[House Report 116-189]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
116th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 116-189
======================================================================
COUNTER TERRORIST NETWORK ACT
_______
August 27, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, from the Committee on Homeland Security,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 3526]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 3526) to authorize certain counter terrorist
networks activities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and
for other purposes, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill
do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 1
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 2
Committee Consideration.......................................... 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 2
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 2
C.B.O. Estimate, New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and
Tax Expenditures............................................... 3
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 4
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 4
Duplicative Federal Programs..................................... 4
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits....................................................... 4
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 4
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 4
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 5
Purpose and Summary
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is charged with
the important mission of securing the Nation's borders and
ports of entry against a range of threats including those posed
by transnational criminal organizations, smugglers and human
traffickers, and terrorist networks. The purpose of this bill
is to authorize certain CBP efforts to prevent terrorists and
other nefarious actors from exploiting legitimate avenues of
traveling to and entering the United States.
Background and Need for Legislation
Transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorism
networks pose significant threats to our national and homeland
security. CBP is uniquely situated to combat threats emanating
far from our shores due to its border security mission. One way
CBP seeks to combat such threats is to detail personnel for
CBP's National Targeting Center (NTC) to other U.S. agencies
both domestically and internationally to support efforts to
disrupt and dismantle foreign terrorist organizations. The
``Counter Network Act'' authorizes such efforts to bolster
national and homeland security.
Hearings
For the purpose of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the 116th
Congress the following related hearing was held:
On April 2, 2019, the Subcommittee on Border Security,
Facilitation, and Operations and the Subcommittee on
Intelligence & Counterterrorism held a joint hearing entitled
``Supporting A Fact-Based Approach to Preventing Terrorist
Travel To the United States.'' The Subcommittees received
testimony from Ms. Rebecca Gambler, Director, Homeland Security
& Justice Team, U.S. Government Accountability Office; Mr.
Donald Conroy, Director, National Targeting Center--Passenger
Operations, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Mr. Monte
Hawkins, Director, National Vetting Center, U.S. Department of
Homeland Security.
Committee Consideration
The Committee met on July 17, 2019, with a quorum being
present, to consider H.R. 3526 and ordered the measure to be
reported to the House with a favorable recommendation, without
amendment, by unanimous consent.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded
votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments
thereto.
No recorded votes were requested during consideration of
H.R. 3526.
Committee Oversight Findings
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the
descriptive portions of this report.
Congressional Budget Office Estimate, New Budget Authority, Entitlement
Authority, and Tax Expenditures
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee adopts as its
own the estimate of the estimate of new budget authority,
entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues
contained in the cost estimate prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, July 30, 2019.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for Department of Homeland
Security Legislation.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark
Grabowicz.
Sincerely,
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director.
Enclosure.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
On July 17, 2019, the House Committee on Homeland Security
ordered reported the following bills:
H.R. 3320, the Securing the Homeland
Security Supply Chain Act of 2019, which would
authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to
take certain actions to improve the security of
information and telecommunications systems acquired by
the department;
H.R. 3413, DHS Acquisition Reform Act of
2019, which would specify which offices in DHS
headquarters have responsibility for acquisition
programs;
H.R. 3526, the Counter Terrorist Network
Act, which would authorize Customs and Border
Protection to assign personnel to other agencies to
support partnerships for sharing global information to
enhance border security; and
H.R. 3722, the Joint Task Force to Combat
Opioid Trafficking Act of 2019, which would confirm the
authority of DHS to establish a task force to disrupt
drug trafficking.
DHS is currently carrying out activities similar to those
required by the bills listed above, and any new activities
required under the legislation would not require substantial
action by the department. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing
each bill would not have a significant cost; any spending would
be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
Duplicative Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c) of rule XIII, the Committee finds
that H.R. 3526 does not contain any provision that establishes
or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another
Federal program.
Performance Goals and Objectives
The general performance goals and objectives of H.R. 3526
are to enhance border security operations that disrupt and
dismantle transnational criminal and foreign terrorist networks
that threaten the security of the homeland.
Advisory on Earmarks
In compliance with rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of the rule
XXI.
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title
This section provides that this bill may be cited as the
``Counter Terrorist Network Act''.
Sec. 2. Duty to counter terrorist networks; details and assignment
This section requires CBP to regularly collaborate with
appropriate Federal, State, local, and Tribal entities to
enhance border security operations to disrupt and dismantle
transnational criminal and foreign terrorist networks.
Additionally, this section authorizes the detail of CBP
personnel to other international and domestic agencies to
prevent the entry of terrorists into the United States.
The Committee supports the deployment of personnel from
CBP's National Targeting Center overseas to disrupt and
dismantle transnational criminal and foreign terrorist networks
and would note that this support is consistent with the
Committee's longstanding support for the assigning of CBP
personnel overseas to address border or homeland security
threat overseas, long before they present a threat on U.S.
soil.
Sec. 3. Briefings
This section requires the Commissioner of CBP to brief the
relevant Congressional committees on its efforts to disrupt and
dismantle transnational criminal and foreign terrorist networks
pursuant to the authorization provided in this bill every 6
months.
The Committee fully expects that the briefings required by
this section be a substantive description of the ongoing
efforts to defeat threats posed by transnational criminal and
foreign terrorist groups. These briefings shall be provided at
the appropriate level of classification.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002
* * * * * * *
TITLE IV--BORDER, MARITIME, AND TRANSPORTATION SECURITY
* * * * * * *
Subtitle B--U.S. Customs and Border Protection
SEC. 411. ESTABLISHMENT OF U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION;
COMMISSIONER, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, AND OPERATIONAL
OFFICES.
(a) In General.--There is established in the Department an
agency to be known as U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
(b) Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.--
(1) In general.--There shall be at the head of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection a Commissioner of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (in this section referred
to as the ``Commissioner'').
(2) Committee referral.--As an exercise of the
rulemaking power of the Senate, any nomination for the
Commissioner submitted to the Senate for confirmation,
and referred to a committee, shall be referred to the
Committee on Finance.
(c) Duties.--The Commissioner shall--
(1) coordinate and integrate the security, trade
facilitation, and trade enforcement functions of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection;
(2) ensure the interdiction of persons and goods
illegally entering or exiting the United States;
(3) facilitate and expedite the flow of legitimate
travelers and trade;
(4) direct and administer the commercial operations
of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the
enforcement of the customs and trade laws of the United
States;
(5) detect, respond to, and interdict terrorists,
drug smugglers and traffickers, human smugglers and
traffickers, and other persons who may undermine the
security of the United States, in cases in which such
persons are entering, or have recently entered, the
United States;
(6) safeguard the borders of the United States to
protect against the entry of dangerous goods;
(7) ensure the overall economic security of the
United States is not diminished by efforts, activities,
and programs aimed at securing the homeland;
(8) in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement and United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services, enforce and administer all
immigration laws, as such term is defined in paragraph
(17) of section 101(a) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)), including--
(A) the inspection, processing, and admission
of persons who seek to enter or depart the
United States; and
(B) the detection, interdiction, removal,
departure from the United States, short-term
detention, and transfer of persons unlawfully
entering, or who have recently unlawfully
entered, the United States;
(9) develop and implement screening and targeting
capabilities, including the screening, reviewing,
identifying, and prioritizing of passengers and cargo
across all international modes of transportation, both
inbound and outbound;
(10) in coordination with the Secretary, deploy
technology to collect the data necessary for the
Secretary to administer the biometric entry and exit
data system pursuant to section 7208 of the
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of
2004 (8 U.S.C. 1365b);
(11) enforce and administer the laws relating to
agricultural import and entry inspection referred to in
section 421;
(12) in coordination with the Under Secretary for
Management of the Department, ensure U.S. Customs and
Border Protection complies with Federal law, the
Federal Acquisition Regulation, and the Department's
acquisition management directives for major acquisition
programs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
(13) ensure that the policies and regulations of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection are consistent with the
obligations of the United States pursuant to
international agreements;
(14) enforce and administer--
(A) the Container Security Initiative program
under section 205 of the Security and
Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (6
U.S.C. 945); and
(B) the Customs-Trade Partnership Against
Terrorism program under subtitle B of title II
of such Act (6 U.S.C. 961 et seq.);
(15) conduct polygraph examinations in accordance
with section 3(1) of the Anti-Border Corruption Act of
2010 (Public Law 111-376; 124 Stat. 4105);
(16) establish the standard operating procedures
described in subsection (k);
(17) carry out the training required under subsection
(l);
(18) carry out section 418, relating to the issuance
of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel
Cards; and
(19) carry out other duties and powers prescribed by
law or delegated by the Secretary.
(d) Deputy Commissioner.--There shall be in U.S. Customs and
Border Protection a Deputy Commissioner who shall assist the
Commissioner in the management of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection.
(e) U.S. Border Patrol.--
(1) In general.--There is established in U.S. Customs
and Border Protection the U.S. Border Patrol.
(2) Chief.--There shall be at the head of the U.S.
Border Patrol a Chief, who shall--
(A) be at the level of Executive Assistant
Commissioner within U.S. Customs and Border
Protection; and
(B) report to the Commissioner.
(3) Duties.--The U.S. Border Patrol shall--
(A) serve as the law enforcement office of
U.S. Customs and Border Protection with primary
responsibility for interdicting persons
attempting to illegally enter or exit the
United States or goods being illegally imported
into or exported from the United States at a
place other than a designated port of entry;
(B) deter and prevent the illegal entry of
terrorists, terrorist weapons, persons, and
contraband; and
(C) carry out other duties and powers
prescribed by the Commissioner.
(f) Air and Marine Operations.--
(1) In general.--There is established in U.S. Customs
and Border Protection an office known as Air and Marine
Operations.
(2) Executive assistant commissioner.--There shall be
at the head of Air and Marine Operations an Executive
Assistant Commissioner, who shall report to the
Commissioner.
(3) Duties.--Air and Marine Operations shall--
(A) serve as the law enforcement office
within U.S. Customs and Border Protection with
primary responsibility to detect, interdict,
and prevent acts of terrorism and the unlawful
movement of people, illicit drugs, and other
contraband across the borders of the United
States in the air and maritime environment;
(B) conduct joint aviation and marine
operations with U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement;
(C) conduct aviation and marine operations
with international, Federal, State, and local
law enforcement agencies, as appropriate;
(D) administer the Air and Marine Operations
Center established under paragraph (4); and
(E) carry out other duties and powers
prescribed by the Commissioner.
(4) Air and marine operations center.--
(A) In general.--There is established in Air
and Marine Operations an Air and Marine
Operations Center.
(B) Executive director.--There shall be at
the head of the Air and Marine Operations
Center an Executive Director, who shall report
to the Executive Assistant Commissioner of Air
and Marine Operations.
(C) Duties.--The Air and Marine Operations
Center shall--
(i) manage the air and maritime
domain awareness of the Department, as
directed by the Secretary;
(ii) monitor and coordinate the
airspace for unmanned aerial systems
operations of Air and Marine Operations
in U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
(iii) detect, identify, and
coordinate a response to threats to
national security in the air domain, in
coordination with other appropriate
agencies, as determined by the
Executive Assistant Commissioner;
(iv) provide aviation and marine
support to other Federal, State,
tribal, and local agencies; and
(v) carry out other duties and powers
prescribed by the Executive Assistant
Commissioner.
(g) Office of Field Operations.--
(1) In general.--There is established in U.S. Customs
and Border Protection an Office of Field Operations.
(2) Executive assistant commissioner.--There shall be
at the head of the Office of Field Operations an
Executive Assistant Commissioner, who shall report to
the Commissioner.
(3) Duties.--The Office of Field Operations shall
coordinate the enforcement activities of U.S. Customs
and Border Protection at United States air, land, and
sea ports of entry to--
(A) deter and prevent terrorists and
terrorist weapons from entering the United
States at such ports of entry;
(B) conduct inspections at such ports of
entry to safeguard the United States from
terrorism and illegal entry of persons;
(C) prevent illicit drugs, agricultural
pests, and contraband from entering the United
States;
(D) in coordination with the Commissioner,
facilitate and expedite the flow of legitimate
travelers and trade;
(E) administer the National Targeting Center
established under paragraph (4);
(F) coordinate with the Executive Assistant
Commissioner for the Office of Trade with
respect to the trade facilitation and trade
enforcement activities of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection; and
(G) carry out other duties and powers
prescribed by the Commissioner.
(4) National targeting center.--
(A) In general.--There is established in the
Office of Field Operations a National Targeting
Center.
(B) Executive director.--There shall be at
the head of the National Targeting Center an
Executive Director, who shall report to the
Executive Assistant Commissioner of the Office
of Field Operations.
(C) Duties.--The National Targeting Center
shall--
(i) serve as the primary forum for
targeting operations within U.S.
Customs and Border Protection to
collect and analyze traveler and cargo
information in advance of arrival in
the United States to identify and
address security risks and strengthen
trade enforcement;
(ii) identify, review, and target
travelers and cargo for examination;
(iii) coordinate the examination of
entry and exit of travelers and cargo;
(iv) develop and conduct commercial
risk assessment targeting with respect
to cargo destined for the United
States;
(v) coordinate with the
Transportation Security Administration,
as appropriate;
(vi) issue Trade Alerts pursuant to
section 111(b) of the Trade
Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act
of 2015; [and]
(vii) collaborate with appropriate
agencies, including Federal, State,
local, Tribal, and international
entities, to enhance border security
through operations such as operations
that seek to disrupt and dismantle
networks, including foreign terrorist
organizations (as such term is
described in section 219 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1189)), that pose terrorist or
other threats; and
[(vii)] (viii) carry out other duties
and powers prescribed by the Executive
Assistant Commissioner.
(5) Annual report on staffing.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after
the date of the enactment of the Trade
Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015,
and annually thereafter, the Executive
Assistant Commissioner shall submit to the
Committee on Homeland Security and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs and the
Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on
the staffing model for the Office of Field
Operations, including information on how many
supervisors, front-line U.S. Customs and Border
Protection officers, and support personnel are
assigned to each Field Office and port of
entry.
(B) Form.--The report required under
subparagraph (A) shall, to the greatest extent
practicable, be submitted in unclassified form,
but may be submitted in classified form, if the
Executive Assistant Commissioner determines
that such is appropriate and informs the
Committee on Homeland Security and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs and the
Committee on Finance of the Senate of the
reasoning for such.
(h) Office of Intelligence.--
(1) In general.--There is established in U.S. Customs
and Border Protection an Office of Intelligence.
(2) Assistant commissioner.--There shall be at the
head of the Office of Intelligence an Assistant
Commissioner, who shall report to the Commissioner.
(3) Duties.--The Office of Intelligence shall--
(A) develop, provide, coordinate, and
implement intelligence capabilities into a
cohesive intelligence enterprise to support the
execution of the duties and responsibilities of
U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
(B) manage the counterintelligence operations
of U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
(C) establish, in coordination with the Chief
Intelligence Officer of the Department, as
appropriate, intelligence-sharing relationships
with Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies
and intelligence agencies;
(D) conduct risk-based covert testing of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection operations,
including for nuclear and radiological risks;
and
(E) carry out other duties and powers
prescribed by the Commissioner.
(i) Office of International Affairs.--
(1) In general.--There is established in U.S. Customs
and Border Protection an Office of International
Affairs.
(2) Assistant commissioner.--There shall be at the
head of the Office of International Affairs an
Assistant Commissioner, who shall report to the
Commissioner.
(3) Duties.--The Office of International Affairs, in
collaboration with the Office of Policy of the
Department, shall--
(A) coordinate and support U.S. Customs and
Border Protection's foreign initiatives,
policies, programs, and activities;
(B) coordinate and support U.S. Customs and
Border Protection's personnel stationed abroad;
(C) maintain partnerships and information-
sharing agreements and arrangements with
foreign governments, international
organizations, and United States agencies in
support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's
duties and responsibilities;
(D) provide necessary capacity building,
training, and assistance to foreign customs and
border control agencies to strengthen border,
global supply chain, and travel security, as
appropriate;
(E) coordinate mission support services to
sustain U.S. Customs and Border Protection's
global activities;
(F) coordinate with customs authorities of
foreign countries with respect to trade
facilitation and trade enforcement;
(G) coordinate U.S. Customs and Border
Protection's engagement in international
negotiations;
(H) advise the Commissioner with respect to
matters arising in the World Customs
Organization and other international
organizations as such matters relate to the
policies and procedures of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection;
(I) advise the Commissioner regarding
international agreements to which the United
States is a party as such agreements relate to
the policies and regulations of U.S. Customs
and Border Protection; and
(J) carry out other duties and powers
prescribed by the Commissioner.
(j) Office of Professional Responsibility.--
(1) In general.--There is established in U.S. Customs
and Border Protection an Office of Professional
Responsibility.
(2) Assistant commissioner.--There shall be at the
head of the Office of Professional Responsibility an
Assistant Commissioner, who shall report to the
Commissioner.
(3) Duties.--The Office of Professional
Responsibility shall--
(A) investigate criminal and administrative
matters and misconduct by officers, agents, and
other employees of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection;
(B) manage integrity-related programs and
policies of U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
(C) conduct research and analysis regarding
misconduct of officers, agents, and other
employees of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection; and
(D) carry out other duties and powers
prescribed by the Commissioner.
(k) Standard Operating Procedures.--
(1) In general.--The Commissioner shall establish--
(A) standard operating procedures for
searching, reviewing, retaining, and sharing
information contained in communication,
electronic, or digital devices encountered by
U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel at
United States ports of entry;
(B) standard use of force procedures that
officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection may employ in the execution of their
duties, including the use of deadly force;
(C) uniform, standardized, and publicly-
available procedures for processing and
investigating complaints against officers,
agents, and employees of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection for violations of
professional conduct, including the timely
disposition of complaints and a written
notification to the complainant of the status
or outcome, as appropriate, of the related
investigation, in accordance with section 552a
of title 5, United States Code (commonly
referred to as the ``Privacy Act'' or the
``Privacy Act of 1974'');
(D) an internal, uniform reporting mechanism
regarding incidents involving the use of deadly
force by an officer or agent of U.S. Customs
and Border Protection, including an evaluation
of the degree to which the procedures required
under subparagraph (B) were followed; and
(E) standard operating procedures, acting
through the Executive Assistant Commissioner
for Air and Marine Operations and in
coordination with the Office for Civil Rights
and Civil Liberties and the Office of Privacy
of the Department, to provide command, control,
communication, surveillance, and reconnaissance
assistance through the use of unmanned aerial
systems, including the establishment of--
(i) a process for other Federal,
State, and local law enforcement
agencies to submit mission requests;
(ii) a formal procedure to determine
whether to approve or deny such a
mission request;
(iii) a formal procedure to determine
how such mission requests are
prioritized and coordinated; and
(iv) a process regarding the
protection and privacy of data and
images collected by U.S. Customs and
Border Protection through the use of
unmanned aerial systems.
(2) Requirements regarding certain notifications.--
The standard operating procedures established pursuant
to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) shall require--
(A) in the case of a search of information
conducted on an electronic device by U.S.
Customs and Border Protection personnel, the
Commissioner to notify the individual subject
to such search of the purpose and authority for
such search, and how such individual may obtain
information on reporting concerns about such
search; and
(B) in the case of information collected by
U.S. Customs and Border Protection through a
search of an electronic device, if such
information is transmitted to another Federal
agency for subject matter assistance,
translation, or decryption, the Commissioner to
notify the individual subject to such search of
such transmission.
(3) Exceptions.--The Commissioner may withhold the
notifications required under paragraphs (1)(C) and (2)
if the Commissioner determines, in the sole and
unreviewable discretion of the Commissioner, that such
notifications would impair national security, law
enforcement, or other operational interests.
(4) Update and review.--The Commissioner shall review
and update every three years the standard operating
procedures required under this subsection.
(5) Audits.--The Inspector General of the Department
of Homeland Security shall develop and annually
administer, during each of the three calendar years
beginning in the calendar year that begins after the
date of the enactment of the Trade Facilitation and
Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, an auditing mechanism to
review whether searches of electronic devices at or
between United States ports of entry are being
conducted in conformity with the standard operating
procedures required under subparagraph (A) of paragraph
(1). Such audits shall be submitted to the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate and shall include the following:
(A) A description of the activities of
officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection with respect to such searches.
(B) The number of such searches.
(C) The number of instances in which
information contained in such devices that were
subjected to such searches was retained,
copied, shared, or entered in an electronic
database.
(D) The number of such devices detained as
the result of such searches.
(E) The number of instances in which
information collected from such devices was
subjected to such searches and was transmitted
to another Federal agency, including whether
such transmissions resulted in a prosecution or
conviction.
(6) Requirements regarding other notifications.--The
standard use of force procedures established pursuant
to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) shall require--
(A) in the case of an incident of the use of
deadly force by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection personnel, the Commissioner to
notify the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
of the Senate; and
(B) the Commissioner to provide to such
committees a copy of the evaluation pursuant to
subparagraph (D) of such paragraph not later
than 30 days after completion of such
evaluation.
(7) Report on unmanned aerial systems.--The
Commissioner 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 an annual report, for each of the three
calendar years beginning in the calendar year that
begins after the date of the enactment of the Trade
Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, that
reviews whether the use of unmanned aerial systems is
being conducted in conformity with the standard
operating procedures required under subparagraph (E) of
paragraph (1). Such reports--
(A) shall be submitted with the annual budget
of the United States Government submitted by
the President under section 1105 of title 31,
United States Code;
(B) may be submitted in classified form if
the Commissioner determines that such is
appropriate; and
(C) shall include--
(i) a detailed description of how,
where, and for how long data and images
collected through the use of unmanned
aerial systems by U.S. Customs and
Border Protection are collected and
stored; and
(ii) a list of Federal, State, and
local law enforcement agencies that
submitted mission requests in the
previous year and the disposition of
such requests.
(l) Training.--The Commissioner shall require all officers
and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to participate
in a specified amount of continuing education (to be determined
by the Commissioner) to maintain an understanding of Federal
legal rulings, court decisions, and departmental policies,
procedures, and guidelines.
(m) Short-term Detention Standards.--
(1) Access to food and water.--The Commissioner shall
make every effort to ensure that adequate access to
food and water is provided to an individual apprehended
and detained at a United States port of entry or
between ports of entry as soon as practicable following
the time of such apprehension or during subsequent
short-term detention.
(2) Access to information on detainee rights at
border patrol processing centers.--
(A) In general.--The Commissioner shall
ensure that an individual apprehended by a U.S.
Border Patrol agent or an Office of Field
Operations officer is provided with information
concerning such individual's rights, including
the right to contact a representative of such
individual's government for purposes of United
States treaty obligations.
(B) Form.--The information referred to in
subparagraph (A) may be provided either
verbally or in writing, and shall be posted in
the detention holding cell in which such
individual is being held. The information shall
be provided in a language understandable to
such individual.
(3) Short-term detention defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``short-term detention'' means
detention in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection
processing center for 72 hours or less, before
repatriation to a country of nationality or last
habitual residence.
(4) Daytime repatriation.--When practicable,
repatriations shall be limited to daylight hours and
avoid locations that are determined to have high
indices of crime and violence.
(5) Report on procurement process and standards.--Not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of
2015, the Comptroller General of the United States
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 report on the procurement process and
standards of entities with which U.S. Customs and
Border Protection has contracts for the transportation
and detention of individuals apprehended by agents or
officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Such
report should also consider the operational efficiency
of contracting the transportation and detention of such
individuals.
(6) Report on inspections of short-term custody
facilities.--The Commissioner shall--
(A) annually inspect all facilities utilized
for short-term detention; and
(B) make publicly available information
collected pursuant to such inspections,
including information regarding the
requirements under paragraphs (1) and (2) and,
where appropriate, issue recommendations to
improve the conditions of such facilities.
(n) Wait Times Transparency.--
(1) In general.--The Commissioner shall--
(A) publish live wait times for travelers
entering the United States at the 20 United
States airports that support the highest volume
of international travel (as determined by
available Federal flight data);
(B) make information about such wait times
available to the public in real time through
the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website;
(C) submit to the Committee on Homeland
Security and the Committee on Ways and Means of
the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, for
each of the five calendar years beginning in
the calendar year that begins after the date of
the enactment of the Trade Facilitation and
Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, a report that
includes compilations of all such wait times
and a ranking of such United States airports by
wait times; and
(D) provide adequate staffing at the U.S.
Customs and Border Protection information
center to ensure timely access for travelers
attempting to submit comments or speak with a
representative about their entry experiences.
(2) Calculation.--The wait times referred to in
paragraph (1)(A) shall be determined by calculating the
time elapsed between an individual's entry into the
U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection area and
such individual's clearance by a U.S. Customs and
Border Protection officer.
(o) Other Authorities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish such
other offices or positions of Assistant Commissioners
(or other similar officers or officials) as the
Secretary determines necessary to carry out the
missions, duties, functions, and authorities of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection.
(2) Notification.--If the Secretary exercises the
authority provided under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall notify the Committee on Homeland Security and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Finance
of the Senate not later than 30 days before exercising
such authority.
(p) Assignment of Personnel.--The Commissioner may detail or
otherwise assign personnel of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection to other appropriate agencies, including to serve
overseas in support of global information sharing partnership
operations in furtherance of enhancing border security,
including by preventing entry into the United States by
individuals known or suspected of being associated with a
network, including a foreign terrorist organization (as such
term is described in section 219 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189)), that poses terrorist or other
threats.
[(p)] (q) Reports to Congress.--The Commissioner shall, on
and after the date of the enactment of the Trade Facilitation
and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, continue to submit to the
Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Ways and
Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on
Finance of the Senate any report required, on the day before
such date of enactment, to be submitted under any provision of
law.
[(q)] (r) Other Federal Agencies.--Nothing in this section
may be construed as affecting in any manner the authority,
existing on the day before the date of the enactment of the
Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, of any
other Federal agency or component of the Department.
[(r)] (s) Definitions.--In this section, the terms
``commercial operations'', ``customs and trade laws of the
United States'', ``trade enforcement'', and ``trade
facilitation'' have the meanings given such terms in section 2
of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.
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