H R 3129 in Congressional Session 107

Bill Number : H R 3129

Title : To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2002 and 2003 for the United States Customs Service for antiterrorism, drug interdiction, and other operations, for the Office of the United States Trade Representative, for the United States International Trade Commission, and for other purposes.

SUMMARY AS OF:
5/22/2002--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Customs Border Security Act of 2002 -

Title I:

United States Customs Service - Subtitle A: Drug Enforcement and Other Noncommercial and Commercial Operations - Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations through FY 2004 for the U.S. Customs Service for: (1) noncommercial and commercial operations; and (2) the air and marine interdiction program. Earmarks certain funds for the automated commercial environment computer system. Requires the Commissioner of Customs to submit out-year budget projections annually to specified congressional committees by the time the President submits the annual budget proposal.

(Sec. 102)

Earmarks amounts for: (1) the acquisition and deployment of antiterrorist and illicit narcotics detection equipment along the U.S.-Mexico border, the U.S.-Canada border, and Florida and Gulf Coast seaports; and (2) acquisition of technologically superior detection equipment.

(Sec. 103)

Requires the Commissioner to establish performance goals, performance indicators, and comply with specified requirements with respect to certain activities, including those under subtitle B.Subtitle B: Child Cyber-Smuggling Center of the Customs Service - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2002 to carry out a program to prevent child pornography/child exploitation established by the Child Cyber-Smuggling Center of the Customs Service. Allocates a portion of such funds for operation of the Center's child pornography cyber tipline, and for increased public awareness of it.Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions - Specifies funds available to hire approximately 285 additional Customs Service officers to address the needs of the offices and ports along the U.S.-Canada border.

(Sec. 122)

Directs the Commissioner to study and report to specified congressional committees on: (1) current personnel practices of the Customs Service, including an overview of performance standards and the impact of the collective bargaining process on drug interdiction efforts; and (2) actions by the Customs Service to ensure that appropriate training is being provided to its personnel responsible for financial auditing of importers.

(Sec. 124)

Directs the Commissioner to establish and implement, according to specified requirements, a cost accounting system for expenses incurred in both commercial and noncommercial operations of the Customs Service.

(Sec. 125)

Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on the extent to which: (1) the Office of Regulations and Rulings of the Customs Service has made improvements to decrease the amount of time to issue importer-requested prospective rulings; and (2) the amount of each customs user fee is commensurate with the level of related services provided.

(Sec. 127)

Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to require certain reimbursements and payments by a centralized hub facility, an express consignment carrier facility, or a small airport or other facility with respect to the processing of letters, documents, records, shipments, merchandise, or any other item valued at an amount under $2,000 (or a higher amount as the Secretary of the Treasury may set by regulation), whether or not such items are informally entered or released (except item entered or released for immediate exportation) at such facilities. Requires a payment of $.66 per individual airway bill or bill of lading in the case of an express consignment carrier facility or centralized hub facility. Sets forth certain payment requirements.

(Sec. 128)

Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize the Secretary to require, by regulation, the electronic submission of information with respect to commercial importations under the National Customs Automation Program.Subtitle D: Antiterrorism Provisions - Sets forth requirements with respect to: (1) immunity for U.S. customs employees that perform searches in good faith; (2) emergency adjustments to offices, ports of entry, or staffing of the Customs Service; (3) mandatory electronic transmission of passenger, crew, and cargo manifest information by motor, air, or vessel carriers; and (4) border contraband searches of domestic mail going out of the United States.

(Sec. 145)

Authorizes appropriations for reestablishment of Customs Service operations in New York, New York.Subtitle E: Textile Transshipment Provisions - Directs the Comptroller General to audit and report to specified congressional committees on the Customs Service system to monitor textile transshipments.

(Sec. 152)

Authorizes appropriations for textile transshipment enforcement operations of the Customs Service.

(Sec. 153)

Earmarks FY 2002 funds to provide specified technical assistance to help sub-Saharan Africa countries develop and implement effective visa and anti-transshipment systems as required by the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

Title II:

Office of the United States Trade Representative - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations through FY 2004 for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, including two additional legislative specialist employee positions within the Office of the Assistant United States Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs.

Title III:

United States International Trade Commission - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize appropriations through FY 2004 for the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Requires the ITC to submit out-year budget projections annually to specified congressional committees by the time the President submits the annual budget proposal.

Title IV:

Other Trade Provisions - Increases from $400 to $800 the aggregate value of articles exempt from duty acquired abroad by U.S. residents.Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to regulatory audit procedures, to require the Customs Service, when conducting an audit, to recognize and offset over-payments and over-declarations of duties, quantities, and values against underpayments and underdeclarations, if such over-payments and over-declarations were not made by the person being audited for the purpose of violating any law.