Statement of NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley On Rapid Response Border Protection Act

Press Release October 18, 2005

The Rapid Response Border Protection Act (H.R. 4044), introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), contains a number of provisions that would improve the work lives of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees—including granting them law enforcement officer status, repealing the DHS personnel regulations and increasing staffing levels—as well as promote the achievement of the critically important homeland security mission. At the same time, NTEU looks forward to working with Rep. Lee to correct a provision in the bill which would have the unintended consequence of moving Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers to disadvantageous overtime pay system. That provision would cut the pay and retirement benefits of CBP Officers by thousands of dollars a year. This is an otherwise very good bill. NTEU applauds Rep. Lee for taking a leadership role on these important Homeland Security issues.

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