Cross-Border Rail Security Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2786
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34]
Introduced: 2015-06-15
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Canada

Congressional oversight

Customs enforcement

Government studies and investigations

Latin America

Mexico

Radiation

Railroads

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2015-09-29
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-06-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Cross-Border Rail Security Act of 2015</b></p> <p>This bill directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to report to Congress:</p> <ul> <li>the number of high-risk rail shipments annually entering the United States;</li> <li>the status of radiation detection units at each rail crossing on the northern and southern land borders of the United States;</li> <li>an assessment of whether additional radiation detection equipment is necessary to ensure that all high-risk cross-border rail shipments are examined with appropriate equipment; and</li> <li>a plan for ensuring that all relevant CBP personnel receive adequate training and guidance on the proper use of CBP's Automated Targeting System for such shipments, the use of appropriate radiation detection equipment for shipment examination, and requirements for recording examination results.</li> </ul> <p>The General Accountability Office shall periodically audit CBP operations at rail crossings on such borders to ensure rail shipments are targeted, examined, and the examination results are properly documented.</p>

action_date: 2015-07-28
action_desc: Reported to House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><b>Cross-Border Rail Security Act of 2015</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to report to Congress on:</p> <ul> <li>the number of high-risk rail shipments annually entering the United States;</li> <li>the status of radiation detection units at each rail crossing on the northern and southern land borders of the United States;</li> <li>an assessment of whether additional radiation detection equipment is necessary to ensure that all high-risk cross-border rail shipments are examined with appropriate equipment; and</li> <li>a plan for ensuring that all relevant CBP personnel receive adequate training and guidance on the proper use of CBP's Automated Targeting System for such shipments, the use of appropriate radiation detection equipment for shipment examination, and requirements for recording examination results.</li> </ul> <p>The General Accountability Office shall periodically audit CBP operations at rail crossings on such borders to ensure that rail shipments are targeted and examined and that the examination results are properly documented.</p>

action_date: 2015-09-28
action_desc: Passed House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)</p> <p><b>Cross-Border Rail Security Act of 2015</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to report to Congress on:</p> <ul> <li>the number of high-risk rail shipments annually entering the United States;</li> <li>the status of radiation detection units at each rail crossing on the northern and southern land borders of the United States;</li> <li>an assessment of whether additional radiation detection equipment is necessary to ensure that all high-risk cross-border rail shipments are examined with appropriate equipment; and</li> <li>a plan for ensuring that all relevant CBP personnel receive adequate training and guidance on the proper use of CBP's Automated Targeting System for such shipments, the use of appropriate radiation detection equipment for shipment examination, and requirements for recording examination results.</li> </ul> <p>The General Accountability Office shall periodically audit CBP operations at rail crossings on such borders to ensure that rail shipments are targeted and examined and that the examination results are properly documented.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2786 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 15, 2015 Mr. Vela (for himself and Mrs. Miller of Michigan ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to submit a report on cross-border rail security, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cross-Border Rail Security Act of 2015 . 2. Cross-border rail security (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the following: (1) The number of shipments entering the United States by rail annually that are determined to be high-risk by the Commissioner. (2) Specific details on the status of radiation detection units, by type, at each rail crossing on the northern and southern land borders as of such date of enactment. (3) An assessment of whether additional radiation detection equipment is necessary to ensure that all such high-risk cross-border rail shipments are examined with appropriate equipment. (4) A plan for ensuring that all relevant CBP personnel receive adequate training and guidance on the proper use of CBP’s Automated Targeting System for such high-risk cross-border rail shipments, the use of appropriate radiation detection equipment for examination of such high-risk cross-border rail shipments, and requirements for recording examination results. (b) GAO audit The Comptroller General of the United States shall periodically audit U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations at rail crossings on the northern and southern international borders to ensure rail shipments are targeted, examined, and the results of such examinations properly documented.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 176 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2786 [Report No. 114–233] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 15, 2015 Mr. Vela (for himself and Mrs. Miller of Michigan ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security July 28, 2015 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to submit a report on cross-border rail security, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cross-Border Rail Security Act of 2015 . 2. Cross-border rail security (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the following: (1) The number of shipments entering the United States by rail annually that are determined to be high-risk by the Commissioner. (2) Specific details on the status of radiation detection units, by type, at each rail crossing on the northern and southern land borders as of such date of enactment. (3) An assessment of whether additional radiation detection equipment is necessary to ensure that all such high-risk cross-border rail shipments are examined with appropriate equipment. (4) A plan for ensuring that all relevant CBP personnel receive adequate training and guidance on the proper use of CBP’s Automated Targeting System for such high-risk cross-border rail shipments, the use of appropriate radiation detection equipment for examination of such high-risk cross-border rail shipments, and requirements for recording examination results. (b) GAO audit The Comptroller General of the United States shall periodically audit U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations at rail crossings on the northern and southern international borders to ensure rail shipments are targeted, examined, and the results of such examinations properly documented.

July 28, 2015 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: IIB 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2786 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 29, 2015 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT To require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to submit a report on cross-border rail security, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cross-Border Rail Security Act of 2015 . 2. Cross-border rail security (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the following: (1) The number of shipments entering the United States by rail annually that are determined to be high-risk by the Commissioner. (2) Specific details on the status of radiation detection units, by type, at each rail crossing on the northern and southern land borders as of such date of enactment. (3) An assessment of whether additional radiation detection equipment is necessary to ensure that all such high-risk cross-border rail shipments are examined with appropriate equipment. (4) A plan for ensuring that all relevant CBP personnel receive adequate training and guidance on the proper use of CBP’s Automated Targeting System for such high-risk cross-border rail shipments, the use of appropriate radiation detection equipment for examination of such high-risk cross-border rail shipments, and requirements for recording examination results. (b) GAO audit The Comptroller General of the United States shall periodically audit U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations at rail crossings on the northern and southern international borders to ensure rail shipments are targeted, examined, and the results of such examinations properly documented.

Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 2015. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2786 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to submit a report on cross-border rail security, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cross-Border Rail Security Act of 2015 . 2. Cross-border rail security (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the following: (1) The number of shipments entering the United States by rail annually that are determined to be high-risk by the Commissioner. (2) Specific details on the status of radiation detection units, by type, at each rail crossing on the northern and southern land borders as of such date of enactment. (3) An assessment of whether additional radiation detection equipment is necessary to ensure that all such high-risk cross-border rail shipments are examined with appropriate equipment. (4) A plan for ensuring that all relevant CBP personnel receive adequate training and guidance on the proper use of CBP’s Automated Targeting System for such high-risk cross-border rail shipments, the use of appropriate radiation detection equipment for examination of such high-risk cross-border rail shipments, and requirements for recording examination results. (b) GAO audit The Comptroller General of the United States shall periodically audit U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations at rail crossings on the northern and southern international borders to ensure rail shipments are targeted, examined, and the results of such examinations properly documented.

Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 2015. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.