[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

[[Page H5593]]

       (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.

[[Page H5594]]

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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