[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4482 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4482
To increase the number of CBP Agriculture Specialists and support staff
in the Office of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 24, 2019
Mr. Vela (for himself, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Mr.
Carbajal, Mr. Costa, and Mrs. Axne) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in
addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 increase the number of CBP Agriculture Specialists and support staff
in the Office of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting America's Food and
Agriculture Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDING.
Congress finds that--
(1) it is in the national security interest of the United
States to ensure that the Nation's food supply is sufficiently
protected; and
(2) a vital part of such protection is the availability of
adequate resources at the border to conduct inspections of
incoming food and agricultural goods.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives.
(2) CBP.--The term ``CBP'' means U.S. Customs and Border
Protection.
SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION PERSONNEL.
(a) CBP Agriculture Specialists.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs
and Border Protection may hire, train, and assign 240 new CBP
Agriculture Specialists above the current attrition level during every
fiscal year until the total number of CBP Agriculture Specialists
equals and sustains the requirements identified each year in the
Agriculture Resource Allocation Model.
(b) Mission and Operational Support Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection may hire, train, and assign support staff to
support CBP Agriculture Specialists.
(2) CBP agriculture technicians.--The Commissioner of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection may hire, train, and assign 200
new CBP Agriculture Technicians during each fiscal year until
the total number of CBP Agriculture Technicians equals and
sustains the requirements identified each year in the Mission
and Operational Support Resource Allocation Model.
(c) CBP Agriculture Canine Teams.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs
and Border Protection may hire, train, and assign 20 new CBP
agriculture canine teams during each of the first 3 fiscal years
beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Traffic Forecasts.--In calculating the number of CBP
Agriculture Specialists needed at each port of entry through the
Agriculture Resource Allocation Model, the Office of Field Operations
shall--
(1) rely on data collected regarding the inspections and
other activities conducted at each such port of entry; and
(2) consider volume from seasonal surges, other projected
changes in commercial and passenger volumes, the most current
commercial forecasts, and other relevant information.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) CBP agriculture specialists.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out subsection (a)--
(A) $29,900,000 for fiscal year 2020;
(B) $36,100,000 for fiscal year 2021; and
(C) $40,500,000 for fiscal year 2022.
(2) CBP agriculture technicians.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out subsection (b)--
(A) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
(B) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and
(C) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
(3) CBP agriculture canine teams.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to carry out subsection (c)--
(A) $3,500,000 for fiscal year 2020;
(B) $7,400,000 for fiscal year 2021; and
(C) $12,200,000 for fiscal year 2022.
(4) Training.--There is authorized to be appropriated for
training costs associated with the new CBP personnel and canine
teams hired pursuant to subsections (a), (b), and (c)
$6,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022.
SEC. 5. GAO STUDY, BRIEFING, AND REPORT.
(a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States, after
consultation with the appropriate congressional committees, shall
conduct a review of the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security,
the Department of Agriculture, and other Federal agencies to address
risks to the agricultural supply that analyzes--
(1) interagency coordination and the distribution of
responsibilities among Federal agencies with respect to the
inspection of agricultural commodities entering the United
States;
(2) the effectiveness of such inspection responsibilities
among Federal agencies; and
(3) the training provided to, and working conditions of,
CBP Agriculture Specialists.
(b) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall brief the
appropriate congressional committees regarding the results of the study
conducted pursuant to subsection (a).
(c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the briefing required
under subsection (b), the Comptroller General shall complete the study
required under subsection (a) and make the results of the study
available to the public.
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