operational,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. “I reintroduced the REVAMP Act to provide Customs and Border Protection personnel more flexibility to conduct repairs at our LPOEs as needed. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bipartisan legislation over the finish line.”
U.S. Reps. Lou Correa (CA-46), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), and Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) joined Congressman Gonzales in introducing the REVAMP Act.
“Our nation’s ports of entry are crucial to keeping our economy firing on all eight cylinders and are the foundations of billions of dollars’ worth of legitimate trade and travel coming in and out each and every day,” Congressman Lou Correa said, the top Democrat on the House Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee. “We owe it to those serving at these ports to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and get them the repairs and resources they need to continue protecting our homeland, keeping our economy afloat, and ensuring the safety of our constituents.”
“Thousands of Arizonans rely on our ports of entry and they facilitate thousands of dollars worth of trade and commerce every day. As we saw in December with the closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry, when these locations close, even temporarily, it can have crushing effects on the economy and everyday lives on both sides of the border. It’s critical that CBP is able to quickly and efficiently make upgrades or repairs without disrupting the everyday operations of our ports of entry, which is exactly what this legislation allows them to do,” said Congressman Juan Ciscomani.
“Laredo is the number one port of entry, with $320 billion in total trade last year,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar. “Our land ports of entry are vital pieces of infrastructure. I am pleased to reintroduce the REVAMP Act alongside my friend Congressman Gonzales to ensure that CBP can streamline the repair process on minor repairs and strengthen South Texas’s trade economy.”
Congressman Gonzales represents the largest border district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Texas' 23rd Congressional District spans 823 miles of the Texas-Mexico border and includes Eagle Pass, Del Rio, and El Paso.
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