Border Security Technology Innovation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-2463
Sponsor: Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [R-TX-4]
Introduced: 2011-07-08 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Aviation and airports
Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Homeland security
Marine and inland water transportation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Technology assessment
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-08
text: 
Border Security Technology Innovation Act of 2011 - Directs the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that any federal government interagency or intra-agency agreement entered into by the Under Secretary to develop and transition new technology explicitly characterizes the requirements, expected use, and concept of operations for that technology.
 
Changes the termination date for DHS's Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee to December 31, 2014.

Directs the Comptroller General to assess the basic science research needs in the border and maritime security domain.

Requires: (1) the Secretary of DHS and the Director of the Joint Planning and Development Office to continue to research and develop technologies to permit routine operation of unmanned aerial vehicles, including autonomously piloted drones, within the national airspace for border and maritime security missions without any degradation of existing levels of safety for all national airspace system users; (2) the Secretary to coordinate with the Director to enter into pilot projects in designated test ranges in sparsely populated, low-density air traffic airspace to conduct research, experiments, and data collection in order to accelerate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system as part of that Office's research activities; (3) the Under Secretary to continue to research and develop technologies to permit detection of near surface voids, such as tunnels, with an emphasis on technologies with real time capability; and (4) the Secretary to coordinate with other federal agencies and ensure the integration of such activities with relevant efforts of such other agencies and DHS's Centers of Excellence Program.

Directs the Under Secretary, in coordination with: (1) the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to continue a joint research and development program on anti-counterfeit technologies and standards; and (2) the Commissioner of United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to continue research on the use of mobile biometric technology at the nation's borders between the ports of entry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-13
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2011-07-13
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2011-07-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies.
action_date: 2011-07-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2011-07-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation.
action_date: 2011-07-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-07-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-07-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-07-08
text: Introduced in House