CBP Reauthorization Bill Introduced in Senate

Senate Finance Committee leaders introduced legislation to reauthorize CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement March 22. The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2013 establishes and fully authorizes CBP and ICE, and makes “trade facilitation and trade enforcement a top priority for each agency,” according to a summary of the bill from the Committee.

Other aspects of the bill include:

• Funding for the Automated Commercial Environment and International Trade Data System, and a requirement for CBP to complete the development of ACE in three years.
• Establishes CBP-led Customs Facilitation and Enforcement Interagency Committee
• Raises the de minimis level from $200 to $800
• Authorizes the development of the Centers for Excellence and Expertise

“This bill helps Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement improve their trade missions by enforcing U.S. customs and trade laws and guaranteeing that safe and legitimate goods can move across our borders,” said Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., one of the sponsors of the bill, in a statement. Fellow sponsor and Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said it was “smart, bipartisan policy that will strengthen America's economy and enhance our global competitiveness.”

See future ITT issues for detailed information on the bill.