Source: United States Senator for Ohio Rob Portman
February 18, 2022 | Rob’s Rundown
Senator Portman was back in Washington this week where, on Wednesday, he delivered remarks on the Senate floor discussing new developments in Ukraine regarding a possible Russian invasion. Portman noted the buildup of more than 130,000 Russian combat troops along Ukraine’s border and the need for swift action to deter unnecessary violence before a possible attack. He also made the point that he believes bipartisan action is possible, and it is his hope Congress will be able to come together to pass legislation that will deter a Russian invasion, and ensure Ukraine and its patriotic peopleremain strong in their quest for freedom.
On Thursday evening, the Senate overwhelmingly approved Portman’s and Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-NH) resolution in support of Ukraine in the face of increased Russian aggression. The resolution is a renewed bipartisan message from the U.S. Senate in support of the United States’ Ukrainian partners in response to President Putin’s escalating aggression.
At a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing Thursday, Portman highlighted how the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office must ensure that legacy biodetection capabilities are replaced with advanced technology, built on a strong foundation of research and testing, and can protect the American people from harmful biological threats while also being a worthwhile investment of taxpayer money. Portman discussed how the authorities of the CWMD are set to expire next year which allows for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to reauthorize the office and make the necessary changes to improve the system through better organization and accountability.
Finally, Portman touted the announcement that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will receive more than $1 billion made available through the bipartisan infrastructure law. Portman was the lead Republican negotiator for the law and worked to ensure the Ohio’s priorities were funded, including the GLRI. He noted this week that the funding boost to the GLRI will deliver significant environmental, economic, health and recreational benefits to Ohio communities and communities across the Great Lakes Basin.
For a more detailed look at Senator Portman’s week, please see the following:
Monday, February 14, 2022
On Senate Floor, Portman Calls for Bipartisan Action To Counter Escalating Russian Aggression Against Ukraine
In a show of bipartisan support, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to discuss new developments in Ukraine regarding a possible Russian invasion. Portman noted the buildup of more than 130,000 Russian combat troops along Ukraine’s border and the need for swift action to deter unnecessary violence before a possible attack, not after. Earlier this year, Portman led a bipartisan delegation of seven senators with Senator Shaheen to Ukraine to assure President Zelenskyy of the United States’ commitment to our allies.
As President Putin has built up offensive forces along Russia’s Ukrainian border, Portman has spoken on the Senate floor to consistently call for bipartisan action to sanction Russia in the case of an invasion.
A transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video can be found here.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Portman, Manchin, Collins, King Lead 16 Senators in Urging Administration to Implement Broadband Expansion Funding in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Angus King (I-ME) led 16 bipartisan senators in encouraging the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson to follow Congressional intent in implementing the $65 billion included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for broadband expansion efforts across the United States.
“As Senators representing small rural towns, large cities, and everything in between, we know that local input will be key to effective implementation. The IIJA provides unprecedented levels of funding for broadband directly to states. We knew in crafting these programs that this level of grant management would require additional capacity across the board — from NTIA to city halls. That’s why the law provides for a minimum allocation of $100 million to every state, a portion of which can be used to kickstart a robust planning process and technical assistance, allowing these funds to be used to stand up and build out state broadband offices, promote state-local coordination, increase mapping efforts, and improve the expertise and capacity at a local level,” wrote the senators.
Over $48 billion of the $65 billion included for broadband in the IIJA will be implemented by NTIA. The NTIA will coordinate with the FCC, which is responsible for updating the broadband coverage maps, to implement this funding and close the digital divide.
The full letter can be found here.
Portman, Finance Committee Republicans Request Information on the Adverse Effects of High, Persistent Inflation on the Federal Budget
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and his Senate Finance Committee Republican colleagues are asking the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for detailed information on the harmful effects inflation has on the federal budget, given the high and accelerating inflation the U.S. is currently experiencing. As inflation continues to hammer pocketbooks of Americans, it also eats up fiscal space by increasing deficits and debt, and acts like a stealth tax on households and businesses.
“Increased inflation leads to more federal spending and more federal revenue. The added revenue stems partly, and unfortunately for taxpayers, from nominal inflationary gains that do not show up as purchasing-power-adjusted gains for federal taxpayers. The stealth-like nature of inflation taxes, and revenues that flow from them, should not be viewed as an economic plus,” wrote the senators.
They continued, “Adverse effects of inflation on the federal budget, including likely increased payments to service outstanding debt, absorb fiscal space and crowd out a host of national priorities, ranging from low-income support programs to national defense to disaster relief.”
The senators also cite a budget workbook on CBO’s website that suggests a persistent one percent inflation increase above CBO’s baseline projection made early last year could increase deficits by nearly $2.3 trillion over a 10-year period. They ask the CBO for a description of budgetary effects of high inflation; inflation that persists; and, higher interest rates that can result from high inflation and possible Federal Reserve responses to inflation.
Read the full letter, signed by all Senate Finance Committee Republican members, here.
Portman, Senate Republican Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Sanction Russia, Provide Additional Aid to Ukraine
Portman joined a majority of his Republican colleagues today in introducing the Never Yielding Europe’s Territory (NYET) Act to provide the critical support Ukraine needs to defend itself and deter Russian aggression, while imposing real costs on the Kremlin for its ongoing and potential future aggression against Ukraine.
“We cannot, and should not, wait for Russia to invade Ukraine to sanction their recent aggressive actions. While I support the Biden Administration’s desire to have a robust sanctions program in the case of an invasion — there is also sufficient grounds to sanction Russia for the malign actions they have already taken. It is critical that we provide a deterrent now, and also provide support to Ukraine,” said Portman. “This sanctions package imposes massive economic and military costs on Russia, while providing much-needed resources to Ukraine and other U.S. allies – sending a clear message that Russia cannot afford to make the mistake of invading Ukraine again. This is not a partisan bill, nor is support for Ukraine a partisan issue. I remain hopeful that we can reach an agreement on this sanctions package in the Senate and vote on it as soon as possible.”
At Senate Finance Hearing, Portman Discusses Youth Addiction Crisis, Touts Telehealth
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing earlier, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) discussed the surge in drug use and overdose deaths, specifically among teens and young adults. Portman pointed out that the proliferation of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, bears much of the responsibility. In December, Portman toured the border at Nogales, Arizona, to see firsthand the challenges Customs and Border Protection officials face with increased and more sophisticated efforts to smuggle illegal and deadly drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. The most recent CDC data shows that from April 2020 to April 2021, drug overdose deaths in the United States rose to a record more than 100,000, with fentanyl accounting for well over half that number.
In addition, Portman touted the effectiveness of telehealth in combating addiction and other mental health issues. Over the past year, Portman has led efforts to ensure telehealth is available to individuals on Medicare and Medicaid.
A transcript of Senator Portman’s questioning can be found here and video can be found here.
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Senate Passes Portman, Brown Legislation to Name Avondale Cincinnati Post Office for Ohio World War II Aviators
Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the Senate for passing their bipartisan legislation to name the Avondale Cincinnati Post Office for two Ohio World War II aviators, John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun. The legislation advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee earlier this month and has also passed the U.S. House of Representatives. It now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
John Leahr and Herbert Heilbrun both flew for the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. Leahr was a Fighter Squadron P-51 Mustang pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen and Heilbrun was a B-17 bomber pilot. The Tuskegee Airmen escorted American bomber groups in Europe during World War II, and the two men flew on some of the same missions. They did not get to know each other, however, until 1997 when Heilburn attended a reunion of the Tuskegee Airmen to thank the unit for its work protecting his bomber. Leahr and Heilbrun discovered they had much in common. They were in the same elementary school class in North Avondale. They volunteered for the Army Air Corps after Pearl Harbor and worked in the same airplane engine factory while awaiting training. They even had similar career paths after the war. Leahr and Heilbrun became friends and dedicated their later years to sharing their experiences in World War II and promoting racial understanding and unity. The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations honored them for their work in 2003, and their story is recounted in the 2007 book Black and White Airmen: Their True History.
“I’m proud that this bipartisan legislation to name the Avondale Cincinnati Post Office after John Leahr and Herbert Heilbrun has been passed by the Senate. By naming the post office, we will honor the memory and lives of two incredible men who served our country during World War II and continued their public service long after their military service came to an end,” said Portman. “Their dedication to sharing their experiences in World War II and promoting racial understanding and unity should serve as an inspiration to us all. Their service to Ohio and to our nation is something that should never be forgotten and I urge the President to sign this into law soon.”
Portman, Colleagues Applaud Senate Passage of Resolution Recognizing February as “Career and Technical Education Month”
Portman announced that the Senate unanimously passed a resolution recognizing February 2022 as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. The resolution was sponsored by the co-chairs of the Senate CTE Caucus, Senators Portman, Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). A broad, bipartisan group of 68 senators co-sponsored the resolution.
“Career and Technical Education provides our kids with the skills they need to be job-ready on graduation day. This is about ensuring that our young folks can take full advantage of the opportunities in the job market and hit the ground running right off the bat,” said Senator Portman. “Now more than ever, as we emerge from this pandemic, I believe that raising awareness about Career and Technical Education is key to creating more opportunities in more communities in Ohio and around the country. As co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus, I will continue my work at the federal level to make sure that Washington is an effective partner with local communities in providing Americans with the skills training they need to succeed.”
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Portman Applauds Funding Announcement for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Senator Rob Portman – who spearheaded passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act – applauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that the agency will use funding provided through the bipartisan infrastructure law for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to make significant progress in cleaning up and restoring Areas of Concern (AOCs), which is a location that has experienced environmental degradation. This funding boost to the GLRI will deliver significant environmental, economic, health and recreational benefits to Ohio communities and communities across the Great Lakes Basin. Ohio currently has three active AOCs at the Black River, the Cuyahoga River, and the Maumee.
“This is great news for Ohio. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has provided nearly $3 billion for more than 6,000 projects in Ohio and throughout the Great Lakes Basin, helping address the greatest threats facing Lake Erie and the Great Lakes, such as Areas of Concern, harmful algal blooms, invasive species, pollution, and habitat degradation,” said Portman. “Lake Erie provides clean drinking water for millions of Ohioans and is a key part of the economy for many Ohio communities by supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and attracting millions of visitors to the region each year. Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, this additional $1 billion for the GLRI will go a long way in strengthening our Great Lakes preservation and restoration efforts.”
Portman, Shaheen Reaffirm Bipartisan Support for Ukraine, Lead New Resolution in Support of Democratic Partners
Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, led a bipartisan group of senators, including Senate Foreign Relations Chairman and Ranking Member, Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Jim Risch (R-ID), as well as Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), on a new, bipartisan resolution in support of Ukraine amid increased Russian aggression.
The senators’ resolution is a renewed bipartisan message from the U.S. Senate in fierce support of the United States’ Ukrainian partners in response to Vladimir Putin’s escalating aggression.
“This Congress is united in its support of Ukrainian independence and sovereignty. This resolution allows us to speak with one voice in denouncing the buildup of Russian troops at Ukraine’s border and reaffirming our bipartisan commitment to impose significant costs on Russia in the event they choose to invade our ally. I hope this will send a strong signal to Russia the world is united behind Ukrainian independence and freedom,” said Senator Portman.
Portman at HSGAC Hearing: We Must Ensure DHS Biosecurity Programs Can Protect Americans from Harmful Biological Threats
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, delivered opening remarks at a hearing entitled “Addressing the Gaps in America’s Biosecurity Preparedness” and highlighted how the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office must ensure that legacy biodetection capabilities are replaced with advanced technology, built on a strong foundation of research and testing, and can protect the American people from harmful biological threats while also being a worthwhile investment of taxpayer money. Portman discussed how the authorities of the CWMD are set to expire next year which allows for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to reauthorize the office and make the necessary changes to improve the system through better organization and accountability.
A transcript of the opening statement can be found here and a video can be found here.
Portman, Finance Committee Republicans Voice Concerns with Recent OECD Developments, Stress Need for Additional Engagement
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and his fellow Senate Finance Committee Republicans wrote U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen raising questions and concerns with recent developments in global tax negotiations. The request for information follows a prior request, sent in December 2021, which has gone unanswered. Since that time, there have been a number of alarming developments that raise additional concerns regarding the effect of the OECD agreement on U.S. competitiveness and tax revenue.
The senators again stress the importance of ensuring U.S. businesses and workers remain globally competitive in any agreement, and the need for transparency and bipartisan engagement with Congress throughout the process.
Senator Portman has warned about the anti-competitive impact on our companies if we implement additional changes to GILTI before the rest of the world. He took to the Senate floor multiple times in the fall to argue that making GILTI more burdensome two-years before other nations even begin to apply a similar tax will hurt our competitiveness, with the burden ultimately falling on workers. As wages struggle to keep pace with inflation and our economy continues its recovery from the pandemic, this is the wrong time to race to increase taxes before our competitors and reverse course on pro-growth reforms in the 2017 Republican-led Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that helped create a historically strong economy before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Expert Witnesses Agree with Portman that Stronger Accountability is Needed at Federal Level to Bolster National Biosecurity
At a hearing to examine the gaps in America’s biosecurity preparedness, expert witnesses agreed with U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, that there is currently too much fragmentation and not enough accountability within the federal government to effectively establish a strong biosecurity system to protect the United States from bio-attacks. Portman highlighted how the authorities of the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office are set to expire next year which allows for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to reauthorize the office and make the necessary changes to improve the system through better organization and accountability.
In addition, the witnesses also agreed with Portman that an advanced biosurveillance system could have worked to detect COVID-19 faster, allowing for a faster response in mitigating the spread of the disease. Every witness attested that they do not believe the United States currently has the adequate surveillance capability for bio-threats and foreign adversaries, like China and Russia, are investing billions in advanced bio-protection.
A transcript of the questioning can be found here and videos can be found here and here.
Portman, Durbin Introduce Bill to Expand Mental Health Support for Survivors, First Responders After Emergencies & Disasters
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affair Committee, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Post-Disaster Mental Health Response Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would expand eligibility for FEMA’s Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP). CCP provides short-term mental health and trauma support resources for survivors and first responders. Currently, support through this program is only available following Major Disaster Declarations, but not Emergency Declarations.
The legislation is led in the House by U.S. Representatives Peter Meijer (R-MI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), David McKinley (R-WV), and Dina Titus (D-NV).
“The survivors of catastrophic events, whether from an act of terror or extreme weather, can experience psychological harm. Research from the National Institute of Health finds that crises counseling is an effective tool to help survivors overcome this trauma,” said Portman. “Unfortunately, FEMA does not currently have the authority to reimburse states for this critical service in the aftermath of declared emergencies. That’s why I’ve introduced the bipartisan Post Disaster Mental Health Response Act to rectify this lapse and ensure states have every tool they need to make their communities whole.”
Widespread Support for Portman’s Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on China’s Economic Cheating
This week, 172 U.S. manufacturers and producers, along with members of the Committee to Support US Trade Laws (CSUSTL), have come out in support of Senator Portman’s bipartisan Eliminating Global Market Distortions to Protect American Jobs Act – also known as Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0. This legislation would strengthen U.S. trade remedy laws and ensure they remain effective tools to fight back against unfair trade practices and protect American workers.
Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0 would establish the new concept of “successive investigations” to improve the effectiveness of the U.S. trade remedy system in responding to repeat offenders and serial cheaters, helping to level the playing field for American workers. This legislation builds upon the Leveling the Playing Field Act, Portman’s bill that was signed into law in 2015, that gave U.S. companies new tools to fight against unfair trade practices.
In a letter to Congressional Leaders Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, and Kevin McCarthy, the group stated, “For far too long, Chinese manipulation of the global trading market and evasion of reasonable regulatory controls on international trade have devastated the economies of communities throughout the United States. A worker-centered trade policy depends upon the development and implementation of 21st century tools to counteract these harmful practices. This is why we support the bipartisan Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0.” To see their full statement and a complete list of endorsements, click here.
At Senate Finance Hearing, Portman Discusses IRS Backlog, Negative Impact of Book Tax
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing earlier today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) discussed his concerns with the growing backlog at the IRS – noting that it is having a major impact on families and businesses across Ohio and the country.
Portman also outlined the harmful consequences of the so-called book tax that Democrats’ proposed as part of their Build Back Better framework. He said that the new tax would worsen the IRS backlog while negatively impacting businesses and job creators. Jan Lewis of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) shared these concerns, stating that the AICPA has “grave concerns” about the tax and the complexity it introduces at the IRS. Portman has also addressed the negative consequences of the Democrats’ book tax proposal on the Senate floor.
A transcript of Senator Portman’s questioning can be found here and video can be found here.
BREAKING: Senate Passes Portman-Shaheen Resolution in Resounding Show of Bipartisan Support for Ukraine Against Russian Aggression
The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly in support of a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, in support of Ukraine in the face of increased Russian aggression.
The senators’ resolution is a renewed bipartisan message from the U.S. Senate in fierce support of the United States’ Ukrainian partners in response to President Putin’s escalating aggression.
“By acting in bipartisan fashion today, the United States Senate sent a strong message to Russia and the world that we stand with Ukraine. This resolution denounces the buildup of Russian troops at Ukraine’s border and reaffirms our bipartisan commitment to hold Russia accountable if they invade our ally Ukraine,” said Portman. “Today’s action reaffirms our commitment to our allies in Eastern Europe as Russia continues its malign influence and goal of rebuilding the old Soviet empire.”
During Black History Month, Senate Passes Portman, Rosen Bipartisan Legislation to Honor Harriet Tubman with Commemorative Coins
The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act, to honor the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman with the creation of commemorative coins bearing her image and emblematic of her legacy. The coins mark what would have been Tubman’s 200th birthday in March 2022 and will be paid for by sales to the public, at no cost to taxpayers.
“Harriet Tubman selflessly and courageously dedicated her life to helping others escape from the bondage of slavery,” said Senator Portman. “She was a trailblazer who paved the way for civil and women’s rights leaders to follow in her stead. With the Senate passage of this bipartisan legislation, I’m pleased that we are one step closer to honoring Tubman’s life and legacy.”
Portman, Republican Colleagues Send Letter to U.S. Department of Transportation to Ensure Proper Implementation of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Portman joined his Republican colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg regarding the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) December 16, 2021 memorandum, “Policy on Using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Resources to Build a Better America.” In the letter, the senators request that Secretary Buttigieg direct FHWA to rescind or substantially revise the memorandum, which attempts to constrain infrastructure project decisions made by states and runs counter to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) as enacted.
“If implemented faithfully to the legislative text, the IIJA will upgrade and expand the surface transportation system in a manner that benefits all communities and the Nation. The provisions of the IIJA were carefully negotiated and reflect the input of both parties, the Biden Administration, and the broader stakeholder community. We urge recognition of the legislative process used to develop the IIJA and adherence to congressional intent as FHWA moves forward with implementing this historic legislation,” the senators wrote.
Portman: New CBP Operational Statistics Show Highest Number of January Border Arrests in More Than 20 Years
Portman issued the following statement after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released operational statistics showing the highest number of border arrests in January in more than 20 years as the United States continues to face a crisis at our southern border:
“I am alarmed the January CBP operational statistics show that our nation saw the worst January in more than 20 years as the unlawful migration crisis continues. CBP reported nearly 154,000 total encounters at the border in January. This includes more than 31,000 migrant family members; more than 113,000 single adult migrants, which comprised nearly three-fourths of all encounters; and more than 8,000 unaccompanied children. This is a 96 percent increase from the January 2021 numbers of more than 78,000 total encounters and more than quadruple the January 2020 numbers of 36,585 total encounters. The numbers don’t lie. This crisis is a direct result of the Biden administration’s decision to dismantle the previous administration’s border policies with no consideration of the consequences.
“The surge in illicit narcotics coming over our border also continues to rise, with seizures of fentanyl increasing 57 percent over the last month. As recent CDC data has shown, these illicit narcotics, including deadly fentanyl, are taking a record number of lives in communities in Ohio and across our country. The failure of this administration to control our southern border has resulted in record levels of deadly fentanyl coming into our country, leading to more American lives being lost, families devastated, and has contributed to the growing strength of Mexican transnational criminal organizations.”
SOCIAL MEDIA
As lethal fentanyl flows across Mexico border, CBP tries powerful scanning technology
“It’s going to be a game changer for us,” said Alberto Flores, the CBP director for the Laredo port of entry who said each machine can scan eight times as many trucks per hour as the existing high-energy systems. “With the more scans we do, the probability of a seizure will increase,” Flores said. Laredo is the front line in the U.S. government’s long and often demoralizing effort to stop illegal drugs at the border. U.S. Interstate 35 runs from here all the way to Duluth, Minn., right up the middle of the United States. For long-haul trucking, it is the highway equivalent of the Mississippi River, a central artery into the American heartland. The Mexican trafficking organizations that hide narcotics in commercial loads use I-35 no differently than Walmart or Samsung or Ford. Once the drugs get past CBP here in Laredo, their distribution routes are wide open. The entire contiguous United States is within a 1½-day drive.
CBP’s Laredo field office seized 588 pounds of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl during the 2021 fiscal year, an eleven-fold increase over the 50 pounds detected in 2020. More than 100,000 Americans are dying each year from drug overdoses, and most of those fatalities are linked to fentanyl. Overdoses from fentanyl have become the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new study by Stanford University and the Lancet medical journal projects U.S. opioid deaths will reach 1.22 million this decade if no new action is taken.
The advent of fentanyl has posed the biggest challenge yet to the government’s conventional interdiction methods, including border inspections. The same thing that makes fentanyl so deadly — its potency — allows for its exceedingly compact size. Smugglers use false vehicle panels, hidden compartments and bulk produce shipments to hide drugs. Gas tanks, engines and batteries can be adapted with secret chambers. The drivers may have no idea they’re ferrying drugs, so there’s limited value in officers looking for behavioral cues such as nervousness. “It is a cat-and-mouse game,” Flores said. “We will adjust with the cartels just as they adjust to the way we do inspections.”
Flores and other CBP officials insist their detection efforts are not futile. Every narcotics seizure takes dangerous drugs off the streets, saving lives, they say. In recent years, CBP has boosted the percentage of rail cars it scans to 100 percent, and the agency views commercial trucks as the next phase of a longer effort to deploy nonintrusive inspection technology for cargo as well as passenger vehicles at U.S. ports of entry.
Lawmakers in states with surging overdose deaths are pushing the government to go faster. “A smuggler with multiple pounds of fentanyl, concealed in hidden compartments, needs to know that there is no chance of getting across our border without some kind of search,” Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said in a speech on the Senate floor this month. “It’s not just a gap in our security, it’s a gaping hole in our security,” said Portman, whose home state has the fifth-highest number of drug overdose deaths per capita. “It’s resulting in lives being lost.” CBP has started installing the multi-energy portals at the Brownsville, Tex., and Laredo ports of entry, part of a $480 million effort to expand the technology along the U.S.-Mexico border. The agency said it is distributing information to truck drivers assuring them the technology is safe, and allowing drivers with concerns to opt out in favor of slower, traditional inspection procedures.
Gil Kerlikowske, a CBP commissioner under President Barack Obama who also previously ran the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said more high-intensity scans at the border are a welcome addition, especially if they can occur without disruptions to trade. “The last thing you can do now is slow down shipping, given the past year and a half of supply chain issues,” he said. But, Kerlikowske cautioned, “we’re not going to seize our way out of this issue. Every time we have new detection methods and better intelligence, we also have increased seizures, but increased seizures don’t seem to be resulting in fewer deaths.” “In the long run, it’s prevention that will make a difference,” he said.
Along with the scanning equipment, CBP is adding a new software program, CertScan, that officials also describe as a breakthrough. It is designed to streamline and centralize the growing amounts of data flooding the inspectors’ monitors. In every border sector, CBP is planning to construct a central command center staffed by teams of “adjudicators” who will decide which trucks clear inspection and which ones should be subjected to a more thorough review by officers or K-9 teams. The high-energy scans produce vivid 3D images of the vehicles and their cargo. In one control room at the port, veteran agents scrutinized a load of northbound water scooters, assembled in Mexico, which X-rays showed in intricate skeletal detail.
The adjudicators receive detailed manifest information about the trucks, their cargo and their drivers at least an hour in advance of a vehicle’s arrival. Established companies and shippers with clean records are lower-risk; a truck with a random load or unfamiliar company tends to draw more scrutiny. The system incorporates data from QR code readers, license plate recognition software, a radio frequency identification system, live cameras and links to Department of Homeland Security databases. The CertScan program gives adjudicators a single portal to all of this information and the imagery from the multi-energy screening. “Running them all within this platform allows you to increase your inspection percentage significantly” without a major increase in staffing, said Jonathan Fleming, a former Transportation Security Administration official whose company, S2 Global, developed the software. “Are you going to catch everything? No,” he said. “But I think you can do a very good job of significantly expanding your interdiction capability at a traditional port of entry with these technologies deployed.”
The government is racing to catch up to the fast-moving North American drug trade. The legalization of cannabis in some U.S. states has crashed demand for Mexican-grown bulk marijuana, driving traffickers toward hard narcotics. Cocaine seizures at the Laredo port of entry doubled last year, and CBP seized more than 190,000 pounds of meth in total at U.S. borders, nearly three times the amount confiscated in 2018. “The honest truth is there’s no way to completely stop flow of illegal drugs as long as demand in the United States is high,” said Eric Olson, a global fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington who has tracked border security and drug trafficking issues for decades.
“The technology solutions to finding a half-ton of marijuana or bulk shipments of cocaine might be solvable, but when you’re talking about something like fentanyl that can be brought over in such small conveyances, it’s really hard to think it’ll have much success.” “I’m not saying it’s pointless, but it’s not a panacea either,” Olson said. With more scrutiny on commercial cargo, traffickers will probably pivot to passenger vehicles, maritime routes, cross-border tunnels and other smuggling tactics, he said.
US Senate approves resolution for Ukraine, warning Russia
The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to show unwavering support for an independent Ukraine and “condemn” Russian military aggression toward its neighbor as fresh fears emerged of a possible invasion that could spiral toward a European war. Action in the Senate came after President Joe Biden said the U.S. has “every indication” of a potential Russian attack on Ukraine in a matter of days. U.S. officials have outlined stark scenarios of President Vladimir Putin’s potential plans as Russian troops remain massed at the Ukraine border.
The resolution from the senators does not carry the force of law but puts the U.S. legislative body on record with “unwavering United States support for a secure, democratic, and independent Ukraine” and “denounces the Russian military buildup” on Ukraine’s border. The vote was unanimous, without objection or the formal roll call. “This Congress is united in its support of Ukrainian independence and sovereignty,” said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, in introducing the measure with Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and others.
Senators have been racing all week to mount a response to rising tensions in the region, many eager to go even further by imposing devastating sanctions on Putin that would send shockwaves through the Russian economy. Ukraine has strong allies in the Senate, where there is broad support for sanctions on Russia as a powerful foreign policy tool to be used if Putin furthers his aggression toward Ukraine.
Amid high-stakes diplomatic efforts to pull Russia off any plans to invade, senators held back on legislation sanctioning Russia, deferring to the White House’s own strategy for easing out of the crisis that could spread across Europe. The resolution Thursday encourages Biden to have the U.S. government exhaust its tools available to impose “significant costs” on Russia and “restore peace in Europe.”The final text said the resolution was not to be construed as an authorization for the use of military force against Russia or for the introduction of U.S. armed forces in Ukraine.
Senators have said the administration can impose sanctions on its own, regardless of congressional action. “It is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘how’ we will respond to Putin,” said Shaheen in a statement. Earlier this week, Senate leaders, along with the Democratic chairmen and top Republicans on the foreign relations and other committees, issued a bipartisan statement ahead of the resolution.
Despite widespread backing from the senators for legislation that would sanction Russia over its behavior toward Ukraine, they have had debates over the details and timing. There have also been differences over the Nord Stream 2 energy pipeline between Russia and Germany, although those may have become resolved after Biden said last week the energy line would not continue if Russia invades Ukraine. Still, senators were eager for a unified show of support for Ukraine at this moment, and before the Senate recessed. Several senators and House lawmakers were headed to an annual security conference in Munich.