    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-122
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To increase the number of CBP Agriculture Specialists and support staff
    in the Office of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
    and for other purposes. <>

    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 ``Protecting America's Food and
    Agriculture Act of 2019''.
    SEC. 2. FINDING.

    Congress finds that--
    (1) it is in the national security interest of the United
    States to ensure that the Nation's food supply is sufficiently
    protected; and
    (2) a vital part of such protection is the availability of
    adequate resources at the border to conduct inspections of
    incoming food and agricultural goods.
    SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
    (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
    ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
    (A) the Committee on Homeland Security and
    Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
    (B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
    Forestry of the Senate;
    (C) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
    of Representatives; and
    (D) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
    Representatives.
    (2) CBP.--The term ``CBP'' means U.S. Customs and Border
    Protection.
    SEC. 4. <>  ADDITIONAL U.S. CUSTOMS AND
    BORDER PROTECTION PERSONNEL.

    (a) CBP Agriculture Specialists.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs
    and Border Protection may hire, train, and assign 240 new CBP
    Agriculture Specialists above the current attrition level during every
    fiscal year until the total number of CBP Agriculture Specialists equals
    and sustains the requirements identified each year in the Agriculture
    Resource Allocation Model.
    (b) Mission and Operational Support Staff.--

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    (1) In general.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
    Protection may hire, train, and assign support staff to support
    CBP Agriculture Specialists.
    (2) CBP agriculture technicians.--The Commissioner of U.S.
    Customs and Border Protection may hire, train, and assign 200
    new CBP Agriculture Technicians during each fiscal year until
    the total number of CBP Agriculture Technicians equals and
    sustains the requirements identified each year in the Mission
    and Operational Support Resource Allocation Model.

    (c) <>  CBP Agriculture Canine Teams.--The
    Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may hire, train, and
    assign 20 new CBP agriculture canine teams during each of the first 3
    fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

    (d) Traffic Forecasts.--In calculating the number of CBP Agriculture
    Specialists needed at each port of entry through the Agriculture
    Resource Allocation Model, the Office of Field Operations shall--
    (1) rely on data collected regarding the inspections and
    other activities conducted at each such port of entry; and
    (2) consider volume from seasonal surges, other projected
    changes in commercial and passenger volumes, the most current
    commercial forecasts, and other relevant information.

    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
    (1) CBP agriculture specialists.--There is authorized to be
    appropriated to carry out subsection (a)--
    (A) $29,900,000 for fiscal year 2020;
    (B) $36,100,000 for fiscal year 2021; and
    (C) $40,500,000 for fiscal year 2022.
    (2) CBP agriculture technicians.--There is authorized to be
    appropriated to carry out subsection (b)--
    (A) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
    (B) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and
    (C) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
    (3) CBP agriculture canine teams.--There is authorized to be
    appropriated to carry out subsection (c)--
    (A) $3,500,000 for fiscal year 2020;
    (B) $7,400,000 for fiscal year 2021; and
    (C) $12,200,000 for fiscal year 2022.
    (4) Training.--There is authorized to be appropriated for
    training costs associated with the new CBP personnel and canine
    teams hired pursuant to subsections (a), (b), and (c) $6,000,000
    for each of the fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022.
    SEC. 5. GAO STUDY, BRIEFING, AND REPORT.

    (a) <>  Study.--The Comptroller General
    of the United States, after consultation with the appropriate
    congressional committees, shall conduct a review of the efforts of the
    Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Agriculture, and
    other Federal agencies to address risks to the agricultural supply that
    analyzes--
    (1) interagency coordination and the distribution of
    responsibilities among Federal agencies with respect to the
    inspection of agricultural commodities entering the United
    States;
    (2) the effectiveness of such inspection responsibilities
    among Federal agencies; and

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    (3) the training provided to, and working conditions of, CBP
    Agriculture Specialists.

    (b) <>  Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the
    date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall brief
    the appropriate congressional committees regarding the results of the
    study conducted pursuant to subsection (a).

    (c) <>  Report.--Not later than 90 days
    after the briefing required under subsection (b), the Comptroller
    General shall complete the study required under subsection (a) and make
    the results of the study available to the public.

    Approved March 3, 2020.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2107:
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    SENATE REPORTS: No. 116-94 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental
    Affairs).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
    Vol. 165 (2019):
    Oct. 24, considered and passed
    Senate.
    Vol. 166 (2020):
    Feb. 10, considered and passed
    House.