[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5594-H5595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CUSTOMS TRADE PARTNERSHIP AGAINST TERRORISM PILOT PROGRAM ACT OF 2023
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 794) to require a pilot program on the participation
of non-asset-based third-party logistics providers in the Customs-Trade
Partnership Against Terrorism.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 794
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 ``Customs Trade Partnership
Against Terrorism Pilot Program Act of 2023'' or the ``CTPAT
Pilot Program Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs and the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on
Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.
(2) CTPAT.--The term ``CTPAT'' means the Customs Trade
Partnership Against Terrorism established under subtitle B of
title II of the Security and Accountability for Every Port
Act (6 U.S.C. 961 et seq.).
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ON PARTICIPATION OF THIRD-PARTY
LOGISTICS PROVIDERS IN CTPAT.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
carry out a pilot program to assess whether allowing entities
described in subsection (b) to participate in CTPAT would
enhance port security, combat terrorism, prevent supply chain
security breaches, or otherwise meet the goals of CTPAT.
(2) Federal register notice.--Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
publish in the Federal Register a notice specifying the
requirements for the pilot program required by paragraph (1).
(b) Entities Described.--An entity described in this
subsection is--
(1) a non-asset-based third-party logistics provider that--
(A) arranges international transportation of freight and is
licensed by the Department of Transportation; and
(B) meets such other requirements as the Secretary
specifies in the Federal Register notice required by
subsection (a)(2); or
(2) an asset-based third-party logistics provider that--
(A) facilitates cross border activity and is licensed or
bonded by the Federal Maritime Commission, the Transportation
Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
or the Department of Transportation;
(B) manages and executes logistics services using its own
warehousing assets and resources on behalf of its customers;
and
(C) meets such other requirements as the Secretary
specifies in the Federal Register notice required by
subsection (a)(2).
(c) Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program
required by subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall--
(1) ensure that--
(A) not more than 10 entities described in paragraph (1) of
subsection (b) participate in the pilot program; and
(B) not more than 10 entities described in paragraph (2) of
that subsection participate in the program;
(2) provide for the participation of those entities on a
voluntary basis;
(3) continue the program for a period of not less than one
year after the date on which the Secretary publishes the
Federal Register notice required by subsection (a)(2); and
(4) terminate the pilot program not more than 5 years after
that date.
(d) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the
termination of the pilot program under subsection (c)(4), the
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report on the findings of, and any
recommendations arising from, the pilot program concerning
the participation in CTPAT of entities described in
subsection (b), including an assessment of participation by
those entities.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON EFFECTIVENESS OF CTPAT.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report assessing the effectiveness of CTPAT.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) An analysis of--
(A) security incidents in the cargo supply chain during the
5-year period preceding submission of the report that
involved criminal activity, including drug trafficking, human
smuggling, commercial fraud, or terrorist activity; and
(B) whether those incidents involved participants in CTPAT
or entities not participating in CTPAT.
(2) An analysis of causes for the suspension or removal of
entities from participating in CTPAT as a result of security
incidents during that 5-year period.
(3) An analysis of the number of active CTPAT participants
involved in one or more security incidents while maintaining
their status as participants.
(4) Recommendations to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection for improvements to CTPAT to improve
prevention of security incidents in the cargo supply chain
involving participants in CTPAT.
SEC. 5. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for
the purpose of carrying out this Act.
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 S. 794.
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 in support of S. 794, the CTPAT Pilot Program Act
of 2023, which would establish a pilot program to assess the security
benefits of providers in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against
Terrorism program. I urge support, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are here today to consider S. 794,
the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Pilot Program Act of
2023. This important legislation will further strengthen the security
of cargo shipments arriving in the United States.
As we work to build a resilient supply chain and prevent dangerous
threats from reaching our communities, it is critical that customs
officers work closely with importers, shippers, carriers, and others to
ensure both fast and secure travel. The CTPAT program encourages this.
In response to faster processing at our ports of entry, members of
the trade community participating in this program adopt tighter
security measures throughout their global supply chain. Today, more
than 11,400 companies currently participate in the CTPAT program,
accounting for about 52 percent of cargo imports into the United
States.
Despite the success of the program, certain third-party logistics
providers are excluded from even applying for membership. Further
expanding access to CTPAT will help U.S. businesses and improve supply
chain security to prevent terrorists and terrorist threats from
reaching our communities.
Specifically, this bill establishes a 5-year pilot program to allow
certain third-party logistics providers to join this very important
program. We hope to see how the participation of third-party logistics
providers helps CBP enhance port security and mitigate supply chain
breaches.
I thank Senator Cornyn for leading this legislation in the Senate and
my colleague, Representative Elissa Slotkin, for leading this
legislation in the House.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins), the chairman of
the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Green for
recognizing me for such time as I may consume, whereas any other Member
of Congress would need only about 1 minute to provide this commentary.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 794, the CTPAT Pilot Program Act
of 2023.
Since 2001, the United States Customs and Border Protection's CTPAT
program has been reducing vulnerability throughout the supply chain by
incentivizing greater security measures with certified trade partners.
[[Page H5595]]
Today, more than 11,400 certified partners have been accepted into the
program.
The CTPAT Pilot Program Act of 2023 expands upon this already
successful program by requiring CBP to establish a pilot program to
assess the benefits of allowing non-asset-based third-party logistics
providers, 3PLs, and additional asset-based 3PLs to participate in this
program.
Mr. Speaker, I hope all Members will support this critical
legislation today, as it strengthens our efforts to combat the threat
of terrorism in the global supply chain.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill would help American businesses thrive and also
enhance the safety of our communities. By expanding access to CTPAT,
more of our trusted trading partners can expedite cargo into our local
communities and our country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, 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 S. 794, 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, S. 794.
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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