WASHINGTON -- Representatives of two major trade groups urged Congress to give Customs and Border Protection the resources to fully carry out it its dual mission of security and trade facilitation.

Mary Jo Muoio, president of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, at a Tuesday hearing told the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade that Customs has marshaled its resources for security at the expense of trade facilitation.

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"The truth is that CBP is not balancing its twin responsibilities of security and commercial operations," said Muoio, president of Barthco Trade Consultants, Boonton, N.J.

She said that the agency has severely thinned the ranks of commercial inspectors at major ports in order to fill security positions such as scanner operators and specialists to validate applicants for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.

Charlene Stocker, chair of the American Association of Exporters and Importers, said the shift in priorities was understandable after Customs was folded into the Department of Homeland Security.

"We believe, however, after four years the time has come to revisit this approach," Stocker told the panel. "AAEI believes that CBP must now be given resources and direction necessary to re-establish balance between its trade security and trade facilitation functions and responsibilities." Stocker is a senior international services manager for Procter and Gamble.

Muoio and Stocker both testified about the success of C-TPAT and advocated continuing it as a voluntary effort, but that Customs should clarify the "Tier 3" benefits for the program's lowest-risk members. Muoio also said C-TPAT focused on large importers to the disadvantage of small- and mid-sized companies.

The executives praised Customs' progress on the Automated Commercial Environment, but urged the agency to expedite the International Trade Data System, which will distribute trade data that Customs collects to all other federal agencies.

Both expressed concerns about the possible leak of sensitive commercial data to competitors. The proposed Secure Freight Initiative would have traders filing information with a third-party that would manage the data for the Department of Homeland Security. But exporters fear that Customs will share data with foreign governments, which could leak information to foreign competitors.

Muoio and Stocker were among eight witnesses to testify Tuesday, including Customs Commissioner W. Ralph Basham.