[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 67 (Monday, April 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1898-H1900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRUSTED TRAVELER RECONSIDERATION AND RESTORATION ACT OF 2021

  Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 473) to require a review of Department of 
Homeland Security trusted traveler programs, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 473

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

[[Page H1899]]

  


     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Trusted Traveler 
     Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW.

       Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     conduct a review of Department of Homeland Security trusted 
     traveler programs. Such review shall examine the following:
       (1) The extent to which the Department of Homeland Security 
     tracks data and monitors trends related to trusted traveler 
     programs, including root causes for identity-matching errors 
     resulting in an individual's enrollment in a trusted traveler 
     program being reinstated.
       (2) Whether the Department coordinates with the heads of 
     other relevant Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial 
     entities regarding redress procedures for disqualifying 
     offenses not covered by the Department's own redress 
     processes but which offenses impact an individual's 
     enrollment in a trusted traveler program.
       (3) How the Department may improve individuals' access to 
     reconsideration procedures regarding a disqualifying offense 
     for enrollment in a trusted traveler program that requires 
     the involvement of any other Federal, State, local, Tribal, 
     or territorial entity.
       (4) The extent to which travelers are informed about 
     reconsideration procedures regarding enrollment in a trusted 
     traveler program.

     SEC. 3. ENROLLMENT REDRESS.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security shall, with respect to an individual 
     whose enrollment in a trusted traveler program was revoked in 
     error extend by an amount of time equal to the period of 
     revocation the period of active enrollment in such a program 
     upon re-enrollment in such a program by such an individual.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Torres) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Torres).


                             General Leave

  Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 473, the Trusted Traveler 
Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021.
  Before the pandemic, millions of travelers participated in DHS' 
trusted traveler programs, like TSA's PreCheck and CBP's Global Entry, 
NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST programs, to get them where they need to go a 
little faster.
  These are win-win programs where DHS moves vetted goods and people in 
an expeditious manner, thereby freeing up screening resources to focus 
on higher-risk travelers.
  Given the benefits of these programs, it is troubling to hear about 
people being unable to enroll in one of these programs, despite meeting 
all of the security requirements needed to participate.
  We all have an interest in ensuring that the vetting for these 
programs is thorough and, where there are identifying matching errors 
or other issues that may result in a qualified applicant being wrongly 
rejected, the issues get addressed in a timely way.
  To ensure these programs are operating effectively and consistently, 
H.R. 473 directs the Government Accountability Office to review DHS' 
trusted traveler programs. The GAO's study will provide important 
insight into the Department's identity matching process and the redress 
options available to those who are improperly rejected.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 473, the 
Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021.
  This bill, sponsored by Ranking Member   John Katko and cosponsored 
by Chairwomen Watson Coleman and Slotkin, seeks to ensure the rights of 
travelers who have erroneously had their trusted traveler status 
revoked.
  From the CBP's Global Entry and NEXUS to TSA's PreCheck programs, the 
Department of Homeland Security's trusted traveler programs are 
critical to the safe and secure free movement of people. However, there 
are instances in which individuals are mistaken for people with the 
same or similar name or who otherwise find themselves in a position 
where they lose their trusted traveler status based on a database 
error.
  For those unfortunate persons, the process of getting their trusted 
traveler status reinstated by DHS involves timely, cumbersome, and 
confusing bureaucratic hurdles, often among several Federal agencies. 
In these instances, travelers lose valuable time off of their trusted 
traveler enrollment period, even though they spent hard-earned money to 
apply.
  H.R. 473 seeks to bring relief to the traveling public who are in 
need of having their trusted traveler status reinstated. The bill 
requires a comprehensive review by the Government Accountability Office 
on the existing DHS processes related to trusted traveler programs and 
how the Department can improve individuals' access to having their 
trusted traveler status reinstated when it has been revoked in error.
  Additionally, H.R. 473 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
extend an individual's enrollment in a trusted traveler program by a 
period commensurate with the amount of time they lost in their 
enrollment due to an error.
  I thank Ranking Member Katko for his leadership on this bipartisan 
bill, and I thank Chairman Thompson for his commitment to bringing it 
to the floor today.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I 
am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I urge 
Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Madam Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security's trusted traveler 
programs are important tools in the Department's toolbox to screen 
people efficiently and concentrate its resources on high-risk 
travelers.
  It is critical that the Department's processes to vet enrollees be 
fair, consistent, and based on accurate information. The GAO assessment 
directed by this bill will help drive DHS to work towards those ends.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Katko) for 
introducing this bill. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 473, the 
``Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021,'' which 
directs the Government Accountability Office to review Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS) trusted traveler programs, and DHS to extend 
the enrollment period where an individual's participation in a trusted 
traveler program was revoked in error.
  The Trusted Traveler consists of several programs that include: 
Global Entry, TSA Pre, SENTRI, NEXUS, and FAST.
  The Trusted Traveler Programs are risk-based programs to facilitate 
the entry of pre-approved travelers.
  All applicants are vetted to ensure that they meet the qualifications 
for the program to which they are applying.
  Receiving a ``Best Match'' or program recommendation based on 
eligibility or travel habits does not guarantee acceptance into any 
Trusted Traveler program.
  We will be better prepared to face these challenges as one nation 
united against a common foe, when morale issues within DHS have been 
effectively addressed.
  I urge all members to join me in voting for H.R. 473 the ``Trusted 
Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021.''
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Torres) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 473.
  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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