September 29, 2015 / Modified sep 29, 2015 7:11 a.m.

Congress Wants Preference Given to Vets for Border Jobs

Bill requires Department of Homeland Security to recruit ex-members of military.

Border Patrol truck A Border Patrol vehicle parked near the US / Mexico border fence.
AZPM Staff

Listen:

The U.S. House of Representatives Monday passed legislation requiring the recruitment of military veterans for Border Patrol positions.

The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Martha McSally of Tucson, could help the Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector, which she said needs 200 more officers.

The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to “actively recruit” service men and women who are retiring from the military.

On the House floor Monday, McSally said Homeland Security must do specific things to help veterans, including “participating in relevant job fairs, transition programs, partnerships between CBP (Customs and Border Protection) field offices and local military bases. And an identification of ways to streamline the transfer of background checks and security clearances.”

The bill passed the House unanimously. Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake sponsored similar legislation in the Senate. It passed earlier this month.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona