KOLBE RECEIVES JOINT INDUSTRY GROUP AWARD
U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., an ardent supporters for funding of Customs' new computer system, the Automated Commercial Environment, has been awarded the Joint Industry Group's Excellence In Government Award at it's annual meeting in Washington Thursday night.
The chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service and general government kept his promise to fight for Customs automated system funding. The industry has lobbied hard for several years to fund ACE.
“He's the one in Congress that got the train going when things didn't look good,” said Alan Atkinson, spokesman for the Washington-based group. “He's the one that came up with a solution when a special user fee was being considered.”
Congress was expected last night to vote on the House Treasury appropriations bill which would provide $130 million for ACE in its first year.