Legislation would ensure Border Patrol agents receive overtime pay

A recently introduced bipartisan bill would bring the Border Patrol pay system in line with other federal law enforcement agencies.

The Border Patrol Pay Security Act would ensure agents who work more than 80 hours per week would receive overtime pay at time and a half their normal rate. It amends section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

According to the bill, “any border patrol agent, if, during a work period of 14 consecutive days, the border patrol agent receives compensation at a rate not less than 150 percent of the regular rate at which the border patrol agent is employed for all hours of work between 80 hours and 100 hours. Payments required under this subsection shall be in addition to any payments made under section 5550 of title 5, United States Code, and shall be made notwithstanding any pay limitations set forth in that title.”

The bill was introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and co-sponsored by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (R-AZ). It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sinema introduced the bipartisan legislation last year that would create a Customs and Border Protection Innovation Council. The council’s task would be to improve the hiring and retention of agents and officers.