[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1266]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. E. CLAY SHAW, JR.

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2005

  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate International 
Customs Day and show support for all the men and women in the 
Department of Homeland Security who enforce our customs laws. They 
deserve our gratitude and appreciation.
  International Customs Day marks the day that the World Customs 
Organization (WCO) commenced its first meeting on January 26, 1953. 
This date has grown in significance through the years as we better 
appreciate the services performed by customs agencies around the world. 
These agencies keep the world economy running smoothly by facilitating 
the movement of imports and exports even during this time of heightened 
security.
  The WCO evolved out of the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), which 
initially was a loose conglomeration of a few members. The CCC member 
countries were dedicated to establishing uniform rules among the 
varying customs services as a way of expediting the trade process. 
After the number of participating members surged, the CCC renamed 
itself the World Customs Organization to stress the true international 
nature of the organization. Its current membership is 164 countries, 
indicating the marked dedication in the international community to the 
harmonization of these processes to hasten the growth of the trade 
facilitation process.
  Our own agency for customs matters has been evolving for years to 
meet the ever growing demands of our country. After the world 
dramatically changed on September 11, 2001, the United States had to 
reevaluate its mechanisms to facilitate the free, yet secure, movement 
of trade across our borders. The new offices of U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 
were formed within the Department of Homeland Security and remain 
instrumental in assuring that our border remains safe, yet open to the 
free transfer of goods and services which support our American workers, 
consumers, and industries. Thus, CBP has launched an innovative program 
entitled Project Shield America, which integrates trade with homeland 
security issues by seeking to prevent the trafficking of dangerous 
weapons into the United States by illegal exporters, in addition to 
preventing the illegal export of certain goods and commodities. At the 
same time CBP is continuing its work with the WCO to harmonize and 
unify the various customs rules which affect international commerce. 
Similarly, ICE has undertaken the Cornerstone project, which 
investigates intellectual property crime, trade fraud, and financial 
crime. It also participates in the coordination of the Intellectual 
Property Rights Coordination to protect against violations of 
intellectual property rights.
  Levels of trade are at an all-time high, with imports at $664 billion 
and $12.2 billion in duties collected. The effective operation of 
customs operations is essential. Thanks to the great strides undertaken 
by our customs officials and by importers and exporters, 95 percent of 
FY 2004 entries sampled were found to be compliant with U.S. trade 
laws.
  In the 108th Congress the Committee on Ways and Means examined the 
changing role of CBP and ICE in our hearing on Customs Budget 
Authorizations and Other Customs Issues. The Committee will continue 
its oversight over how CBP and ICE can effectively expedite the 
movement of goods and services while maintaining the safe borders we as 
Americans undoubtedly depend upon.
  I appreciate this opportunity to personally thank the men and women 
of Customs for their hard work in continuing to strengthen these vital 
trade relationships and their vigilance in protecting our borders. I 
commend their dedication to their role of border protection while 
continuing to fulfill their long-established mission of trade 
facilitation.

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