Sinema’s amendment delivers fair overtime pay for experienced Border Patrol agents working around the clock to keep Arizona communities safe
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema successfully secured overtime pay for Border Patrol Agents in the annual defense legislation, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Sinema’s amendment to the annual legislation comes as Arizona’s border is in crisis, with record migrant encounters and closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry overwhelming an already overworked and underpaid Border Patrol.
“Despite bitter partisanship stalling progress to fix our broken border and immigration system, we’re delivering real resources to the challenges my state faces right now. Thanks to our independent leadership, we secured overtime pay for the men and women working to keep our communities safe – giving them additional resources to manage the crisis at our border,” said Sinema, Chair of the Border Management Subcommittee.
Sinema’s amendment restores overtime pay to time and a half for scheduled overtime for experienced Border Patrol agents. It comes at a crucial time when Border Patrol agents are consistently working around the clock to manage the record influx of migrants in the Tucson border sector.
Sinema is a member of the bipartisan group working on real solutions to solving the border crisis in the U.S. Senate.