Remarks of Senator Susan Collins Van Buren LPOE Groundbreaking Ceremony June 11, 2011 Thank you, Bob.

It is a pleasure to join with friends from both sides of the border for this celebration. To our distinguished guests welcome, bienvenue! A guiding principle of my work on homeland security is that our borders must be closed to our enemies but always open to our friends. Here on the St. John River, that principle has a special meaning. On both sides of the border in Van Buren and Saint Leonard --are the lifelong friends and family members, the shopping, medical and firefighting services, churches, and all the other relations that make a community. And our friends include the trading partners that are so essential to the economy of our state and our nation since Canada is our number one trading partner. Meeting these dual obligations of protection and openness is not a matter of making trade-offs, but of making commitments. It requires the trained and dedicated men and women of Customs and Border Protection. It requires close cooperation with our partners across the border and with state and local law enforcement. It requires the development and implementation of technology that will expedite the thorough and efficient processing of people and goods at our ports of entry. And it requires modern facilities. The current facility here at Van Buren has served us well, but it was built more than four decades ago at a time when the security challenges were not nearly as great. The critical importance of this port of entry was made clear on May 1st, 2008, when devastating floods hit this region. I applaud the General Services Administration and Customs and Border Protection for their quick response, which led to the crossing reopening to pedestrians the very next day. Within two weeks, limited vehicle traffic was crossing, and just one week later, the port was fully operational. The temporary facilities that made that recovery possible revealed the need for a modern port of entry. Having met with CBP officers and toured the facility, I recognized the dangers it posed to those guarding our borders every day. It was essential that we worked together to build a new, permanent facility to accommodate the needs of the people who rely on this port of entry and of those who work here. Replacing the port of entry facility at Van Buren is not only essential for the residents, but instrumental in providing Customs and Border Protection with seamless security along the Canadian border. By safely and efficiently accommodating the rising volume of traffic moving through the crossing, the new port of entry will also encourage economic development by minimizing time spent at the border crossing.

Our border stations are often called Americas front door. With this modern facility and the continued dedication of those who work here, our new front door will be both secure and welcoming.