[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1353 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1353

 To authorize the Port Passenger Accelerated Service System (PortPASS) 
as a permanent program for land border inspection under the Immigration 
                          and Nationality Act.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 19, 2003

  Mrs. Davis of California (for herself, Mr. Issa, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. 
   Reyes, Mr. Frost, Mr. Filner, and Mr. Cunningham) introduced the 
  following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the Port Passenger Accelerated Service System (PortPASS) 
as a permanent program for land border inspection under the Immigration 
                          and Nationality Act.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

     This Act may be cited as the ``Secure and Fast Entry at the Border 
Act of 2003'' or the ``SAFE Border Act of 2003'' .

SEC. 2. PORTPASS PROGRAM.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Port Passenger Accelerated Service System (PortPASS) is 
        a group of pre-inspection technology programs used at ports of 
        entry to facilitate the speedy passage of low-risk travelers.
            (2) Ports of entry constitute vital links in our nation's 
        economic and social life.
            (3) Southern and northern land border inspections combined 
        comprise over 80 percent of the total inspections performed at 
        all ports of entry.
            (4) PortPASS programs strengthen our borders without 
        impeding legitimate traffic needed for our nation's economic 
        health.
            (5) The Secure Electronic Network for Travelers' Rapid 
        Inspection (SENTRI), a PortPASS program, incorporates an 
        extensive screening process to move pre-screened, low-risk 
        travelers quickly and safely through the inspection process 
        while preserving border security. There are currently over 
        45,000 SENTRI participants.
            (6) PortPASS programs must expand their existing 
        infrastructure to meet border management issues. The success 
        and effectiveness of the programs demonstrate they are 
        deserving of increased resource allocation to meet growth and 
        security challenges.
    (b) Amendment to Immigration and Nationality Act.--Section 
286(q)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1356(q)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting after subparagraph (B) the 
following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) The Port Passenger Accelerated Service System 
                (PortPASS) is authorized as a permanent program for 
                land border inspection under this Act.''.
    (c) Extension of Validity of SENTRI Approvals for Participation.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law and beginning not later than 
30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secure 
Electronic Network for Travelers' Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) Program, 
authorized under section 286(q) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 
shall issue approvals for participation for non-commercial vehicle 
border crossers that shall be valid for not less than 2 years.
    (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the Department of Homeland Security must ensure the 
        permanence of PortPASS programs in the transition from the 
        Department of Justice to the new Department of Homeland 
        Security;
            (2) all land PortPASS programs should utilize interoperable 
        technology to offer program enrollees increased access at all 
        participating dedicated commuter lanes;
            (3) the Secretary of Homeland Security should appoint 
        dedicated staff with appropriate training and instruction, 
        increase staffing under the Secure Electronic Network for 
        Travelers' Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) Program for actual 
        inspections and necessary administrative tasks, and should 
        allocate greater resources to the program to facilitate and 
        expedite the processing of applications for SENTRI; and
            (4) the Secretary of Homeland Security should create a pre-
        inspection low-risk traveler dedicated commuter lane for 
        pedestrian land border crossers.
                                 <all>