Payne, Jr.’s amendment to coordinate DHS agencies included in recently-passed House bill

The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Securing Our Agriculture and Food Act, H.R. 5346, which included an amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ).

Payne, Jr.’s amendment seeks to enhance coordination among U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies in protecting ports of entry in Newark, N.J. The amendment directs the assistant secretary for health affairs to coordinate its actions with other DHS agencies, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to better inform port staffing decisions.

“The Port of Newark and Newark Liberty International Airport play a critical role in securing our nation and protecting domestic agriculture,” Payne, Jr. said. “It is essential that these ports of entry, and others like them, are secure. This amendment is an important step toward ensuring that staffing needs at ports of entry are met to protect our food and agriculture sectors against potential threats.”

Payne, Jr.’s district is home to multiple large ports of entry. CBP has recently been experiencing staffing shortages in the district, notably with agriculture specialists who inspect large shipments into and out of the ports.