[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whose enrollment in a trusted traveler program was revoked in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.
[[Page H1900]]
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