WASHINGTON – As the border crisis continues to rage out of control and the federal government approaches a possible shutdown, U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) introduced the Keep Our Border Agents Paid Act. This bill would ensure U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and contractors are paid in the unfortunate case of a government shutdown. This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), and endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council.

“Border crossings are at an all-time high thanks to the Biden administration’s self-inflicted crisis,” said Risch. “We must ensure our essential border patrol agents continue to receive pay and benefits regardless of a government shutdown.”

“I have been to the southern border three times since President Biden took office, and the crisis is worse each time I visit,” said Rick Scott. “Failed leadership created this crisis and we cannot allow the border to go unchecked, and our border patrol agents to go unpaid, due to a failure of Washington to fund government.”

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