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Rep. Tom Reed said during a conference call with regional media that he is prepared to support the bipartisan legislation that could avert another partial federal government shutdown and allocate approximately $1.4 billion for southern border security needs.

“Bottom line, what’s been outlined to me … is something I’m inclined to support,” Reed said.

The Corning Republican said Wednesday that he believes President Donald Trump will see the merit of the compromise once the writing is finalized and it hopefully passes through Congress.

“Hopefully, the president … will accept it,” Reed said.

Following a partial federal government shutdown that began in December over debate over border security, Reed said that he is sensitive to the possibility of another shutdown and that, while security of the nation is the No. 1 priority in this matter, it should be averted.

“What we should learn from this: we should keep the pressure … on many of these issues,” said Reed, who expressed that more members of Congress should stand up to its leaders to push for future compromises.

While the $1.375 billion for 55 miles of new barriers and the rehabilitation of currently existing barriers is a far cry from the $5.7 billion Trump had sought for 234 miles of steel barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, Reed said this legislation is only a start and that it should be considered a victory.

In terms of the nature of the barriers that could potentially be placed, Reed said he defers to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement as to what is specifically needed to best secure the border. As proposed, barriers could materialize as steel walls or fences of various materials.

“It’s frustrating to me that what is driving this narrative and debate is a word: ‘wall,'” Reed said.

See Thursday’s edition of The Post-Journal for more coverage.