[116th Congress Public Law 122]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 134 STAT. 143]]
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. <<NOTE: Mar. 3, 2020 - [S. 2107]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Protecting
America's Food and Agriculture Act of 2019. 6 USC 211 note.>>
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. <<NOTE: Time periods.>> 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.--
[[Page 134 STAT. 144]]
(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) <<NOTE: Effective date.>> 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) <<NOTE: Consultation. Review.>> 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
[[Page 134 STAT. 145]]
(3) the training provided to, and working conditions of, CBP
Agriculture Specialists.
(b) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> 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) <<NOTE: Public information.>> 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.
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