[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
Public Law 115-79
115th Congress
An Act
To permanently authorize the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business
Travel Card Program. <>
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 ``Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Business Travel Cards Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION BUSINESS TRAVEL CARDS.
(a) In General.--Subtitle B of title IV of the Homeland Security Act
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 417
the following:
``SEC. 418. <> ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC
COOPERATION BUSINESS TRAVEL CARDS.
``(a) In General.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection is authorized to issue an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Business Travel Card (referred to in this section as an `ABT Card') to
any individual described in subsection (b).
``(b) Card Issuance.--An individual described in this subsection is
an individual who--
``(1) is a citizen of the United States;
``(2) has been approved and is in good standing in an
existing international trusted traveler program of the
Department; and
``(3) is--
``(A) engaged in business in the Asia-Pacific
region, as determined by the Commissioner of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection; or
``(B) a United States Government official actively
engaged in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation business,
as determined by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection.
``(c) <> Integration With Existing Travel
Programs.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall
integrate application procedures for, and issuance, renewal, and
revocation of, ABT Cards with existing international trusted traveler
programs of the Department.
``(d) Cooperation With Private Entities and Nongovernmental
Organizations.--In carrying out this section, the Commissioner of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection may consult with
[[Page 1259]]
appropriate private sector entities and nongovernmental organizations,
including academic institutions.
``(e) Fee.--
``(1) In general.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection shall--
``(A) prescribe and collect a fee for the issuance
and renewal of ABT Cards; and
``(B) adjust such fee to the extent the Commissioner
determines necessary to comply with paragraph (2).
``(2) Limitation.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection shall ensure that the total amount of the fees
collected under paragraph (1) during any fiscal year is
sufficient to offset the direct and indirect costs associated
with carrying out this section during such fiscal year,
including the costs associated with operating and maintaining
the ABT Card issuance and renewal processes.
``(3) Account for collections.--There is established in the
Treasury of the United States an `Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation Business Travel Card Account' into which the fees
collected under paragraph (1) shall be deposited as offsetting
receipts.
``(4) Use of funds.--Amounts deposited into the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account established
under paragraph (3) shall--
``(A) be credited to the appropriate account of the
U.S. Customs and Border Protection for expenses incurred
in carrying out this section; and
``(B) remain available until expended.
``(f) <> Notification.--The Commissioner of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection shall notify the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate not later than 60 days
after the expenditures of funds to operate and provide ABT Card services
beyond the amounts collected under subsection (e)(1).
``(g) Trusted Traveler Program Defined.--In this section, the term
`trusted traveler program' means a voluntary program of the Department
that allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection to expedite clearance of
pre-approved, low-risk travelers arriving in the United States.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 417 the following new item:
``Sec. 418. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards.''.
SEC. 3. <> ACCOUNT.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the repeal of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-
54; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) pursuant to section 4(b)(1), amounts deposited
into the APEC Business Travel Card Account established pursuant to such
Act as of the date of the enactment of this Act are hereby transferred
to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account
established pursuant to section 418(e) of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (as added by section 2(a) of this Act), and shall be available
without regard to whether such amounts are expended in connection with
expenses
[[Page 1260]]
incurred with respect to an ABT Card issued at any time before or after
such date of enactment.
(b) Availability.--Amounts deposited in the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation Business Travel Card Account established pursuant to section
418(e) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, in addition to the purposes
for which such amounts are available pursuant to such subsection, shall
also be available for expenditure in connection with expenses incurred
with respect to ABT Cards issued at any time before the date of the
enactment of such section.
(c) Termination.--After the completion of the transfer described in
subsection (a), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel
Card Account established pursuant to the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 shall be closed.
SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS AND REPEAL.
(a) Conforming Amendments.--Section 411(c) of section 411 of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (17), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (18) as paragraph (19); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (17) the following:
``(18) carry out section 418, relating to the issuance of
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards; and''.
(b) Repeal.--
(1) In general.--The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-54; 8 U.S.C.
1185 note) is repealed.
(2) <> Saving clause.--
Notwithstanding the repeal under paragraph (1), an ABT Card
issued pursuant to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 before the date of the
enactment of this Act that, as of such date, is still valid,
shall remain valid on and after such date until such time as
such Card would otherwise expire.
Approved November 2, 2017.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 504 (H.R. 2805):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-274 (Comm. on Homeland Security) accompanying
H.R. 2805.
SENATE REPORTS: No. 115-140 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
Sept. 26, considered and passed Senate.
Oct. 23, considered and passed House.