Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act
This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to develop a plan to identify, integrate, and deploy emerging and innovative technologies to improve border security operations. Such technologies may incorporate artificial intelligence, machine-learning, automation, fiber-optic sensing technology, nanotechnology, optical and cognitive radar, modeling and simulation technology, hyperspectral and LIDAR sensors, and imaging, identification, and categorization systems.
The bill authorizes CBP to establish one or more Innovation Teams to research and adapt commercial technologies that may be used by CBP.
The plan must describe how the Innovation Teams have been implemented and also detail
CBP must provide the plan to Congress within 180 days of the bill’s enactment. The bill also requires CBP to annually report to Congress regarding the activities of the Innovation Teams.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 993 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 5, 2025
Mr. Correa (for himself and Mr. Luttrell) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
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).
(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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
Mr. Green (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1052-1053)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 993.
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1059-1060)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 9 (Roll no. 65). (text: CR H1052-1053)
Roll Call #65 (House)On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 9 (Roll no. 65). (text: CR H1052-1053)
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Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.