United States Ports of Entry Threat and Operational Review Act

Bill: 115-s-3706
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2018-12-05
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Congressional oversight

Crime prevention

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government studies and investigations

Immigration status and procedures

Infrastructure development

Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Law enforcement administration and funding
Latest action: action_date: 2018-12-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7320)

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-12-05
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>United States Ports of Entry Threat and Operational Review Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to submit to the congressional homeland security and tax committees a threat and operational analysis of U.S. air, land, and sea ports of entry.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3706 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 5, 2018 Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Peters ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a threat and operational analysis of ports of entry, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the United States Ports of Entry Threat and Operational Review Act . 2. Ports of entry threat and operational analysis (a) In general (1) Requirement Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a threat and operational analysis of ports of entry. (2) Contents The threat and operational analysis required under paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the following: (A) Current and potential threats posed by individuals and organized groups seeking— (i) to exploit security vulnerabilities at ports of entry; or (ii) to unlawfully enter the United States through such ports of entry. (B) Methods and pathways used to exploit security vulnerabilities at ports of entry. (C) Improvements needed at ports of entry to prevent the unlawful movement of people, illicit drugs, and other contraband across the borders of the United States. (D) Improvements needed to enhance travel and trade facilitation and reduce wait times at ports of entry, including— (i) security vulnerabilities associated with prolonged wait times; (ii) current technology at ports of entry that can be adapted to handle more volume, increase efficiency, and improve accuracy of detection efforts; and (iii) infrastructure additions and upgrades. (E) Processes conducted at ports of entry that do not require law enforcement training and could be— (i) filled with— (I) non-law enforcement staff; or (II) the private sector, for processes or activities determined to not be inherently governmental (as such term is defined in section 5 of the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 ( Public Law 105–270 )); or (ii) automated. (F) Improvements needed during secondary inspections to meet food safety standards defined by applicable statutes for the commodities being inspected. (3) Analysis requirements In compiling the threat and operational analysis required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall consider and examine the following: (A) Personnel needs, including K–9 Units, and estimated costs, at each port of entry, including such needs and challenges associated with recruitment and hiring. (B) Technology needs, including radiation portal monitors and non-intrusive inspection technology, and estimated costs at each port of entry. (C) Infrastructure needs and estimated costs at each port of entry. (b) Ports of entry strategy and implementation plan (1) In general Not later than 270 days after the submission of the threat and operational analysis required under subsection (a) and every 5 years thereafter for 10 years, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a ports of entry strategy and implementation plan. (2) Contents The ports of entry strategy and implementation plan required under paragraph (1) shall include a consideration of the following: (A) The ports of entry threat and operational analysis required under subsection (a), with an emphasis on efforts to mitigate threats and challenges identified in such analysis. (B) Efforts to reduce wait times at ports of entry and standards against which the effectiveness of such efforts may be determined. (C) Efforts to prevent the unlawful movement of people, illicit drugs, and other contraband across the borders of the United States at the earliest possible point at ports of entry and standards against which the effectiveness of such efforts may be determined. (D) Efforts to focus intelligence collection and information analysis to disrupt trans­na­tion­al criminal organizations attempting to exploit vulnerabilities at ports of entry and standards against which the effectiveness of such efforts may be determined. (E) Efforts to verify that any new port of entry technology acquisition can be operationally integrated with existing technologies in use by the Department of Homeland Security. (F) Lessons learned from reports on the business transformation initiative under section 802(i)(1) of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 ( Public Law 114–125 ). (G) CBP staffing requirements for all ports of entry. (H) Efforts to identify and detect fraudulent documents at ports of entry and standards against which the effectiveness of such efforts may be determined. (I) Efforts to prevent, detect, investigate, and mitigate corruption at ports of entry and standards against which the effectiveness of such efforts may be determined. (c) Ports of entry described In this section, the term ports of entry means United States air, land, and sea ports of entry.