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Washington, D.C.—The leader of the union representing tens of thousands of frontline homeland security employees applauded yesterday’s action by the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund an additional 1,850 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees at the nation’s 329 land, air and sea ports of entry in the coming fiscal year.

The funding is contained in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fiscal 2014 appropriations measure, which would provide $39.1 billion in net discretionary funding.

In welcoming that step, President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) pointed to a study released earlier this year showing that the addition of one CBP Officer produces 33 new jobs and injects $2 million into the economy. An earlier House-approved DHS funding bill would also increase the number of frontline CBP Officers.

“The funding for sufficient staffing at the borders needs to be a national priority,” President Kelley said, “not only to help protect our country but to facilitate the trade that produces critically important economic growth.”

She added: “I am pleased to see recognition in the House and Senate that CBP has been and continues to be seriously understaffed.”

The study the NTEU leader referred to was conducted by the National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, a research arm of the University of Southern California. It noted that CBP’s complex mission involves law enforcement activities and the facilitation of billions of dollars in legitimate trade.

“Insufficient staffing can impact the ability of CBP to carry out those dual missions, putting our country at risk and hurting our financial strength,” President Kelley said.

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