[Pages H1052-H1053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

EMERGING INNOVATIVE BORDER TECHNOLOGIES ACT

Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 993) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security
to develop a plan to identify, integrate, and deploy new, innovative,
disruptive, or other emerging or advanced technologies to enhance, or
address capability gaps in, border security operations, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 993

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Emerging Innovative Border
Technologies Act''.

SEC. 2. INNOVATIVE AND EMERGING BORDER TECHNOLOGY PLAN.

(a) In General.--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 (CBP) and the Under Secretary for Science
and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security, 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 plan to identify,
integrate, and deploy new, innovative, disruptive, or other
emerging or advanced technologies that may incorporate
artificial intelligence, machine-learning, automation, fiber-
optic sensing technology, nanotechnology, optical and
cognitive radar, modeling and simulation technology,
hyperspectral and LIDAR sensors, imaging, identification, and
categorization systems, or other emerging or advanced
technologies, to enhance, or address capability gaps in,
border security operations.
(b) Contents.--The plan required under subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) Information regarding how CBP utilizes CBP Innovation
Team authority under subsection (c) and other mechanisms to
carry out the purposes specified in subsection (a).
(2) An assessment of the contributions directly
attributable to such utilization.
(3) Information regarding the composition of each CBP
Innovation Team, and how each such Team coordinates and
integrates efforts with the CBP acquisition program office
and other partners within CBP and the Department of Homeland
Security.
(4) Identification of technologies used by other Federal
departments or agencies not in use by CBP that could assist
in enhancing, or addressing capability gaps in, border
security operations.
(5) An analysis of authorities available to CBP to procure
technologies referred to subsection (a), and an assessment as
to whether additional or alternative authorities are needed
to carry out the purposes specified in such subsection.
(6) An explanation of how CBP plans to scale existing
programs related to emerging or advanced technologies into
programs of record.
(7) A description of each planned security-related
technology program, including objectives, goals, and
timelines for each such program.
(8) An assessment of the privacy and security impact on
border communities of security-related technology.
(9) An assessment of CBP legacy border technology programs
that could be phased out and replaced by technologies
referred to in subsection (a), and cost estimates relating to
such phase out and replacement.
(10) Information relating to how CBP is coordinating with
the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology
Directorate to carry out the following:
(A) Research and develop new, innovative, disruptive, or
other emerging or advanced technologies to carry out the
purposes specified in subsection (a).
(B) Identify security-related technologies that are in
development or deployed by the private and public sectors
that may satisfy the mission needs of CBP, with or without
adaptation.
(C) Incentivize the private sector to develop technologies
that may help CBP meet mission needs to enhance, or address
capability gaps in, border security operations.
(D) Identify and assess ways to increase opportunities for
communication and collaboration with the private sector,
small and disadvantaged businesses, intra-governmental
entities, university centers of excellence, and Federal
laboratories to leverage emerging technology and research
within the public and private sectors.
(11) Information on metrics and key performance parameters
for evaluating the effectiveness of efforts to identify,
integrate, and deploy new, innovative, disruptive, or other
emerging or advanced technologies to carry out the purposes
specified in subsection (a).
(12) An identification of recent technological advancements
in the following:
(A) Manned aircraft sensor, communication, and common
operating picture technology.
(B) Unmanned aerial systems and related technology,
including counter-unmanned aerial system technology.
(C) Surveillance technology, including the following:
(i) Mobile surveillance vehicles.
(ii) Associated electronics, including cameras, sensor
technology, and radar.
(iii) Tower-based surveillance technology.
(iv) Advanced unattended surveillance sensors.
(v) Deployable, lighter-than-air, ground surveillance
equipment.
(D) Nonintrusive inspection technology, including non-X-ray
devices utilizing muon tomography and other advanced
detection technology.
(E) Tunnel detection technology.
(F) Communications equipment, including the following:
(i) Radios.
(ii) Long-term evolution broadband.
(iii) Miniature satellites.
(13) Any other information the Secretary determines
relevant.
(c) CBP Innovation Team Authority.--
(1) In general.--The Commissioner of CBP is authorized to
maintain one or more CBP Innovation Teams to research and
adapt commercial technologies that are new, innovative,
disruptive, or otherwise emerging or advanced that may be
used by CBP to enhance, or address capability gaps in, border
security operations and urgent mission needs, and assess
potential outcomes, including any negative consequences, of
the introduction of emerging or advanced technologies with
respect to which documented capability gaps in border
security operations are yet to be determined.
(2) Operating procedures, planning, strategic goals.--The
Commissioner of CBP shall require each team maintained
pursuant to paragraph (1) to establish the following:
(A) Operating procedures that include specificity regarding
roles and responsibilities within each such team and with
respect to Department of Homeland Security and non-Federal
partners, and protocols for entering into agreements to
rapidly transition such technologies to existing or new
programs of record to carry out the purposes specified in
subsection (a).
(B) Planning and strategic goals for each such team that
includes projected costs, time frames, metrics, and key
performance parameters relating to the achievement of
identified strategic goals, including a metric to measure the
rate at which technologies described in subsection (a) are
transitioned to existing or new programs of record in
accordance with subparagraph (A).

[[Page H1053]]

(3) Reporting.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the
Commissioner of 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
information relating to the activities of CBP Innovation
Teams, including information regarding the following:
(A) Copies of operating procedures and protocols under
paragraph (2)(A) and planning and strategic goals required
under paragraph (2)(B).
(B) Descriptions of the technologies piloted by each such
team over the immediately preceding fiscal year, including
information regarding which such technologies are determined
successful and an identification of documented capability
gaps that are addressed.
(C) Information on the status of efforts to rapidly
transition technologies determined successful to existing or
new programs of record.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.

General Leave

Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 993.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 993, the Emerging Innovative Border
Technologies Act.
As the tactics of the cartels evolve, we must ensure that our
frontline Border Patrol personnel are equipped with the proper
technologies to be prepared.
This bill would position Congress to better equip frontline personnel
with the tools and resources necessary to aid President Trump in his
mission to secure and protect the United States border.
I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) for his work on
this matter.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are here today to consider my
legislation, H.R. 993, the Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act.
With this piece of legislation, the House has the opportunity to
improve the Department of Homeland Security's ability to quickly
acquire and deploy new and innovative technologies, like artificial
intelligence and machine learning, to enhance our border security.
With more innovative technology, we can improve CBP's targeting and
our detection capabilities, which would help officers find and stop
more illegal drugs like fentanyl before they reach our communities and
harm our communities and children.
My bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to create a plan
to address capability gaps and integrating innovative technologies into
our border security operations.
This bill requires DHS to think strategically about opportunities to
work with the private sector and others developing and implementing our
latest technologies.
This bill also authorizes CBP's Innovation Team to work with
frontline agents and officers to develop pilot programs that help them
do their job in keeping America safe.
Their work is another great example of why Federal workers are so
important to making our country safe and prosperous.
The innovation team finds and tests new commercial technologies and
collaborates with companies to adapt them for use along our border.
These Federal employees also help companies and CBP navigate
procurement and other processes that we need to move these technologies
as quickly as possible to the front lines.
New technologies don't just help with catching drugs. These
technologies also help detect victims of human trafficking or
immigrants in need of a rescue. These technologies can also help Border
Patrol agents communicate reliably in remote areas. When an agent gets
ill or injured or runs across an injured individual, the ability to
communicate quickly and effectively can mean the difference between
life and death.
Advanced technologies will also help prevent long lines and delays at
our ports of entry, and, of course, strengthening our supply chains and
reducing travel delays will also be helped.
I am a longtime resident of southern California, Mr. Speaker. I have
been at the border many times. I know what long waits are all about.
These long lines, these waits, hurt our businesses.
For example, produce will spoil in trucks, rather than reaching our
grocery stores. In fact, delays at our ports of entry between
California and Mexico costs our economy an estimated $3.4 billion in
economic output and an estimated 88,000 jobs.
Besides this tremendous cost, no one likes to wait in line at
airports. I represent Disneyland, and I know many tourists from across
the world want to come and hang out with Mickey and Minnie, and they
don't want to wait to spend those tourist dollars in my district.
While we need more manpower at our ports of entry, technologies will
help get people and goods across our borders quickly and safely.
This bill is just one of many solutions we need to fix the border.
I thank Congressman Luttrell and his team for working with us on this
legislation.
I look forward to working together on a variety of bills that this
Congress has to offer to show the American people that we can work
across the aisle to keep them safe and our economy moving forward.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I
yield back the balance of my time.

{time} 1645

Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time. I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 993, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 993.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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