Short title

This Act may be cited as the Border Infrastructure and Technology Modernization Act of 2007.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Commissioner

The term Commissioner means the Commissioner responsible for United States Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security. (2)

Maquiladora

The term maquiladora means an entity located in Mexico that assembles and produces goods from imported parts for export to the United States. (3)

Northern border

The term northern border means the international border between the United States and Canada. (4)

Southern border

The term southern border means the international border between the United States and Mexico. (5)

Under secretary

The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security of the Department of Homeland Security.

Hiring and training of border and transportation security personnel

(a)

Inspectors and Agents

(1)

Increase in inspectors and agents

During each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, the Under Secretary shall— (A)increase the number of full-time agents and associated support staff in the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security by the equivalent of at least 100 more than the number of such employees in the Bureau as of the end of the preceding fiscal year; and (B)increase the number of full-time inspectors and associated support staff in the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection by the equivalent of at least 200 more than the number of such employees in the Bureau as of the end of the preceding fiscal year. (2)

Waiver of fte limitation

The Under Secretary is authorized to waive any limitation on the number of full-time equivalent personnel assigned to the Department of Homeland Security to fulfill the requirements of paragraph (1). (b)

Training

The Under Secretary shall provide appropriate training for agents, inspectors, and associated support staff of the Department of Homeland Security on an ongoing basis to utilize new technologies and to ensure that the proficiency levels of such personnel are acceptable to protect the borders of the United States.

Port of Entry Infrastructure Assessment Study

(a)

Requirement To Update

Not later than January 31 of each year, the Administrator of General Services shall update the Port of Entry Infrastructure Assessment Study prepared by the United States Customs Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the General Services Administration in accordance with the matter relating to the ports of entry infrastructure assessment that is set out in the joint explanatory statement in the conference report accompanying H.R. 2490 of the 106th Congress, 1st session (House of Representatives Rep. No. 106–319, on page 67) and submit such updated study to Congress. (b)

Consultation

In preparing the updated studies required in subsection (a), the Administrator of General Services shall consult with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Under Secretary, and the Commissioner. (c)

Content

Each updated study required in subsection (a) shall— (1)identify port of entry infrastructure and technology improvement projects that would enhance border security and facilitate the flow of legitimate commerce if implemented; (2)include the projects identified in the National Land Border Security Plan required by section 5; and (3)prioritize the projects described in paragraphs (1) and (2) based on the ability of a project to— (A)fulfill immediate security requirements; and (B)facilitate trade across the borders of the United States. (d)

Project Implementation

The Commissioner shall implement the infrastructure and technology improvement projects described in subsection (c) in the order of priority assigned to each project under paragraph (3) of such subsection. (e)

Divergence From Priorities

The Commissioner may diverge from the priority order if the Commissioner determines that significantly changed circumstances, such as immediate security needs or changes in infrastructure in Mexico or Canada, compellingly alter the need for a project in the United States.

National Land Border Security Plan

(a)

Requirement for Plan

Not later than January 31 of each year, the Under Secretary shall prepare a National Land Border Security Plan and submit such plan to Congress. (b)

Consultation

In preparing the plan required in subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall consult with the Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection and the Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and private entities that are involved in international trade across the northern border or the southern border. (c)

Vulnerability Assessment

(1)

In general

The plan required in subsection (a) shall include a vulnerability assessment of each port of entry located on the northern border or the southern border. (2)

Port security coordinators

The Under Secretary may establish 1 or more port security coordinators at each port of entry located on the northern border or the southern border— (A)to assist in conducting a vulnerability assessment at such port; and (B)to provide other assistance with the preparation of the plan required in subsection (a).

Expansion of commerce security programs

(a)

Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner, in consultation with the Under Secretary, shall develop a plan to expand the size and scope (including personnel needs) of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism programs along the northern border and southern border, including— (A)the Business Anti-Smuggling Coalition; (B)the Carrier Initiative Program; (C)the Americas Counter Smuggling Initiative; (D)the Container Security Initiative; (E)the Free and Secure Trade Initiative; and (F)other Industry Partnership Programs administered by the Commissioner. (2)

Southern border demonstration program

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall establish a demonstration program along the southern border for the purpose of implementing at least one Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program along that border. The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program selected for the demonstration program shall have been successfully implemented along the northern border as of the date of the enactment of this Act. (b)

Maquiladora Demonstration Program

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall establish a demonstration program to develop a cooperative trade security system to improve supply chain security.

Port of entry technology demonstration program

(a)

Establishment

The Under Secretary shall carry out a technology demonstration program to test and evaluate new port of entry technologies, refine port of entry technologies and operational concepts, and train personnel under realistic conditions. (b)

Technology and Facilities

(1)

Technology tested

Under the demonstration program, the Under Secretary shall test technologies that enhance port of entry operations, including those related to inspections, communications, port tracking, identification of persons and cargo, sensory devices, personal detection, decision support, and the detection and identification of weapons of mass destruction. (2)

Facilities developed

At a demonstration site selected pursuant to subsection (c)(2), the Under Secretary shall develop facilities to provide appropriate training to law enforcement personnel who have responsibility for border security, including cross-training among agencies, advanced law enforcement training, and equipment orientation. (c)

Demonstration Sites

(1)

Number

The Under Secretary shall carry out the demonstration program at not less than 3 sites and not more than 5 sites. (2)

Selection criteria

To ensure that at least 1 of the facilities selected as a port of entry demonstration site for the demonstration program has the most up-to-date design, contains sufficient space to conduct the demonstration program, has a traffic volume low enough to easily incorporate new technologies without interrupting normal processing activity, and can efficiently carry out demonstration and port of entry operations, at least 1 port of entry selected as a demonstration site shall— (A)have been established not more than 15 years before the date of the enactment of this Act; (B)consist of not less than 65 acres, with the possibility of expansion onto not less than 25 adjacent acres; and (C)have serviced an average of not more than 50,000 vehicles per month in the 12 full months preceding the date of the enactment of this Act. (d)

Relationship With Other Agencies

The Under Secretary shall permit personnel from an appropriate Federal or State agency to utilize a demonstration site described in subsection (c) to test technologies that enhance port of entry operations, including those related to inspections, communications, port tracking, identification of persons and cargo, sensory devices, personal detection, decision support, and the detection and identification of weapons of mass destruction. (e)

Report

(1)

Requirement

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the activities carried out at each demonstration site under the technology demonstration program established under this section. (2)

Content

The report shall include an assessment by the Under Secretary of the feasibility of incorporating any demonstrated technology for use throughout the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In General

In addition to any funds otherwise available, there are authorized to be appropriated— (1)to carry out the provisions of section 3, such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal years 2008 through 2012; (2)to carry out the provisions of section 4— (A)to carry out subsection (a) of such section, such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal years 2008 through 2012; and (B)to carry out subsection (d) of such section— (i)$100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012; and (ii)such sums as may be necessary in any succeeding fiscal year; (3)to carry out the provisions of section 6— (A)to carry out subsection (a) of such section— (i)$30,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which $5,000,000 shall be made available to fund the demonstration project established in paragraph (2) of such subsection; and (ii)such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal years 2009 through 2012; and (B)to carry out subsection (b) of such section— (i)$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and (ii)such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal years 2009 through 2012; and (4)to carry out the provisions of section 7, provided that not more than $10,000,000 may be expended for technology demonstration program activities at any 1 port of entry demonstration site in any fiscal year— (A)$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and (B)such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2012. (b)

International Agreements

Funds authorized in this Act may be used for the implementation of projects described in the Declaration on Embracing Technology and Cooperation to Promote the Secure and Efficient Flow of People and Commerce across our Shared Border between the United States and Mexico, agreed to March 22, 2002, Monterrey, Mexico (commonly known as the Border Partnership Action Plan) or the Smart Border Declaration between the United States and Canada, agreed to December 12, 2001, Ottawa, Canada that are consistent with the provisions of this Act.