[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3763-H3765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               MARITIME BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM

  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1148) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
conduct a program in the maritime environment for the mobile biometric 
identification of suspected individuals, including terrorists, to 
enhance border security.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1148

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

     SECTION 1. MARITIME BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall conduct, in the maritime environment, a program for the 
     mobile biometric identification of suspected individuals, 
     including terrorists, to enhance border security and for 
     other purposes.
       (b) Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure the program 
     described in subsection (a) is coordinated with other 
     biometric identification programs within the Department of 
     Homeland Security.
       (c) Cost Analysis.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate an analysis of the cost of 
     expanding the Department's biometric identification 
     capabilities for use by departmental maritime assets 
     considered appropriate by the Secretary. The analysis may 
     include a tiered plan for the deployment of the program 
     described in subsection (a) that gives priority to vessels 
     and units more likely to encounter individuals suspected of 
     making unlawful border crossings through the maritime 
     environment.
       (d) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term 
     ``biometric identification'' means the use of fingerprint and 
     digital photography images.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Carney) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Bilirakis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include therein extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARNEY. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1148, a bill that will 
enhance the Department of Homeland Security's ability to execute its 
border security mission in the maritime environment.
  The U.S. coastline extends over 95,000 miles, and every day illegal 
immigrants and potential terrorists attempt to bypass the Department of 
Homeland Security watchdogs--the Coast Guard and Customs and Border 
Protection--in their efforts to sneak into the United States. Many of 
these individuals have already been convicted of felonies in the United 
States, and many more are wanted by U.S. law enforcement on outstanding 
warrants for felonies and other dangerous crimes.
  As the lead Federal agency charged with border security, it is DHS's 
mission to keep dangerous people out of our country. H.R. 1148 
authorizes DHS to use technology that has been successfully piloted by 
the Coast Guard and the US-VISIT program since November of 2006 to 
identify dangerous people before they cross our borders and to better 
coordinate prosecution with Federal law enforcement agencies.

                              {time}  1245

  For example, as of March 3, 2009, the department has collected 
biometric information from 2,455 individuals interdicted in the Mona 
Pass, a 90-mile stretch of water in the Caribbean between Puerto Rico 
and the Dominican Republic.
  DHS uses satellite technology to immediately compare the individual's 
fingerprints against the US-VISIT databases, which includes information 
about wanted criminals, immigration violators, and those who have 
previously encountered government authorities. Of these nearly 2,500 
individuals who have been checked, almost 600 people have been found to 
have outstanding wants and warrants in the United States.
  To date, Federal prosecutors have successfully prosecuted 271, or 45 
percent, of the matched individuals. As a

[[Page H3764]]

result, migrant flow in the Mona Pass has been reduced by 75 percent 
since November 17, 2006.
  I would like to note that my colleague on the Management, 
Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee, Representative Bilirakis, 
had already an identical bill in the 110th Congress. And I was pleased 
to support his homeland security measure that passed the House by a 
vote of 394-3, with one Member voting present.
  I urge my fellow Members to vote for this bill, one which gives the 
Secretary of Homeland Security the tools she needs to secure our 
Nation's maritime border.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. I yield myself, Mr. Speaker, as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1148 which I introduced 
earlier this year. This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security 
to conduct a cost analysis and determine the most appropriate places to 
expand upon a successful pilot program conducted by the Coast Guard 
that collects biometric information on illegal aliens interdicted at 
sea. This tool, as used by the Coast Guard, has made a measurable 
impact on our border security and could be used by other DHS components 
with assets in the maritime environment, such as Customs and Border 
Protection. The expansion of this program will further enhance the 
Department's efforts to secure our borders.
  The February 3 episode of Homeland Security U.S.A. showed the Coast 
Guard using this technology at sea when it rescued a boat full of 
illegal aliens attempting to make it from the Dominican Republic to 
Puerto Rico. As a result of the use of these biometrics, the Coast 
Guard was able to identify and detain 10 individuals with criminal 
records in the United States, including a repeat human smuggler who was 
wanted by Customs and Border Protection. This episode illustrated the 
use of biometrics at sea and on land. It works. In fact, the Coast 
Guard has reported that illegal migration in the Mona Pass, the narrow 
body of water between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, has been 
reduced by 75 percent as a result of the biometrics program.
  Since the beginning of the Coast Guard's biometrics pilot in the 
Caribbean in November, 2006, the Coast Guard has collected biometric 
data from 2,455 migrants using handheld scanners. This has resulted in 
the identification of 598 individuals with criminal records, and the 
U.S. Attorney's Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has prosecuted 271 
individuals for violations of U.S. law, with a 100 percent conviction 
rate.
  We have seen the success of this pilot program. It ensures that 
individuals attempting to enter the United States illegally by sea that 
have criminal records will not simply be returned to their homelands. 
They will be detained so they cannot attempt to enter the U.S. again.
  It is now time for the Department to determine the best and most 
effective manner to expand this program to enhance border security. I 
hope the Department will deploy this program in the most risk-based, 
cost-efficient manner possible consistent with the current 
appropriations of the Coast Guard and other DHS components. I also look 
forward to expanding the appropriations for this program. And I urge my 
colleagues to join me in this effort.
  This is the third time that the House is considering legislation to 
authorize this program. An amendment I offered to the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act that was similar to the bill was considered, it was 
passed actually, last year by a voice vote on April 24. In addition, 
the House passed a stand-alone version of that amendment last summer, 
as Mr. Carney said, with his support, at 394-3.
  The biometrics program is another tool that is being used by the 
Department in its effort to secure our borders. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting H.R. 1148.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers. If the gentleman 
from Florida has no more speakers, then I'm prepared to close after the 
gentleman closes.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. I have no more speakers, Mr. Speaker. I urge my 
colleagues to pass H.R. 1148, and I thank the chairman.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might 
consume.
  I urge passage of H.R. 1148, a bill to harness technology used for 
the past 3 years by the Coast Guard and the US-VISIT program to enhance 
border security in the maritime environment. H.R. 1148 seeks to build 
upon the success of the DHS pilot by requiring the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to analyze the cost of deploying the biometric 
program in other waters.
  If enacted, H.R. 1148 would enhance the ability of DHS to conduct 
mobile biometric identification of suspected individuals, including 
terrorists interdicted at sea.
  For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
1148.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
1148, a bill that will enhance the Department of Homeland Security's 
ability to execute its border security mission in the maritime 
environment.
  Specifically, H.R. 1148 seeks to enhance DHS's ability to harness 
technology successfully piloted by the Coast Guard and US-VISIT program 
since November 2006 to identify dangerous people before they enter our 
shores.
  Under this program, biometrics collected from individuals 
interdicted--at sea--are run, in real time, against our terrorist and 
criminal databases.
  Today, state-of-the-art handheld scanners are used by DHS personnel 
to collect biometric information from individuals encountered at sea.
  As of March 3, 2009, DHS has collected biometric information from 
2,455 individuals interdicted in the Mona Pass--the 90-mile stretch 
between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
  Through these checks, nearly 600 people have been found to have 
outstanding wants and warrants in the U.S.
  Federal prosecutors have successfully prosecuted 271 or 45% of the 
matched individuals.
  This program is appropriately targeted to help break the cycle of 
individuals who are known criminals or criminal suspects being 
repatriated through U.S. borders, without prosecution.
  It is also worth noting that, as considered today, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security is given wide discretion to come up with the 
parameters of the maritime biometric program, including a determination 
as to which DHS components will participate.
  Last Congress, nearly identical legislation was passed in the House 
by a vote of 394 to 3, with one Member voting present.
  I am committed to working with Secretary Napolitano, Representative 
Bilirakis and other key stakeholders to ensure that the language of 
H.R. 1148 is clarified and strengthened as it moves through the 
legislative process.
  I urge passage of this important homeland security legislation that 
will help enhance the security of our maritime borders.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
1148, a measure that will help protect our nation from another attack. 
This bill may not make headlines but it is at the essence of what 
protecting the American people is all about. We cannot wrap our nation 
in bubble wrap but we can take thorough and effective steps to thwart 
potential attacks. As we have seen, the forces of evil will go to 
enormous lengths to accomplish their insidious goals. That is why I 
join in a bipartisan spirit my colleague from Florida, Gus Bilirakis in 
support of this measure.
  This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security, no later than 
one year after the date of enactment, to conduct a maritime program for 
the mobile biometric identification of suspected individuals, including 
terrorists.
  Biometric identification is defined to apply to the use of 
fingerprint and digital photography images. The Department of Homeland 
Security must ensure that the maritime program is coordinated with 
other biometric identification programs.
  The Department of Homeland Security must submit a cost analysis no 
later than 90 days after the prospective enactment of this bill, 
expanding its biometric identification capabilities for maritime use to 
the House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees, and to the 
Senate Appropriations, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
committees. The analysis could include a tiered plan for the deployment 
of the program that gives priority to vessels and units more likely to 
encounter individuals suspected of making unlawful border crossings by 
sea. It is clear that we must try to secure our borders from all sides 
and often the liquid borders are forgotten in the discussion.
  Indeed, Mr. Speaker, this legislation passed the House of 
Representatives and I, like 394

[[Page H3765]]

of my colleagues, both Democratic and Republican voted for it. Fighting 
against terrorists and other criminals must remain a bipartisan effort.
  It is also something that we must take up on all fronts: land, sea 
and air. Last weekend, in my role as Chairwoman of the Homeland 
Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I had the 
opportunity to meet some of the fine professionals who work for the 
Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security 
Administration division. They work tirelessly to defend our nation's 
airports. They make a stressful job seem effortless, and often are 
invisible, which is the hallmark of good security. And just as the 
transportation security professionals I met in New York City's 
LaGuardia Airport make our nation safer, so will the maritime security 
professionals from the United States Coast Guard.
  The Coast Guard is made of truly dedicated and able professionals.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support and urge my colleagues 
to support this legislation that will further strengthen our nation's 
ability to protect ourselves from both criminal and terrorist attacks.
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Carney) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1148.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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