Golden cosponsors bill to reduce financial burden on Eastport Port Authority, maintain border security

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) is supporting the Securing Ports and America’s Commerce and Economy (CBP SPACE) Act, which would prevent Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from offloading additional costs and responsibilities onto local ports while threatening closure for noncompliance. 

Eastport Port Authority, which is already shouldering many costs offloaded by CBP, is one of many ports across the country being strained by the agency’s moves.

CBP recently indicated that it may halt operations at local ports unless seaports cover the costs of screening equipment — expensive technology that has historically been the responsibility of the federal government to fund. Shifting the burden onto local budgets would squeeze already-strained local budgets. Moreover, limiting CBP operations at local ports could jeopardize national security.

“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 CBP Space Act also seeks to improve the relationship between CBP and local ports. Currently, CBP officers at many seaports face challenges operating in temporary or makeshift facilities due to outdated legal constraints that prevent the agency from securing long-term leases. The CBP SPACE Act resolves this issue by granting CBP the authority to directly lease necessary space from port authorities or private entities. This would allow officers to be properly stationed at vital locations and ensure consistent enforcement of customs and immigration laws.The legislation also improves coordination with port authorities to strengthen U.S. supply chain security.

The bipartisan bill, originally introduced by Congresswomen Laurel Lee (FL-15) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), is also backed by Reps. Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Julia Brownley (CA-26), and Troy Carter (LA-02).

Port operators across the country, such as the American Association of Port Authorities, and local leadership in Eastport also support the legislation:

“Maintaining safe and efficient seaports is a tall order, and especially for rural communities like Eastport. 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.” said Chris Gardner, Executive Director of the Eastport Port Authority. “This approach has only added challenges from a government agency that is meant to facilitate commerce, not burden it. In rural economies, this can make all the difference. The Port Authority is very appreciative of Congressman Golden joining this bipartisan effort to see CBP properly funded, thus helping it serve not just Eastport, but coastal communities just like ours across the country.”

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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