Senate Finance Could Mark Up CBP Reauthorization Bill by August

Legislation to reauthorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to be a priority for the Senate Finance Committees in summer 2010.

Senate CBP Reauthorization Bill Introduced in 2009, No House Bill Yet

In October 2009, the Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2009 was introduced (S. 1631)¹. S. 1631 was co-sponsored by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee.

There has not yet been a CBP reauthorization bill introduced in the House.

Committee Mark-up of S. 1631 Could Come Before August Recess

S. 1631 has bipartisan support and the Senate Finance Committee could hold a mark-up before the Senate’s August recess (which is scheduled to begin August 9). After the mark-up, S. 1631 could be brought to the Senate floor for a vote by the end of 2010.

As introduced, S. 1631 would, among other things:

• Repeal the provision prohibiting the use of 10+2 data for commercial enforcement, etc.;

• Require more C-TPAT benefits, create entry facilitation partnership program;

• Reorganize CBP to emphasize commercial operations;

• Add a new Principal Deputy Commissioner as a political appointee;

• Amend HTS for articles exported and returned;

• Raise the informal entry limit;

• Streamline drawback process;

• Allow $325 million in MPF collections for ACE/ITDS, etc.;

• Strengthen IPR enforcement;

• Create import safety group;

• Designate enforcement officers at 40 ports,

• Require joint strategic plan and more advance trade/congressional consultation; and

• Amend forced/child labor law to include coerced labor, add civil penalties, debarment, etc.

¹S. 1631 is also referred to as the Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2009.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 10/23/09 news, (Ref: 09102305), for BP summary of the Senate Finance Committee’s hearing on S. 1631.

See ITT's Online Archives or 09/22/09 news, (Ref: 09092215), for the final part of BP's 12-part series of summaries of S. 1631, with links to the other parts in the series.)