Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) voted in favor of two bills that would take measures to better target border security. The first bill, The INTERDICT Act, authorizes funding to be spent on new technology that would further enable U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to catch people attempting to smuggle in illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. Recently, an even deadlier form of fentanyl has emerged in San Diego County. Carfentanil is one-hundred times stronger than fentanyl and is roughly one-third of the production cost of heroin.

“We must equip our Customs and Border Protection officers with the most up-to-date technology to catch people trying to bring illegal drugs into our country, said Rep. Scott Peters. “Fentanyl is the most recent form of opioids to strike the San Diego community. The bill I supported today authorizes funding towards screening devices specifically directed towards detecting fentanyl. This is an epidemic we must get in front of to protect the people of San Diego County.”

The second bill, the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Reauthorization Act, would reauthorize a “flagship” global supply chain security program. The program creates an agreement between the U.S. CBP and companies who work outside the United States and rely on a global supply chain that will increase security of that supply chain and identify lapses in security. The bill would also create three tiers of involvement that is based on participation and benefits.

Rep. Peters continued, “When it comes to border security, we must place a priority on advanced technology and programs that counter global terrorism, such as investing in biometrics, enhanced surveillance, and other state-of-the-art technology, that for example, help our border patrol find illegal tunnels used for smuggling. That’s a far better use of federal resources than a wall that is more about politics than keeping us safe.”