Trade Facilitation and Security Enhancement Act

II 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 414 To facilitate lawful international trade by increasing the daily commercial hours of operation at designated ports of entry along the southern border, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 7, 2019 Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. UDALL) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To facilitate lawful international trade by increasing the daily commercial hours of operation at designated ports of entry along the southern border, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Trade Facilitation and 4 Security Enhancement Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. EXTENDING PORTS OF ENTRY HOURS OF OPER- 6 ATION FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. 7 (a) DEFINED TERM.—In this Act, the term ‘‘10 busi- 8 est ports of entry’’ means the 10 land ports of entry on 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:46 Feb 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S414.IS S414 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 414 IS the border between the United States and Mexico through 1 which the highest total value of products and commodities 2 passed through during 2017, as reported by the United 3 States Census Bureau. 4 (b) MINIMUM HOURS OF OPERATION.—Not later 5 than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 6 the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with 7 the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 8 shall facilitate the safe, secure, and efficient cross border 9 movement of people, motor vehicles, cargo, and lawful and 10 legitimate trade travel by ensuring that commercial vehi- 11 cles are permitted to enter into or exit from the United 12 States through the 10 busiest ports of entry for not fewer 13 than— 14 (1) 16 hours per day, Monday through Friday; 15 and 16 (2) 8 hours per weekend. 17 SEC. 3. RESOURCES; COORDINATION. 18 (a) RESOURCES.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu- 19 rity shall ensure that sufficient U.S. Customs and Border 20 Protection officers and resources are dedicated to des- 21 ignated ports of entry— 22 (1) to carry out the functions of commercial op- 23 erations, including accepting entries of merchandise, 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:46 Feb 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S414.IS S414 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 414 IS collecting duties, and enforcing the customs, immi- 1 gration, and trade laws of the United States; and 2 (2) to perform the functions described in para- 3 graph (1) during the hours set forth in section 2(b) 4 beginning not later than the date set forth in such 5 section. 6 (b) COORDINATION.—The Secretary of Homeland Se- 7 curity shall coordinate with the appropriate officials of the 8 Government of Mexico to implement this section. 9 SEC. 4. PORTS OF ENTRY MODERNIZATION. 10 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commissioner of U.S. Cus- 11 toms and Border Protection, in consultation with the Ad- 12 ministrator of General Services, shall conduct a study of 13 commercial operations at the 10 busiest ports of entry to 14 identify any improvements that could be made to such 15 ports of entry to facilitate lawful international trade, in- 16 cluding redesigning, modernizing, and improving the effi- 17 ciency of such ports of entry and expanding their hours 18 of operation. 19 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 20 of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall sub- 21 mit a report to Congress that summarizes the results of 22 the study conducting pursuant to subsection (a). 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:46 Feb 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S414.IS S414 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 414 IS SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 1 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 2 as may be necessary to carry out this Act. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:46 Feb 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S414.IS S414 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS