[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5592-H5594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EMERGING INNOVATIVE BORDER TECHNOLOGIES ACT
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 7832) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security
to develop a plan to identify, integrate, and deploy new, innovative,
disruptive, or other emerging or advanced technologies to enhance, or
address capability gaps in, border security operations, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7832
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 ``Emerging Innovative Border
Technologies Act''.
SEC. 2. INNOVATIVE AND EMERGING BORDER TECHNOLOGY PLAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) and the Under Secretary for Science
and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security, shall
submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a plan to identify,
integrate, and deploy new, innovative, disruptive, or other
emerging or advanced technologies that may incorporate
artificial intelligence, machine-learning, automation, fiber-
optic sensing technology, nanotechnology, optical and
cognitive radar, modeling and simulation technology,
hyperspectral and LIDAR sensors, imaging, identification, and
categorization systems, or other emerging or advanced
technologies, to enhance, or address capability gaps in,
border security operations.
(b) Contents.--The plan required under subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) Information regarding how CBP utilizes CBP Innovation
Team authority under subsection (c) and other mechanisms to
carry out the purposes specified in subsection (a).
(2) An assessment of the contributions directly
attributable to such utilization.
(3) Information regarding the composition of each CBP
Innovation Team, and how each such Team coordinates and
integrates efforts with the CBP acquisition program office
and other partners within CBP and the Department of Homeland
Security.
(4) Identification of technologies used by other Federal
departments or agencies not in use by CBP that could assist
in enhancing, or addressing capability gaps in, border
security operations.
(5) An analysis of authorities available to CBP to procure
technologies referred to subsection (a), and an assessment as
to whether additional or alternative authorities are needed
to carry out the purposes specified in such subsection.
(6) An explanation of how CBP plans to scale existing
programs related to emerging or advanced technologies into
programs of record.
(7) A description of each planned security-related
technology program, including objectives, goals, and
timelines for each such program.
(8) An assessment of the privacy and security impact on
border communities of security-related technology.
(9) An assessment of CBP legacy border technology programs
that could be phased out and replaced by technologies
referred to in subsection (a), and cost estimates relating to
such phase out and replacement.
(10) Information relating to how CBP is coordinating with
the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology
Directorate to--
(A) research and develop new, innovative, disruptive, or
other emerging or advanced technologies to carry out the
purposes specified in subsection (a);
(B) identify security-related technologies that are in
development or deployed by the private and public sectors
that may satisfy the mission needs of CBP, with or without
adaptation;
(C) incentivize the private sector to develop technologies
that may help CBP meet mission needs to enhance, or address
capability gaps in, border security operations; and
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(D) identify and assess ways to increase opportunities for
communication and collaboration with the private sector,
small and disadvantaged businesses, intra-governmental
entities, university centers of excellence, and Federal
laboratories to leverage emerging technology and research
within the public and private sectors.
(11) Information on metrics and key performance parameters
for evaluating the effectiveness of efforts to identify,
integrate, and deploy new, innovative, disruptive, or other
emerging or advanced technologies to carry out the purposes
specified in subsection (a).
(12) An identification of recent technological advancements
in the following:
(A) Manned aircraft sensor, communication, and common
operating picture technology.
(B) Unmanned aerial systems and related technology,
including counter-unmanned aerial system technology.
(C) Surveillance technology, including the following:
(i) Mobile surveillance vehicles.
(ii) Associated electronics, including cameras, sensor
technology, and radar.
(iii) Tower-based surveillance technology.
(iv) Advanced unattended surveillance sensors.
(v) Deployable, lighter-than-air, ground surveillance
equipment.
(D) Nonintrusive inspection technology, including non-X-ray
devices utilizing muon tomography and other advanced
detection technology.
(E) Tunnel detection technology.
(F) Communications equipment, including the following:
(i) Radios.
(ii) Long-term evolution broadband.
(iii) Miniature satellites.
(13) Any other information the Secretary determines
relevant.
(c) CBP Innovation Team Authority.--
(1) In general.--The Commissioner of CBP is authorized to
maintain one or more CBP Innovation Teams to research and
adapt commercial technologies that are new, innovative,
disruptive, or otherwise emerging or advanced that may be
used by CBP to enhance, or address capability gaps in border
security operations and urgent mission needs, and assess
potential outcomes, to include any negative consequences, of
the introduction of emerging or advanced technologies with
respect to which documented capability gaps in border
security operations are yet to be determined.
(2) Operating procedures, planning, strategic goals.--The
Commissioner of CBP shall require each team maintained
pursuant to paragraph (1) to establish the following:
(A) Operating procedures that include specificity regarding
roles and responsibilities within each such team and with
respect to Department of Homeland Security and non-Federal
partners, and protocols for entering into agreements to
rapidly transition such technologies to existing or new
programs of record to carry out the purposes specified in
subsection (a).
(B) Planning and strategic goals for each such team that
includes projected costs, time frames, metrics, and key
performance parameters relating to the achievement of
identified strategic goals, including a metric to measure the
rate at which technologies described in subsection (a) are
transitioned to existing or new programs of record in
accordance with subparagraph (A)
(3) Reporting.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the
Commissioner of CBP shall submit to the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate
information relating to the activities CBP Innovation Teams,
including information regarding the following:
(A) Copies of operating procedures and protocols under
paragraph (2)(A) and planning and strategic goals required
under paragraph (2)(B).
(B) Descriptions of the technologies piloted by each such
team over the immediately preceding fiscal year, including
information regarding which such technologies are determined
successful and an identification of documented capability
gaps that are addressed.
(C) Information on the status of efforts to rapidly
transition technologies determined successful to existing or
new programs of record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. 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 H.R. 7832.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7832, the Emerging
Innovative Border Technologies Act. This bill would enable Congress to
better equip frontline personnel with the tools and resources necessary
to secure and protect the United States border.
It is a necessary piece of legislation amidst the current crisis at
our southwest border. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr.
Correa) for his attention to this matter.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7832, the Emerging Innovative Border Technologies
Act, is an opportunity to improve the Department of Homeland Security's
ability to quickly acquire innovative technologies, like artificial
intelligence and machine learning, that enhance border technologies
overall.
With newer, more innovative technologies, we can improve CBP's
targeting and our detection capabilities, which will help officers find
and stop more illegal drugs before they flood our communities and harm
our children.
By requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to create a plan to
address capability gaps and integrate innovative technologies, like AI,
machine learning, and nanotechnology, into our border security
operations, this bill would force the Department of Homeland Security
to think strategically about opportunities to work with private-sector
operators and others to develop and implement the latest technologies.
My bill also authorizes CBP's Innovation Team, which works with
frontline agents and officers to develop and pilot promising
technologies that help them do their jobs, primarily keeping Americans
safe.
The Innovation Team finds and tests new commercial technologies,
works with companies to adapt them for use along our border, and then
helps the successful programs navigate government procurement
bureaucracies so they can help scale up quickly to meet the
government's needs.
Innovative technologies don't just help with catching drugs. New
technologies can also help detect victims of human trafficking or
migrants in need of help in the middle of a desert.
New technologies can also help Border Patrol agents communicate
reliably in remote areas. When an agent is down or finds somebody
injured, the ability to communicate quickly can literally save lives
and be the difference between life and death.
Technology also helps CBP facilitate legal trade and travel. Long
lines at our ports of entry can result in produce spoiling as opposed
to making it to our grocery stores.
No one enjoys long lines at the airport. I am proud to represent
Disneyland, and I know that most international travelers want to get to
go see Minnie and Mickey as soon as possible.
While we clearly need more manpower at our ports of entry, new
technologies can help get people and goods on their way to our markets
and to our communities much quicker and much safer.
My legislation is just one way of many ways that Congress can support
our border agents.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Luttrell and his team for working
with us to make sure this piece of legislation is successful. I also
thank my colleagues from the Committee on Homeland Security for their
bipartisan support. I hope we continue to come together to craft
bipartisan solutions to making our border more secure and support our
men and women working in a safer environment on a daily basis.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support H.R. 7832, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7832, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 7832.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
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A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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