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Washington, D.C.—The leader of the union representing homeland security employees today called on a key House subcommittee to include in pending Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reauthorization legislation provisions authorizing the hiring of additional CBP Officers and Agriculture Specialists to help meet critical staffing needs at this vital agency.

President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) said Congress needs to enact legislation to provide a modest increase in customs and immigration user fees to help meet the administration goal of bringing the total number of CBP Officers to 25,775. NTEU is urging an increase in the immigration and customs user fees by $2 each. User fees have not been increased in years and some of these user fees cover only a portion of recoverable fee-related costs.

In submitted testimony, President Kelley told the Homeland Security Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee that long-term understaffing at the nation’s 329 land, air and sea ports of entry is the most significant roadblock to legitimate trade and travel efficiency.

“Despite an enacted increase in appropriated funding in fiscal 2014 and 2105 for an additional 2,000 CBP Officers,” Kelley said, “CBP will still face staffing shortages in fiscal 2015 and beyond.” She added: “If Congress is serious about job creation, then Congress should support enactment of legislation that increases (user fees) by $2 each and adjusts those fees annually to inflation.”

However, if that does not happen, Kelley said subcommittee members should authorize appropriations to address the ongoing shortages in both CBP’s security and trade-related functions, including its vital agricultural inspection efforts. The authorization measure is H.R. 3846.

In addition to those steps, the NTEU leader pressed again for an end to sequestration, first, because of its continuing harm to federal agencies, their employees and the public; and in part to help CBP avoid negative consequences like employee furloughs, hiring freezes, reductions in service, increased waiting times for travel and trade, and a worrisome impact on national security.

She also urged the subcommittee to authorize extension of enhanced pay and retirement recognition—secured by NTEU for CBP Officers after a lengthy battle—to additional CBP personnel, including Import and other Commercial Operations Specialists, CBP Seized Property Specialists and CBP Technicians.

Finally, underscoring the importance of the congressionally-authorized Foreign Language Awards Program (FLAP) in assisting international travelers whose primary language is other than English, Kelley urged the committee to ensure full funding of FLAP. CBP sought to reduce sharply FLAP payments to more than 7,300 eligible CBP employees for 2013, but relented in the face of NTEU objections. However, the agency has again proposed reducing payments under the program for this year.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments, including some 24,000 in CBP.