Senate Unanimously Confirms Kerlikowske for CBP Chief

“During my confirmation I said that filling vacancies in the Department would be a key priority, and today I thank the Senate for confirming President Obama’s nominees to three key leadership positions at the Department of Homeland Security,” said Johnson in a press release. “Good leadership starts with adding other good leaders to our team.”

The Kerlikowske nomination has garnered significant congressional support over recent months, but some congressional leaders continue to press CBP on poor Section 301 exclusion order enforcement and collection of particular antidumping and countervailing duties (see 14012427). "I look forward to working with the new Commissioner to refocus the agency on its trade mission, particularly the enforcement of antidumping/countervailing duties and trade facilitation," said Finance committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore. "These efforts will require close consultations and engagement with Congress."

The industry trade organization Airlines for America (A4A) highlighted Kerlikowske's commitment to increasing customs efficiency to further facilitate the movement of goods through U.S. borders, said A4A in a statement (here). “A4A congratulates Commissioner Kerlikowske on his confirmation, and we look forward to building on our longstanding partnership with CBP under his leadership,” said A4A President Nicholas Calio. Full implementation of the Automated Commercial Environment will bolster the timely release of goods, said Kerlikowske at his Jan. 15 nomination hearing (see 14011521).

The trade community has a strong partner in Kerlikowske, said National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America President Darrell Sekin, who added that Kerlikowske may formally take over as early as next week. “I think that ACE is one of the highest things on his list, as it is with everyone in customs. They’ve been working diligently on the ACE implementation and they’re making progress in meeting all the marks they’ve pledged to meet and we expect Mr. Kerlikowske will continue to do that,” said Sekin in an interview. “Mr. Kerlikowske understands trade is the lifeblood of the economy and he’s committed to keeping the machine moving. ACE is moving ahead with a full head of steam. He’s going to make sure it keeps moving ahead because it's so important to the mission of customs and CEEs.”

Three Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEEs) will soon begin processing all entries for their respective industries, said Acting CBP Commissioner Thomas Winkowski March 6 at the CBP Trade Symposium (see 14030613). A DHS spokesman was unable to comment on when Kerlikowske will formally take over the position. Kerlikowske still retains the title of director of National Drug Control Policy. The Office of National Drug Control Policy Deputy Director Michael Botticelli will take over as acting director once the transition is complete, the White House said (here). Despite the Kerlikowske confirmation, CBP remains riddled with leadership vacancies. The absence of leadership at CBP is fuelling particularly low employee morale, said former and current government officials at a December hearing (see 13121224).

The Senate also unanimously confirmed on March 6 Rhonda Schmidtlein to be a member of the United States International Trade Commission. The Senate confirmed Rose Gottemoeller’s nomination to be Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, as well. -- Brian Dabbs