I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4819
To provide for the continuation of preclearance activities for air transit
passengers and enhanced inspectional services for vessel passengers, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 13, 1998
Mr. SHAW (for himself, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr. HASTINGS of Flor-
ida, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. FOLEY,
Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. DAVIS of Florida, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. MCCOL-
LUM, and Mr. CAMP) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To provide for the continuation of preclearance activities
for air transit passengers and enhanced inspectional serv-
ices for vessel passengers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Passenger Services En-
hancement Act’’.
SEC. 2. CUSTOMS USER FEES.
(a) ADDITIONAL PRECLEARANCE ACTIVITIES.—Sec-
tion 13031(f)(3)(A)(iii) of the Consolidated Omnibus
Budget 
Reconciliation 
Act 
of 
1985 
(19 
U.S.C.
58c(f)(3)(A)(iii)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(iii) to the extent funds remain available after
making reimbursements under clause (ii), in provid-
ing salaries for up to 50 full-time equivalent
inspectional positions to provide preclearance serv-
ices.’’.
(b) COLLECTION OF FEES FOR PASSENGERS ABOARD
COMMERCIAL VESSELS.—Section 13031 of the Consoli-
dated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19
U.S.C. 58c) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by amending paragraph
(5) to read as follows:
‘‘(5)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), for the
arrival of each passenger aboard a commercial vessel
or commercial aircraft from a place outside the
United States (other than a place referred to in sub-
section (b)(1)(A)(i) of this section), $5.
‘‘(B) For the arrival of each passenger aboard
a commercial vessel from a place referred to in sub-
section (b)(1)(A)(i) of this section, $1.75’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘(A) No
fee’’ and inserting ‘‘(A) Except as provided in sub-
section (a)(5)(B) of this section, no fee’’.
(c) USE OF MERCHANDISE PROCESSING FEES FOR
AUTOMATED COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS.—Section 13031(f)
of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c(f)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘(6) Of the amounts collected in fiscal year 1999
under paragraphs (9) and (10) of subsection (a),
$50,000,000 shall be available to the Customs Service,
subject to appropriations Acts, for automated commercial
systems. Amounts made available under this paragraph
shall remain available until expended.’’.
(d) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Section 13031 of the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
(19 U.S.C. 58c) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(k) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The Commissioner of
Customs shall establish an advisory committee whose
membership shall consist of representatives from the air-
line, cruise ship, and other transportation industries who
may be subject to fees under subsection (a). The advisory
committee shall not be subject to termination under sec-
tion 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The advi-
sory committee shall meet on a periodic basis and shall
advise the Commissioner on issues related to the perform-
ance of the inspectional services of the United States Cus-
toms Service. Such advice shall include, but not be limited
to, such issues as the time periods during which such serv-
ices should be performed, the proper number and deploy-
ment of inspection officers, the level of fees, and the ap-
propriateness of any proposed fee. The Commissioner shall
give consideration to the views of the advisory committee
in the exercise of his or her duties.’’.
(e) NATIONAL CUSTOMS AUTOMATION TEST RE-
GARDING RECONCILIATION.—Section 505(c) of the Tariff
Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1505(c)) is amended by adding
at the end the following: ‘‘For the period beginning on
October 1, 1998, and ending on the date on which the
‘Revised National Customs Automation Test Regarding
Reconciliation’ of the Customs Service is terminated, or
October 1, 2000, whichever occurs earlier, the Secretary
may prescribe an alternative mid-point interest accounting
methodology, which may be employed by the importer,
based upon aggregate data in lieu of accounting for such
interest from each deposit data provided in this sub-
section.’’.
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
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