Border and Maritime Coordination Improvement Act
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) an Office of Biometric Identity Management, which shall lead DHS's biometric identity services.
The bill authorizes DHS to establish and operate Joint Task Forces to conduct joint operations using DHS component and office personnel and capabilities to secure U.S. international borders. Joint Task Force-East and Joint Task Force-West shall execute a strategic plan to secure the land and maritime borders. Joint Task Force-Investigation shall coordinate criminal investigations supporting such task forces. DHS may establish additional Joint Task Forces for: (1) coordinating operations along the northern border, (2) preventing and responding to homeland security crises, (3) establishing other regionally based operations, or (4) cybersecurity. Joint Task Force provisions terminate on September 30, 2018.
DHS must submit a plan for the coordination and cooperation of maritime operations undertaken by DHS components and offices with responsibility for maritime security missions, which shall update DHS's 2011 plan.
The bill requires: (1) that any new asset deployment by U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Air and Marine Operations occur in accordance with a risk-based assessment that considers mission needs, performance results, threats, costs, and other specified factors; and (2) U.S. Customs and Border Protection to submit an identification of government-owned facilities in strategic locations along the maritime border of California that may be suitable for establishing Office of Air and Marine Operations marine interdiction stations.
DHS must establish a process to ensure that an individual who is not lawfully present in the United States cannot obtain or continue to use a Transportation Worker Identification Credential.
The bill requires DHS to: (1) conduct a cost-benefit analysis for all locations in which U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Air and Marine Operations operates that are within 45 miles of locations where any other DHS agency also operates air and marine assets, which shall consider the potential cost and savings of co-locating aviation and maritime operational assets of the respective DHS agencies; and (2) report on any actions planned based on such analysis.
The Comptroller General must report on the state of the Coast Guard's Deployable Specialized Forces.
The bill amends the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act) to include exporters among the entities that are eligible to apply to voluntarily enter into partnerships with DHS under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).
DHS: (1) at least 30 days before signing an arrangement between the United States and a foreign government providing for mutual recognition of certain supply chain security practices that might result in the utilization of benefits offered to Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 C-TPAT participants, must notify Congress of the proposed terms of such arrangement and determine that such government's program provides comparable security as that provided by C-TPAT; and (2) must continue to provide Congress with an update of the strategic plan to enhance the security of the international supply chain every three years.
Specified provisions of the SAFE Port Act, including those establishing a pilot program to improve the security of empty containers, are repealed.
| Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-04-14 | IntroReferral | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. | Senate |
| 2016-04-13 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2016-04-13 | Floor | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1655-1661) | House floor actions |
| 2016-04-13 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3586. | House floor actions |
| 2016-04-13 | Floor | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1655-1663) | House floor actions |
| 2016-04-13 | Floor | Mrs. Miller (MI) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. | House floor actions |
| 2016-04-12 | Calendars | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 372. | House floor actions |
| 2016-04-12 | Discharge | Committee on Transportation discharged. | House floor actions |
| 2016-04-12 | Committee | Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-488, Part I. | House floor actions |
| 2015-09-30 | Committee | Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. | House committee actions |
| 2015-09-30 | Committee | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. | House committee actions |
| 2015-09-23 | Committee | Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. | House committee actions |
| 2015-09-23 | Committee | Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation. | House committee actions |
| 2015-09-22 | IntroReferral | Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. | House floor actions |
| 2015-09-22 | IntroReferral | Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. | House floor actions |
| 2015-09-22 | IntroReferral | Introduced in House | Library of Congress |