TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) commended Arizona for designating federal funds to improve the Douglas port of entry (POE):
“I’m pleased to see Arizona designate federal funding from President Biden’s and Congressional Democrats’ American Rescue Plan to modernize the Douglas Port of Entry and improve cross-border transit and commercialization at our southern border. Mexico remains a vitally important trade partner supporting the U.S. economy and the livelihood of millions of Americans. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, border communities continue to be some of the hardest hit economically and this effort will help facilitate their recovery. I’ve longed advocated and will continue to push for a humane and accountable border security strategy, modernization of border infrastructure and personnel increases at ports of entry, and protections for the unique ecosystems of the borderlands.”
Rep. Grijalva has been a proponent of upgrading and strengthening land POEs and increased resources for drug detection, like fentanyl, at POEs along the southern border. He continues to champion recovery legislation like The Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act to help border businesses recover from the pandemic. The first bill Rep. Grijalva introduced for the 117th Congress was the Border Business COVID-19 Rescue Act to provide targeted funds to small businesses along the border.