[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 105 (Tuesday, July 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H5842-H5845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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PRECLEARANCE AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2014
Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3488) to establish the conditions under which the Secretary
of Homeland Security may establish preclearance facilities, conduct
preclearance operations, and provide customs services outside the
United States, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3488
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 ``Preclearance Authorization
Act of 2014''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional
committees'' means the Committee on Homeland Security and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PRECLEARANCE OPERATIONS.
Pursuant to section 1629 of title 19, United States Code,
and subject to section 5, the Secretary of Homeland Security
may establish U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance
operations in a foreign country to--
(1) prevent terrorists, instruments of terrorism, and other
security threats from entering the United States;
(2) prevent inadmissible persons from entering the United
States;
(3) ensure merchandise destined for the United States
complies with applicable laws;
(4) ensure the prompt processing of persons eligible to
travel to the United States; and
(5) accomplish such other objectives as the Secretary
determines necessary to protect the United States.
SEC. 4. NOTIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.
(a) Notification.--Not later than 180 days before entering
into an agreement with the government of a foreign country to
establish U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance
operations in such foreign country, the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall provide to the appropriate congressional
committees the following:
(1) A copy of the proposed agreement to establish such
preclearance operations, including an identification of the
foreign country with which U.S. Customs and Border Protection
intends to enter into a preclearance agreement, and the
location at which such preclearance operations will be
conducted.
(2) An estimate of the date on which U.S. Customs and
Border Protection intends to establish preclearance
operations under such agreement.
(3) The anticipated funding sources for preclearance
operations under such agreement, and other funding sources
considered.
(4) An assessment of the impact such preclearance
operations will have on legitimate trade and travel,
including potential impacts on passengers traveling to the
United States.
(5) A homeland security threat assessment for the country
in which such preclearance operations are to be established.
(6) An assessment of the impacts such preclearance
operations will have on U.S. Customs and Border Protection
domestic port of entry staffing.
(7) Information on potential economic, competitive, and job
impacts on United States air carriers associated with
establishing such preclearance operations.
(8) Information on the anticipated homeland security
benefits associated with establishing such preclearance
operations.
(9) Information on potential security vulnerabilities
associated with commencing such preclearance operations, and
mitigation plans to address such potential security
vulnerabilities.
(10) A U.S. Customs and Border Protection staffing model
for such preclearance operations, and plans for how such
positions would be filled.
(11) Information on the anticipated costs over the next
five fiscal years associated with commencing such
preclearance operations.
(12) A copy of the agreement referred to in subsection (a)
of section 5.
(13) Other factors that the Secretary of Homeland Security
determines to be necessary for Congress to comprehensively
assess the appropriateness of commencing such preclearance
operations.
(b) Certifications Relating to Preclearance Operations
Established at Airports.--In the case of an airport, in
addition to the notification requirements under subsection
(a), not later than 90 days before entering into an agreement
with the government of a foreign country to establish U.S.
Customs and Border Protection preclearance operations at an
airport in such foreign country, the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall provide to the appropriate congressional
committees the following:
(1) A certification that preclearance operations under such
preclearance agreement would provide homeland security
benefits to the United States.
(2) A certification that preclearance operations within
such foreign country will be established under such agreement
only if--
(A) at least one United States passenger carrier operates
at such airport; and
(B) the access of all United States passenger carriers to
such preclearance operations is the same as the access of any
non-United States passenger carrier.
(3) A certification that the Secretary of Homeland Security
has considered alternative options to preclearance operations
and has determined that such options are not the most
effective means of achieving the objectives specified in
section 3.
(4) A certification that the establishment of preclearance
operations in such foreign country will not significantly
increase customs processing times at United States airports.
(5) An explanation of other objectives that will be served
by the establishment of preclearance operations in such
foreign country.
(6) A certification that representatives from U.S. Customs
and Border Protection consulted publically with interested
parties, including providers of commercial air service in the
United States, employees of such providers, security experts,
and such other parties as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate, before entering into such an agreement with such
foreign government.
(7) A report detailing the basis for the certifications
referred to in paragraphs (1) through (6).
(c) Modification of Existing Agreements.--Not later than 30
days before substantially modifying a preclearance agreement
with the government of a foreign country in effect as of the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall provide to the appropriate congressional
committees a copy of the proposed agreement, as modified, and
the justification for such modification.
(d) Remediation Plan.--
(1) In general.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection shall monthly measure the average customs
processing time to enter the 25 United States airports that
support the highest volume of international travel (as
determined by available Federal passenger data) and provide
to the appropriate congressional committees such
measurements.
(2) Assessment.--Based on the measurements described in
paragraph (1), the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection shall quarterly assess whether the average customs
processing time referred to in such paragraph significantly
exceeds the average customs processing time to enter the
United States through a prclearance operation.
(3) Submission.--Based on the assessment conducted under
paragraph (2), if the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection determines that the average customs processing
time referred to in paragraph (1) significantly exceeds the
average customs processing time to enter the United States
through a preclearance operation described in paragraph (2),
the Commissioner shall, not later than 60 days after making
such determination, provide to the appropriate congressional
committees a remediation plan for reducing such average
customs processing time referred to in paragraph (1).
(4) Implementation.--Not later than 30 days after
submitting the remediation plan referred to in paragraph (3),
the Commissioner of United States Customs and Border
Protection shall implement those portions of such plan that
can be carried out using existing resources, excluding the
transfer of personnel.
(5) Suspension.--If the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection does not submit the remediation plan
referred to in paragraph (3) within 60 days in accordance
with such paragraph, the Commissioner may not, until such
time as such remediation plan is submitted, conduct any
negotiations relating to preclearance operations at an
airport in any country or commence any such preclearance
operations.
(6) Stakeholder recommendations.--The remediation plan
described in paragraph (3) shall consider recommendations
solicited from relevant stakeholders.
(e) Classified Report.--The assessment required pursuant to
subsection (a)(5) and the report required pursuant to
subsection (b)(7) may be submitted in classified form if the
Secretary of Homeland Security determines that such is
appropriate.
SEC. 5. AVIATION SECURITY SCREENING AT PRECLEARANCE AIRPORTS.
(a) Aviation Security Standards Agreement.--Prior to the
commencement of preclearance operations at an airport in a
foreign country under this Act, the Administrator of the
Transportation Security Administration shall enter into an
agreement with the government of such foreign country that
delineates and requires the adoption of aviation security
screening standards that are determined by the Administrator
to be comparable to those of the United States.
(b) Aviation Security Rescreening.--If the Administrator of
the Transportation Security Administration determines that
the government of a foreign country has not maintained
security standards and protocols comparable to those of the
United States at airports at which preclearance operations
have been established in accordance with an agreement entered
into pursuant to subsection (a), the Administrator
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shall require the rescreening in the United States by the
Transportation Security Administration of passengers and
their property before such passengers may deplane into
sterile areas of airports in the United States.
(c) Selectees.--Any passenger who is determined to be a
selectee based on a check against a terrorist watch list and
arrives on a flight originating from a foreign airport at
which preclearance operations have been established in
accordance with an agreement entered into pursuant to
subsection (a), shall be required to undergo security
rescreening by the Transportation Security Administration
before being permitted to board a domestic flight in the
United States.
SEC. 6. LOST AND STOLEN PASSPORTS.
The Secretary of Homeland Security may not enter into or
renew an agreement with the government of a foreign country
to establish or maintain U.S. Customs and Border Protection
preclearance operations at an airport in such foreign country
unless such government certifies--
(1) that it routinely submits information about lost and
stolen passports of its citizens and nationals to INTERPOL's
Stolen and Lost Travel Document database; or
(2) makes available to the United States Government such
information through another comparable means of reporting.
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except for subsection (c) of section 4, this Act shall
apply only to the establishment of preclearance operations in
a foreign country in which no preclearance operations have
been established as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include any 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. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 3488. This
legislation would require that the Secretary of Homeland Security meet
certain conditions and requirements prior to establishing any new U.S.
Customs and Border Protection preclearance operations in foreign
countries.
The Customs and Border Protection's preclearance operations overseas
inspect and examine travelers and their merchandise in foreign
locations prior to their arrival in the United States. Once cleared on
foreign soil, passengers do not have to clear customs upon arrival in
the United States.
Now, Congress has a long history of supporting limited and specific
preclearance operations. These serve to facilitate travel, and they
improve homeland security. However, earlier this year, Customs and
Border Patrol, or CBP, commenced preclearance operations in Abu Dhabi
without prior notification to Congress, without concern to American
jobs, and without a clear homeland security benefit.
This legislation ensures that the DHS takes into account the impact
on American jobs and our global competitiveness as we enhance our
security through future preclearance facilities. My bill requires DHS
to meet a series of benchmarks to establish a preclearance operation
and requires transparency and prompt notification to Congress while the
Department negotiates preclearance agreements with foreign governments.
This legislation will go a long way towards preventing a repeat of
CBP's mismanaged rollout of the preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi
earlier this year.
I have long had serious concerns about the agreement with Abu Dhabi,
especially the way it was handled by the Department and, ultimately,
the disregard DHS had for the domestic airline industry. To correct
that error, this bill requires extensive consultation with key
stakeholders so that that never happens again.
Abu Dhabi was the first new preclearance location established since
9/11. Prior to Abu Dhabi, the U.S. had preclearance locations in places
like Ireland, the Bahamas, and Canada. We had an obligation to get this
right, and CBP did not. Despite the security-focused rationale, this
agreement was conducted without suitable congressional notification or
a thorough explanation for the rationale of preclearance operations in
Abu Dhabi.
We know that a significant number of watch list hits and suspicious
travel pattern information originates from the region, but that does
not excuse the lack of notification or, more importantly, not taking
into account how such agreements affect American workers and their
employers.
The establishment of a preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi, where no
domestic carrier currently flies--let me repeat that, no domestic
carrier currently flies--puts U.S. carriers at a competitive and
significant disadvantage, as customs wait times are generally shorter
at preclearance facilities compared to wait times in the United States.
This facility provides a clear facilitation benefit to foreign
airlines at the expense of U.S. carriers and U.S. jobs, and this is
particularly egregious where the foreign-based airline is given
subsidies designed to tilt the market unfairly in their direction. By
requiring the Secretary to consider the economic impact in establishing
preclearance facilities, we protect American jobs and American workers.
I support giving our security professionals the tools needed in their
effort to ``push out our borders,'' but we must do so in a way that
makes us more secure, does not divert limited CBP staffing resources,
or threaten U.S. jobs and a vital economic engine provided by U.S.
carriers.
I am pleased that over 150 of my colleagues from both sides of the
aisle cosponsored this measure, and I urge all of my colleagues to
support this important bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3488, the Preclearance
Authorization Act of 2014.
As a Member who represents a major international airport, I had deep
reservations about the Department of Homeland Security's decision to
open a preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. I was
concerned about the prospect that limited Customs and Border Protection
personal resources would be diverted from domestic airports like Newark
Liberty International Airport to overseas posts, which could result in
wait times for clearing customs exceeding anyone's definition of
reasonable. I also had concerns about DHS' decision to conduct
preclearance at an overseas airport where U.S. carriers do not have a
presence, thus giving a competitive advantage to a foreign-owned
airline.
H.R. 3488 addresses both of my concerns. Regarding customs processing
times, the bill requires DHS to certify to Congress that the
establishment of preclearance operations in an additional country will
not significantly increase processing times at airports in the United
States. As for opening preclearance facilities at airports where U.S.
carriers do not operate, this bill would prohibit DHS from doing so
going forward.
United States airlines and the jobs they create and support across
the country are critical to our economy. Efforts to ``push out our
borders'' for security reasons must not come at the expense of the
competitiveness of U.S.-owned and -operated airlines. I commend the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan) for recognizing this fact and
for bringing forth this legislation before us today.
If enacted, H.R. 3488 will result in stricter requirements as well as
enhanced oversight and accountability regarding how DHS decides to
expand preclearance operations.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I certainly want
to thank Mr. Meehan for his diligent work on this issue--for quite a
long time, actually. He raised concerns with the Department of Homeland
Security preclearance operations very early on, and his leadership has
been so important to the success of this bill and where we are today.
You know, really, I think there have been few issues that have kept
CBP leadership busier over the last year
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than preclearance. The troubled rollout of the preclearance in Abu
Dhabi caused an awful lot of consternation in the Congress.
The preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi was the first such operation
established since 9/11 based primarily on a security rationale.
Therefore, the lack of appropriate congressional coordination and
notification troubled many Members on both sides of the aisle.
In fact, preclearance operations were the subject of a limitation
amendment to last year's Department of Homeland Security Appropriations
bill that I cosponsored with Mr. Meehan.
The bill under consideration today is sort of a fusion of Mr.
Meehan's original text and then the FY14 Consolidated Appropriations
Act, as well as Ms. Jackson Lee's bill on this topic also, and it was
very carefully crafted after numerous consultations with the Department
of Homeland Security, the airline industry, and, again, Members from
both sides of the aisle.
It really sets the contours for future preclearance operations which
incorporate a series of notifications and certifications, including a
justification that outlines the homeland security benefit and impact to
domestic staffing and wait times that any new preclearance operations
would have. Moreover, Mr. Speaker, this bill requires Congress to be
notified in the event that the Department of Homeland Security modifies
or changes an existing agreement.
I certainly want to be clear that the House Homeland Security
Committee supports preclearance where it makes sense. Preclearance, of
course, has been around as a security screening and trade facilitation
tool since the early 1950s actually, and since 9/11, the security value
of these operations has only been heightened. However, this bill makes
it absolutely clear that the Department of Homeland Security cannot
repeat the mistakes of the past.
I would also like to just thank Chairman Camp of the Ways and Means
Committee, who helped work with us with the Homeland Security Committee
to get this bill to the floor today. Again, I certainly want to thank
Mr. Meehan and other Members who have worked hard to make sure that the
American airlines are not negatively impacted by future preclearance
operations overseas.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), the ranking member of the
Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of
H.R. 3488, the Preclearance Authorization Act of 2014.
Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security decided to
alter the focus of Customs and Border Protection's preclearance program
from one aimed at passenger facilitation to one intended to enhance
security--or, at least, that is what we were told when a bipartisan
group of Members led by Representatives Meehan and DeFazio began asking
hard questions about why a preclearance facility was being opened in
Abu Dhabi, an airport at which no U.S. flag carriers operate.
Since preclearance operations commenced in Abu Dhabi earlier this
year, representatives from DHS, including Secretary Johnson, have
repeatedly stated that they are looking to expand the program to other
high-risk overseas airports. Enactment of H.R. 3488 would ensure that,
before DHS entered into another preclearance agreement, thoughtful
consideration is given to the potential homeland security benefits of
such an expansion, as well as the potential impacts to CBP staff at
domestic ports of entry. Importantly, the bill also requires DHS to
report to Congress on the potential economic, competitive, and job-
related impacts opening such a facility would have on United States air
carriers.
During committee consideration of the bill, an amendment that I
offered was accepted that would require any passenger arriving in the
U.S. who is determined to be a selectee to undergo security rescreening
by the Transportation Security Administration before being permitted to
board a domestic flight in the United States. This provision would
ensure that any traveler that is determined to be potentially dangerous
undergoes security screening on U.S. soil before being allowed to board
a domestic flight.
Finally, the bill prohibits the opening of a new preclearance
facility unless at least one United States passenger carrier operates
at the airport where preclearance operations would be established. This
provision will ensure that we do not see a repeat of the circumstances
surrounding the opening of the preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi,
where a foreign airline was provided a significant competitive
advantage over U.S. carriers.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R.
3488, the Preclearance Authorization Act of 2014.
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Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), the chairman of the
Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to commend the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan) for his hard work and leadership on this
issue, this bill. He rallied more than 150 Members of Congress--no
small feat in this institution--to express his concern over the way the
DHS preclearance operations in Abu Dhabi were set up last year. The
commonsense bill before us today should be supported by every Member of
this body. Pushing out the border through operations like preclearance
allows Customs and Border Protection to identify and intercept threats,
including dangerous people and cargo, long before they ever reach our
shores. So it is a noble concept.
Preclearance facilities have served America's interests by
facilitating secure trade and travel since the 1950s. Since 9/11, the
security value of these facilities has only increased.
However, I share the concerns of many of my colleagues regarding the
rollout of a preclearance facility that was recently established in Abu
Dhabi, which was the first such facility set up after 9/11. The process
by which CBP announced and created this facility was not transparent,
raising several questions about the suitability of that location.
I recently had the opportunity to visit this preclearance facility in
Abu Dhabi on a delegation that I led to the region, and I came away
convinced that there is real security value in putting our CBP officers
overseas. However, I think it is appropriate that Congress weigh in on
how we go about establishing future preclearance operations, given the
controversy and mismanaged rollout of Abu Dhabi.
This bill strengthens the homeland security elements of preclearance
operations by requiring that comparable aviation security screening
standards are in place prior to beginning preclearance operations. It
would also require rescreening of passengers and cargo if security
standards are not maintained overseas.
This bill takes steps to reduce the potential for missteps by
requiring a series of notifications and certifications to the Congress
long before new preclearance facilities are established. Under the
requirements of this bill, DHS must now certify that future facilities
serve the national interests, stakeholders must be properly consulted,
and U.S. airlines must have equal access to locations under
consideration. This legislation we are considering is a result of
extensive consultation with industry, the Department itself, and
Members from both parties.
Again, I want to thank Chairman Meehan for his hard work and
oversight on this important program. I want to thank the ranking member
of the full committee, Bennie Thompson, and the ranking member of the
subcommittee for, once again, on our committee, showing great
bipartisanship to get the will of the people done in this House.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as you heard, H.R. 3488 enjoys the support of members of
the Committee on Homeland Security. Indeed, this bill has a bipartisan
collection of 154 cosponsors.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 3488, the
Preclearance Authorization Act of 2014, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my deep appreciation to my
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colleagues from both sides of the aisle for responding so collectively
to the importance of this issue.
First and foremost, the principle that I think we stand for on both
sides of the aisle is, when important issues like this are raised, that
there be appropriate consultation with Congress and an appropriate
understanding of the clear articulation by Homeland Security of the
benefit that they expect to reach.
As the chairman has identified, once he visited Abu Dhabi, he came
away convinced that there was a benefit. But the idea that that would
not have been shared with us prior to entering that agreement is one of
the critical things that we want to see addressed by this legislation.
But it is also the inability of the Department to appreciate or to
take into consideration the impact that this will have, that it may
have, and, in fact, it will have when there is no United States airline
flying from Abu Dhabi. And the competitive disadvantage of that, which
is generated by the fact that individuals who choose to fly the foreign
airline currently get right into our country once they get into the
preclearance facility, while those on American airlines coming into the
same airport will wait in long lines. It creates a competitive
disadvantage and the real possibility of a loss of American jobs.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland
Security Committee and the Ranking Member of the Border and Maritime
Security Subcommittee, I rise in support of H.R. 3488, the
``Preclearance Authorization Act of 2014.''
The legislation before the House today is the product of regular
order, having been considered and approved by the Subcommittee on
Border and Maritime Security in May and the Full Committee on Homeland
Security in June.
H.R. 3488 stipulates the conditions under which the Secretary of
Homeland Security may establish and conduct preclearance operations.
It is imperative that as we seek to ``push out our Nation's borders''
through preclearance and other programs, we do so in a risk-based
manner that is mindful of impacts to our economy and the traveling
public.
That guiding principle is what prompted me to introduce legislation
last November, H.R. 3575, the ``Putting Security First in Preclearance
Act.''
I am pleased that several of the provisions and policy goals
contained in my legislation have been incorporated into the bill before
the House today.
During subcommittee consideration of H.R. 3488, I offered two
amendments that were adopted.
The first amendment requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to
report to Congress on the anticipated homeland security benefits
associated with establishing preclearance operations at a foreign
airport.
As the Department of Homeland Security seeks to expand preclearance
operations to potentially high-risk airports around the world, we
should have a full understanding of the homeland security benefits
associated with opening such facilities.
My second amendment, also adopted during subcommittee consideration
of the bill, requires that any country seeking to enter into a
preclearance agreement with the United States submit lost and stolen
passport information to INTERPOL or another source that is searchable
by the United States.
The tragic loss of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 in March brought
into focus a number of vulnerabilities in the international aviation
arena, not the least of which is gaps related to lost and stolen
passports.
On April 4th, the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security held a
hearing on the vulnerabilities of passport fraud.
One of the major takeaways from that hearing was the need for more
countries to regularly submit information about lost and stolen
passports to INTERPOL.
The provision in H.R. 3488 requiring countries seeking to open
Preclearance facilities to submit information on lost and stolen
passports to INTERPOL will serve as an impetus for bringing would-be
international partners into the fold and make the INTERPOL database
more complete.
Enactment of H.R. 3488 will ensure greater Congressional oversight of
the process associated with commencing preclearance operations and
ensure the economic interest of U.S. airlines are considered when new
Preclearance facilities are contemplated.
I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of H.R.
3488.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3488, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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