S.Amdt. 2330

1. Adds TITLE VII--BORDER SECURITY PROVISIONS at the end of the bill

   Adds a title

   In S. 1072 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (3) by striking "Of the balance of each annual appropriation made under section 3 remaining after the distribution and use under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 4 for each fiscal year and after deducting amounts used for grants under subsection (a)--" in subsection (e) and inserting "Of amounts made available under section 4(a)(6) for each fiscal year--".

   Inserted: TITLE VII--BORDER SECURITY PROVISIONS

   Inserted: SEC. 7101. SECURE AND FAST ENTRY AT THE BORDER.

   Inserted: (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the "Secure and Fast Entry at the Border Act of 2004" or the "SAFE Border Act of 2004" .

   Inserted: (b) Portpass Program.--

   Inserted: (1) Findings.--Congress finds the following:

   Inserted: (A) Port Passenger Accelerated Service System (PortPASS) is a group of pre-inspection technology programs used at ports of entry to facilitate the speedy passage of low-risk travelers.

   Inserted: (B) Ports of entry constitute vital links in our Nation's economic and social life.

   Inserted: (C) Southern and northern land border inspections combined comprise over 80 percent of the total number of inspections performed at all ports of entry.

   Inserted: (D) PortPASS programs strengthen our borders without impeding legitimate traffic needed for our Nation's economic health.

   Inserted: (E) Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), a PortPASS program, incorporates an extensive screening process to move pre-screened, low-risk travelers quickly and safely through the inspection process while preserving border security. There are currently over 45,000 SENTRI participants.

   Inserted: (F) PortPASS programs must expand their existing infrastructure to meet border management issues. The success and effectiveness of the programs demonstrate they are deserving of increased resource allocation to meet growth and security challenges.

   Inserted: (2) Amendment to immigration and nationality act.--Section 286(q)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(q)(1)(A)) is amended adding at the end the following:

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   Inserted: "(iv) The Port Passenger Accelerated Service System (PortPASS) is authorized as a permanent land border inspection project under this subparagraph.".

   Inserted: (3) Sentri participation approvals.--

   Inserted: (A) Extension of validity of sentri approvals for participation.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and beginning not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, approval shall be issued for participation in the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), carried out by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services within the Department of Homeland Security, for non-commercial vehicle border crossers. Such approval shall be valid for not less than 2 years.

   Inserted: (B) Preclusion of certain persons.--Any person convicted of a felony or under active criminal investigation shall be prohibited from participating in the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) program.

   Inserted: (4) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--

   Inserted: (A) the Department of Homeland Security must ensure the permanence of the Port Passenger Accelerated Service System (PortPASS) in the transition of PortPASS from the Department of Justice to the Department of Homeland Security;

   Inserted: (B) all land PortPASS programs should utilize interoperable technology to offer program enrollees increased access at all participating dedicated commuter lanes;

   Inserted: (C) the Secretary of Homeland Security should--

   Inserted: (i) appoint dedicated staff with appropriate training and instruction to the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) program;

   Inserted: (ii) increase staffing under the SENTRI program for actual inspections and necessary administrative tasks; and

   Inserted: (iii) allocate greater resources to the program to facilitate and expedite the processing of applications for SENTRI; and

   Inserted: (D) the Secretary of Homeland Security should create a pre-inspection low-risk traveler dedicated commuter lane for pedestrian land border crossers.

   Original wording

   At the end, add the following:

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As printed