[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1392 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1392

  To require inspection of all cargo on commercial trucks and vessels 
                      entering the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 20, 2003

Mr. Hunter (for himself, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, Mr. Otter, Mr. 
Walden of Oregon, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, Mr. Doolittle, 
and Mr. Coble) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 
  Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require inspection of all cargo on commercial trucks and vessels 
                      entering the United States.

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

SECTION 1. MANDATORY INSPECTION OF CARGO.

    (a) Mandatory Inspections.--No cargo transported by a commercial 
motor vehicle may enter the United States from Canada or Mexico, and no 
cargo transported by vessel may be unloaded in the United States, 
unless an appropriate officer or employee of the Directorate of Border 
and Transportation Security or other appropriate officer or employee of 
the United States has inspected the cargo to ensure that it complies 
with the laws of the United States.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Cargo.--The term ``cargo'' means property, or mail, or 
        both.
            (2) Commercial motor vehicle.--The term ``commercial motor 
        vehicle'' means a commercial motor vehicle as defined in 
        section 31101(1) of title 49, United States Code, that is used 
        principally to transport cargo.
            (3) United states; vessel.--The terms ``United States'' and 
        ``vessel'' have the meanings given those terms in section 401 
        of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1401).

SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.

     This Act shall take effect 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
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