SENATE CONFIRMS BONNER AS CUSTOMS COMMISSIONER

SENATE CONFIRMS BONNER AS CUSTOMS COMMISSIONER    The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Robert C. Bonner as the next U.S. Customs commissioner Wednesday evening.
   Prior to his appointment, Bonner served as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California during the Reagan administration, and as a judge to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. From 1990-93, he served as administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration. His career in public service, which spans 35 years, has also worked as a federal prosecutor.
   Bonner replaces former Customs Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.
   At a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance this summer, Bonner told Senate members that “the United States Customs Service is, and should be, an international leader in terms of professionalism, personnel and technology.”
   Bonner, a proponent of Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), said earlier this summer that “one of my highest priorities as Commissioner will be the successful and timely design, implementation and funding of ACE.”
   “We expect him to be sworn in in the next few days,” a Customs spokesman said today.