Technology improvements will help the United States protect its borders while still maintaining the country’s sense of openness, a Homeland Security Department official said Thursday. “We’re pursuing smart border initiatives,” Robert Bonner, commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection Bureau (CBP), told the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. “Rather than seeking to physically inspect 23 million containers each year, which would be tantamount to closing the borders and shutting our economy, [the bureau identifies] high-risk containers using state-of-the-art technologies.” The bureau has requested about $340 million in spending increases for fiscal 2005, including $15 million for its Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. The 5,900 companies participating in that initiative are offered an expedited process at U.S. ports if they cooperate with U.S. authorities via the partnership, Bonner said. Full Story