Originally Posted by
FmrFreightDog
T,
If you would, please repost Rubio's response to you here for the benefit of the people who don't read the L&G thread. It deserves a wider audience.
As T and I live in FL, we both got the same canned response from Marco Rubio, here it is:
Thank you for contacting me in regard to the proposed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance facility at AbuDhabi International Airport (AUH). I appreciate hearing from you and would like to take this opportunity to address your concerns.
As you may know, in 2013 the Department of Homeland Security proposed a CBP preclearance facility at AUH in order to mitigate security threats by extending our zone of security and in collaboration with international partners, prohibit potential threats before they reach the United States. The U.S. has operated preclearance offices beyond our borders since 1952; today our government operates a total of 15 international facilities. Screening passengers abroad, rather than upon entry into the U.S. reduces the risk of attack by helping to keep dangerous people and goods off aircraft bound for our country.
In addition to keeping our country safe, any preclearance facility should also seek to reduce congestion at major airports in the U.S. and enhance our domestic aviation interests. I strongly support preclearance operations and the benefits they provide to facilitating travel into the U.S. However, the establishment of preclearance operations should not jeopardize jobs in the U.S. or provide a competitive advantage to foreign interests.
Although I am not a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee which allocates funding for CBP preclearance facilities, please know I will keep your concerns in mind should relevant legislation come before the full Senate. Thank you again for contacting me. It is an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Florida in the United States Senate.
Sincerely,
Marco Rubio
United States Senator