J. David Cox Travels to Border Patrol Outposts In Support of Border Patrol Pay Reform Act
April 22, 2014
(Photos by National Border Patrol Council Vice President Shawn Moran)
Earlier this month, AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. traveled to the US/Mexico border to advocate for a better pay system for border patrol agents – and to ensure that their pay isn’t at the mercy of budget politics.
Cox visited the Border Patrol McAllen Station in McAllen, TX (Local 3307), El Paso Ysleta, Port of Entry (Local 1929) and the Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station in Bisbee, AZ (Local 2544) to discuss the Border Patrol Pay Reform Act (H.R. 3463). The Act is sponsored by Representative Jason Chaffetz (UT) and Senator Jon Tester (MT), and is cosponsored by Representative Filemon Vela (TX) and Representative Ron Barber (AZ).
The new bill would give border patrol agents stability and predictability in their pay and hours, and prevent chaos at the border from border patrol agents not knowing what their hours or schedule will be.
Joining President Cox on his tour were staff members from Representatives Barber and Vela’s offices, as well as 10th District NVP Roy Flores, and National Border Patrol Council Vice Presidents Shawn Moran and Joe Perkins.
At each stop on his trip, Cox spoke to AFGE members and members of the local press about the importance of the legislation. In addition, Cox says he has an even deeper appreciation for the range and difficulty of the tasks that border patrol agents are expected to perform, and the bravery they have on the job. He said patrolling the border is a complex and challenging job, and the men and women put in charge of securing our borders are “extraordinary.”
“Border patrol agents are our first line of defense in keeping our country secure,” Cox said. “We need to reform this pay system so that officers finally have the system that they deserve.”
View more photos from President Cox's visit.
