[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 8 (Friday, January 12, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E40]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SCREENING AND VETTING PASSENGER EXCHANGE ACT OF 2017

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                               speech of

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 9, 2018

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4581.
  H.R. 4581, the Screening and Vetting Passenger Exchange Act of 2017, 
requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop best 
practices for counter terrorism screening and vetting through the use 
of advanced passenger information (API) and passenger name record (PNR) 
data. This bill also encourages the Secretary of DHS to share best 
practices and assist with implementation for our foreign partners.
  The DHS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have all utilized API and 
PNR as tools for screening and vetting potential criminals and 
terrorists. In April 2016, the European Union (EU) decided to follow in 
our footsteps by implementing PNR data into their counter terrorism 
screenings. The EU set a deadline for full integration of PNR data by 
May 2018. Unfortunately, many EU countries lack the knowledge, 
expertise, and experience with PNR data to allow them to meet their 
upcoming deadline. H.R. 4581 would allow the DHS to develop best 
practices for utilizing API and PNR data in counter terrorism screening 
and then share these best practices with our foreign allies.
  This legislation will strengthen our national security and that of 
our foreign partners. Since 9/11, we have prevented hundreds of acts of 
terror and improved our national security. However, in the last two 
years, the United States has experienced a surge in terrorist acts and 
criminal activities.
  As a former member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have 
always voted to support our law enforcement agencies in the work that 
they do. H.R. 4581 will fortify our Armed forces with best practices 
for preventing terrorism and allow them to continue doing their crucial 
work protecting our country. This legislation will also help our 
foreign allies so that they are able to effectively keep their people, 
and the people of the world, safe. Protecting our national security and 
the national securities of our allies ought to be a given. For this 
reason, I support H.R. 4581 and urge my fellow members to do the same.

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