Golden backs bill that would ease border-protection costs in Eastport

File photo A bill cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd District, aims to ease the financial burden on ports including Eastport, shown here.

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By Tina Fischer

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District Maine, is lending his support to the Securing Ports and America’s Commerce and Economy Act, which aims to prevent federal Customs and Border Protection from forcing local ports to shoulder additional costs and responsibilities.

Eastport Port Authority, which Golden’s office said is already shouldering costs offloaded by Customs and Border Protection, is one of many ports across the country strained by the agency’s requirements and being threatened with closure for noncompliance.

According to a statement from Golden’s office, Customs and Border Protection recently indicated that it may halt operations at local ports unless seaports cover the costs of screening equipment — expensive technology that has historically been funded by the federal government.

“Ports such as Eastport’s are critical infrastructure for rural economies and dumping the federal government’s financial burden on their laps is a recipe for disaster,” Golden said.

“I’m proud to join the bipartisan group of lawmakers cosponsoring legislation to ensure local budgets and national security aren’t caught in the crossfire of administrative spats — especially with the increased funding CBP has received in recent years.”

The bill was first introduced by U.S. Reps. Laurel Lee, R- Florida, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washington, and is backed by Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida; Julia Brownley, D-California; and Troy Carter, D-Louisiana.

Chris Gardner, executive director of the Eastport Port Authority, said in a statement that he supports the legislation.

“Maintaining safe and efficient seaports is a tall order, and especially for rural communities like Eastport," Gardner said.

“At the local level, CBP has always been a great partner in that effort, but now administratively, the agency has repeatedly moved to seemingly shift every possible cost onto small municipalities like ours. This approach has only added challenges from a government agency that is meant to facilitate commerce, not burden it.”