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NTEU is pleased to see that the Senate, as part of a debate this week on border issues, will address the need for a considerable increase in the number of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) port of entry inspectors. The draft legislation, S. 2611, proposes the addition of at least 2,500 such employees, who play key roles in homeland security at the nation’s 317 ports of entry. That these air, land and seaports are understaffed is beyond dispute, and the Senate proposal to add at least 2,500 to their ranks is an opportunity to recover from an ill-advised decision by the House Homeland Security Committee to reject an effort to bolster significantly the CBP force. While the House committee’s action did call for the addition of 1,200 new CBP Officers over six years, that number is far short of the clear and demonstrated need. A substantial increase in the number of CBP Officers, along with congressional approval of legislation calling for a 14 percent increase in the number of CBP Import Specialists—to the number on the job in fiscal 2001—would be an important step forward for the nation not only in enhancing its security, but in facilitating the trade that is so vital to our economy.