Library / Laws / 115th / hr / H.R. 5869 / Reported in House
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Union Calendar No. 713
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5869
[Report No. 115–918]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 17, 2018
Miss González-Colón of Puerto Rico (for herself, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Donovan, Mr. Bacon, Mrs. Murphy of Florida, Mr. Diaz-Balart, and Mr. Duffy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
September 4, 2018
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 17, 2018
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a maritime border threat analysis, and for
other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Maritime Border Security Review Act.
2.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
(C) the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the Senate; and
(D) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(2)
Maritime border
The term maritime border means—
(A) the transit zone; and
(B) the borders and territorial waters of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.
(3)
Transit zone
The term transit zone has the meaning given such term in section 1092(a)(8) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (6 U.S.C. 223(a)(8)).
3.
Maritime border threat analysis
(a)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a maritime border threat analysis that includes an identification and description of the following:
(1) Current and potential terrorism and criminal threats posed by individuals and groups seeking to—
(A) enter the United States through the maritime border; or
(B) exploit border vulnerabilities on the maritime border.
(2) Improvements needed at United States sea ports to—
(A) prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the United States; and
(B) reduce criminal activity, as measured by the total flow of illegal goods and illicit drugs, related to the maritime border.
(3) Improvements needed with respect to the maritime border to—
(A) prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the United States; and
(B) reduce criminal activity related to the maritime border.
(4) Vulnerabilities in law, policy, cooperation between State, territorial, and local law enforcement, or international agreements that hinder effective and efficient border security, counterterrorism, anti-human trafficking efforts, and the flow of legitimate trade with respect to the maritime border.
(5) Metrics and performance parameters used by the Department of Homeland Security to evaluate maritime security effectiveness, as appropriate.
(b)
Analysis requirements
In preparing the threat analysis required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider and examine the following:
(1) Technology needs and challenges.
(2) Personnel needs and challenges.
(3) The role of State, territorial, and local law enforcement in general border security activities.
(4) The need for cooperation among Federal, State, territorial, local, and appropriate international law enforcement entities relating to border security.
(5) The geographic challenges of the maritime border.
(6) The impact and consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate on general border security activities with respect to the maritime border.
(c)
Classified threat analysis
To the extent possible, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit the threat analysis required under subsection (a) in unclassified form. The Secretary may submit a portion of the threat analysis in classified form if the Secretary determines that such form is appropriate for such portion.
September 4, 2018
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed