By Anthony Kimery
Editor-in-chief of Homeland Security Today
Special to In Homeland Security
The House Wednesday approved the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2013, which would dramatically simplify the current pay system for Border Patrol agents and addresses concerns raised by the Office of Special Counsel about the misuse of Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) by the agency.
The Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act is a Senate version of legislation Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.) cosponsored in the House. Now that it’s been passed by both the House and Senate, it now goes to the president, who is expected to sign it into law. Barber represents Cochise County, which has an 83-mile border with Mexico.
“This legislation … takes some commonsense steps to make some badly needed reforms to the overtime system at the Border Patrol, which is currently too complicated, too difficult to manage and enables waste and abuse,” said responded Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.). “This legislation will save millions of taxpayer dollars and curb misuse of the system – all while increasing the ability of the Border Patrol’s ability to secure our borders. In fact, one estimate I have seen shows that this bill would add the equivalent of 1,500 agents to the border. That’s what I like to call a win-win … I applaud the House for passing this bipartisan piece of legislation.”
Barber said the legislation will create a more consistent and reliable salary system for Border Patrol agents while saving taxpayers’ money.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the reformed overtime pay system will save taxpayers $100 million each year, while resulting in the current Border Patrol workforce working an additional 2.5 million hours each year — or the equivalent of adding 1,500 full time agents.
“This bill will bring certainty to our Border Patrol agents and their families who sacrifice so much for our safety every day.” Barber said. “We owe this to our Border Patrol agents who have dedicated their lives to ensure that our borders are secure.”
Read the full story at Homeland Security Today.
Comments are closed.