In a letter submitted Wednesday to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, the Border Trade Alliance urged expedited fulfillment of infrastructure projects at U.S. land ports of entry vital to North American economic activity.
The Senate committee oversees the Department of Homeland Security and General Services Administration.
"Overburdened and aging infrastructure at U.S. (ports of entry), combined with new security checks, is now unable to sustainably support an explosive increase in surface trade, up 172 percent since 1993, totaling $797 billion last year between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners," BTA said in a statement. "The result of which is massive congestion at our borders to the detriment of millions of lost dollars per day in supply chain inefficiencies, worker time, damaged goods, lost tourism, negative environmental impacts, and wasted fuel."
BTA specifically urges the Senate Committee to press GSA and presumptive Administrator Jim Williams, who may be appointed after a Senate hearing this Thursday, to utilize any remaining 2008 funding to expedite the delivery of current port infrastructure projects, as well as fulfill previously outlined commitments to upgrade infrastructure at U.S. land ports.
"GSA has made great strides and taken positive steps toward delivering much needed border infrastructure, however we need to continue to stress the importance of land ports of entry to our national economy," said BTA President Maria Luisa O'Connell.
BTA pointed out that earlier this year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Assistant Commissioner Thomas Winkowski called for 10 years of $500 million funding per year for infrastructure improvements.
"BTA believes the Senate, GSA and the nation should be alarmed by recent statistics that illustrate the economic impacts of inadequate border infrastructure and cross-border congestion," the statement said. "According to the Texas Transportation Institute's 2007 Urban Mobility Report, congestion caused urban Americans to travel 4.2 billion hours more and to purchase an extra 2.9 billion gallons of fuel for a total estimated cost of $78 billion, with border regions being some of the most affected. In 2006, El Paso had 749,000 trucks northbound crossing from Mexico. The average truck endures an average one-hour delay, with delays of up to four hours not uncommon, costing shippers more than $100 million annually."
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