U.S. Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) on June 26 sponsored a bipartisan bill that would direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a pilot program for hiring transitioning United States service members as border patrol agents for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
“For years, Border Patrol has faced a shortage of agents that work to keep our border safe and intercept threats to our nation,” Rep. Carey said. “This bipartisan bill connects service members to civilian life and addresses a critical need faced by Border Patrol and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting it.”
The Veterans Border Patrol Training Act, H.R. 4160, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), would require DHS to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to establish an interdepartmental pilot program for five years.
Under the program, DHS must use the DOD SkillBridge Program to train and hire transitioning service members as CBP border patrol agents, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Carey’s staff.
“The Veterans Border Patrol Training Act helps veterans transition into civilian life in a career that requires many of the skills they learned and mastered in the military,” Rep. Carey said.
H.R. 4160 is the companion bill to the same-named S. 625, introduced on Feb. 18 by U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and James Lankford (R-OK).
“Too many of our military members face unnecessary hurdles when transitioning to civilian life, despite having the skills and experience that are greatly needed in federal service,” Rep. Panetta said. “Our bipartisan bill … not only helps fill critical workforce gaps, it ensures that those who served our country have opportunities to continue making a difference.”