I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4482 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 
Mr. VELA (for himself, Mr. PETERSON, Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas, Mr. 
CARBAJAL, Mr. COSTA, and Mrs. AXNE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
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 Representa-
tives 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— 
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(1) it is in the national security interest of the 
United States to ensure that the Nation’s food sup-
ply is sufficiently protected; and 
(2) a vital part of such protection is the avail-
ability of adequate resources at the border to con-
duct inspections of incoming food and agricultural 
goods. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, 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. Cus-
toms and Border Protection. 
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SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTEC-
TION PERSONNEL. 
(a) CBP AGRICULTURE SPECIALISTS.—The Commis-
sioner 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.— 
(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 Protec-
tion may hire, train, and assign 200 new CBP Agri-
culture 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 Allo-
cation Model. 
(c) CBP AGRICULTURE CANINE TEAMS.—The Com-
missioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may 
hire, train, and assign 20 new CBP agriculture canine 
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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 num-
ber 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 inspec-
tions and other activities conducted at each such 
port of entry; and 
(2) consider volume from seasonal surges, other 
projected changes in commercial and passenger vol-
umes, 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 sub-
section (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 sub-
section (b)— 
(A) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
(B) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and 
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(C) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2022. 
(3) CBP AGRICULTURE CANINE TEAMS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out sub-
section (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 ap-
propriated 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 congres-
sional 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 distribu-
tion of responsibilities among Federal agencies with 
respect to the inspection of agricultural commodities 
entering the United States; 
(2) the effectiveness of such inspection respon-
sibilities among Federal agencies; and 
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