By Rich Bockmann
John F. Kennedy International Airport, which has the longest customs-wait in the country, will be getting an “adequate portion” of the 2,000 new customs agents the U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to add across the country, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.
The state’s senior senator said he received a commitment from the presumed commissioner of the department’s Customs and Border Protections agency that an adequate portion of the new agents Congress put aside funding for will make their way to JFK.
Gil Kerlikowske, President Barack Obama’s nominee for the post, made the pledge during a confirmation hearing Wednesday, Schumer said.
Congress boosted the customs agency’s funding by $220 million for the current fiscal year, with $165.7 million set aside for the hiring and training of 2,000 new agents nationwide.
Schumer said the new agents were necessary to cut down on customs wait times, which at JFK can last as long as two hours.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
