[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4703 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4703

  To establish a joint United States-Canada customs inspection pilot 
                                project.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 9, 2002

  Mr. Levin (for himself and Mr. Camp) introduced the following bill; 
         which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a joint United States-Canada customs inspection pilot 
                                project.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PILOT PROJECT FOR JOINT UNITED STATES-CANADA CUSTOMS 
              INSPECTION.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The increased security and safety concerns that 
        developed in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the 
        United States on September 11, 2001, need to be addressed.
            (2) One concern that has come to light is the vulnerability 
        of the international bridges and tunnels along the United 
        States-Canada Border.
            (3) It is necessary to ensure that potentially dangerous 
        vehicles are inspected prior to crossing those bridges and 
        tunnels, however, currently, these vehicles are not inspected 
        until after they have crossed into the United States.
            (4) Establishing a joint inspection site would address 
        these concerns by inspecting vehicles before they gained access 
        to the infrastructure of international bridges and tunnels 
        leading into the United States.
    (b) Joint Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Commissioner of Customs, in 
        consultation and partnership with the Canadian Customs Service, 
        shall seek to establish a pilot program to provide for joint 
        inspection of vehicles at the United States-Canada Border.
            (2) Location.--The Commissioner shall locate the pilot 
        program at a bridge or tunnel on the Northern Border that has 
        high traffic volume, significant commercial activity, and has 
        experienced backups and delays since September 11, 2001.
            (3) Pilot evaluation report.--The Commissioner shall 
        prepare and submit a report evaluating the pilot program to the 
        appropriate committees by September 30, 2003.
            (4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate 
        committees'' means the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (c) Additional Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program, 
the Commissioner--
            (1) shall seek to involve the utilization of joint customs 
        inspection facilities, inspection and commercial transaction 
        technologies, and personnel, consistent with the agreements 
        that are developed and implemented between the United States 
        Customs Service and the Canadian Customs Service; and
            (2) shall ensure that the program is carried out with 
        special sensitivity to sovereignty issues affecting both 
        countries and is consistent with Canadian laws and customs.
                                 <all>