[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6246 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6246

  To require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to 
      establish an international registered traveler program that 
    incorporates available technologies to expedite and enhance the 
   security, screening, and processing of international travelers at 
  United States borders, including United States citizens and lawful 
  permanent residents, who enter and exit the United States, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 11, 2008

 Mr. Thompson of Mississippi introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Homeland Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to 
      establish an international registered traveler program that 
    incorporates available technologies to expedite and enhance the 
   security, screening, and processing of international travelers at 
  United States borders, including United States citizens and lawful 
  permanent residents, who enter and exit the United States, and for 
                            other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT.

    Section 7208(k)(3) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 
Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1365b(k)(3)) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(3) International registered traveler program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland 
                Security shall establish an international registered 
                traveler program that incorporates available 
                technologies, such as biometrics and e-passports, and 
                security threat assessments to expedite the screening 
                and processing of international travelers, including 
                United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, 
                who enter and exit the United States. The program shall 
                be coordinated with the United States Visitor and 
                Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program, other 
                pre-screening initiatives, and the Visa Waiver Program.
                    ``(B) Fees.--The Secretary may impose a fee for the 
                program established under subparagraph (A) and may 
                modify such fee from time to time. The fee may not 
                exceed the aggregate costs associated with the program 
                and shall be credited to the Department of Homeland 
                Security for purposes of carrying out the program. 
                Amounts so credited shall remain available until 
                expended.
                    ``(C) Rulemaking.--Not later than one year after 
                the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the 
                Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking process to 
                establish the program, criteria for participation, and 
                the fee for the program.
                    ``(D) Implementation.--Not later than two years 
                after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the 
                Secretary shall establish a phased-implementation of a 
                biometric-based international registered traveler 
                program in conjunction with the United States Visitor 
                and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology entry and 
                exit system, other prescreening initiatives, and the 
                Visa Waiver Program at United States airports with the 
                highest volume of international travelers.
                    ``(E) Participation.--The Secretary shall ensure 
                that the international registered traveler program 
                includes as many participants as practicable by--
                            ``(i) establishing a reasonable cost of 
                        enrollment;
                            ``(ii) making program enrollment convenient 
                        and easily accessible; and
                            ``(iii) providing applicants with clear and 
                        consistent eligibility guidelines.''.
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