[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 860 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 860

  To ensure that methodologies and technologies used by the Bureau of 
Customs and Border Protection to screen for and detect the presence of 
 chemical, nuclear, biological, and radiological weapons in municipal 
solid waste are as effective as the methodologies and technologies used 
by the Bureau to screen for those materials in other items of commerce 
 entering the United States through commercial motor vehicle transport.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 14, 2011

Mr. Levin (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
                        and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To ensure that methodologies and technologies used by the Bureau of 
Customs and Border Protection to screen for and detect the presence of 
 chemical, nuclear, biological, and radiological weapons in municipal 
solid waste are as effective as the methodologies and technologies used 
by the Bureau to screen for those materials in other items of commerce 
 entering the United States through commercial motor vehicle transport.

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

SECTION 1. SCREENING OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Bureau.--The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of 
        Customs and Border Protection.
            (2) Commercial motor vehicle.--The term ``commercial motor 
        vehicle'' has the meaning given the term in section 31101 of 
        title 49, United States Code.
            (3) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means the 
        Commissioner of the Bureau.
            (4) Municipal solid waste.--The term ``municipal solid 
        waste'' includes sludge (as defined in section 1004 of the 
        Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6903)).
    (b) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall submit to Congress a 
report that--
            (1) indicates whether the methodologies and technologies 
        used by the Bureau to screen for and detect the presence of 
        chemical, nuclear, biological, and radiological weapons in 
        municipal solid waste are as effective as the methodologies and 
        technologies used by the Bureau to screen for those materials 
        in other items of commerce entering the United States through 
        commercial motor vehicle transport; and
            (2) if the report indicates that the methodologies and 
        technologies used to screen municipal solid waste are less 
        effective than those used to screen other items of commerce, 
        identifies the actions that the Bureau will take to achieve the 
        same level of effectiveness in the screening of municipal solid 
        waste, including actions necessary to meet the need for 
        additional screening technologies.
    (c) Impact on Commercial Motor Vehicles.--If the Commissioner fails 
to fully implement an action identified under subsection (b)(2) before 
the earlier of the date that is 180 days after the date on which the 
report under subsection (b) is required to be submitted or the date 
that is 180 days after the date on which the report is submitted, the 
Secretary shall deny entry into the United States of any commercial 
motor vehicle carrying municipal solid waste until the Secretary 
certifies to Congress that the methodologies and technologies used by 
the Bureau to screen for and detect the presence of chemical, nuclear, 
biological, and radiological weapons in municipal solid waste are as 
effective as the methodologies and technologies used by the Bureau to 
screen for those materials in other items of commerce entering into the 
United States through commercial motor vehicle transport.
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