Bipartisan Bill to Fix Overtime Pay for Border Patrol Passes House

WASHINGTON, DC – (Press Release) The House passed U.S. Representative Will Hurd’s bipartisan legislation to streamline bureaucratic inefficiencies that have impacted safety and fair compensation for our nation’s Border Patrol agents on Wednesday. The Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Amendment Act of 2018, cosponsored by Border and Maritime Subcommittee Chair Martha McSally and Ranking Member Filemon Vela, also from Texas, addresses critical pay and schedule issues impending the ability of Customs and Border Protection to recruit and retain good quality agents. The bill has been endorsed by the Border Patrol Union which represents 15,000 Customs and Border Patrol officers across the country.

“Our most important Border Security resources are the brave men and women of our Border Patrol and they should be properly compensated for the highly dangerous and demanding jobs they perform. These agents and their families deserve nothing short of certainty,” said Hurd, whose district includes more than 820 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, more than other Member of Congress. “I thank my colleagues for coming together in a bipartisan manner to support our Border Patrol, and I will continue to stand tall in Congress for the folks who put their lives on the line each day to keep Americans safe.”

“I want to thank Congressman Hurd again for all his hard work on this legislation. This is the second time that Congressman Hurd has worked with the National Border Patrol Council to address challenges we have faced after Congress instituted a new pay system for Border Patrol Agents three years ago,” said NBPC President Brandon Judd. “Washington needs common sense problem solvers and Congressman Hurd is that kind of member of Congress who can work in bipartisan basis to get results in Washington.”

“Border Security requires us to recruit, train, equip, and retain Border Patrol agents as they protect our communities and country. After personally speaking with Border Patrol agents, I have heard their request for straightforward solutions to their compensation structure, and that’s why I was honored to lead the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Amendment Act with my friend and colleague Congressman Will Hurd,” said Martha McSally. “As two of the nine members of Congress who represent southern border communities, we both fully understand the weight of responsibility we out on our agents. Our legislation streamlines the overtime payment process for the men and women protecting our border while also allowing due compensation for the high-risk jobs they perform. This fix will help increase retention of our experienced agents and secure our border.”