IAP Authorization Act of 2018

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5207) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the immigration advisory program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, a major part of keeping the homeland safe is making sure we prevent bad actors from ever reaching our shores. In order to do this, we must continue to push out our borders with programs that utilize a combination of vetting and interviews conducted by experienced law enforcement agents.

The Customs and Border Protection Immigration Advisory Program, or IAP, accomplishes just that. The IAP program deploys specially trained CBP officers to major last-point-of-departure airports that offer direct flights to the United States. It is the responsibility of these officers to recommend that airlines do not allow foreign nationals who would be deemed inadmissible upon arrival or present a significant security threat to board an airplane bound for the United States.

This program enhances our national security by preventing high-risk individuals from boarding an airplane bound for our homeland. In fiscal year 2017, there were a total of 4,328 no-board recommendations made across 12 different IAP airport locations. IAP is especially important in countries with significant terrorist screening database hits.

The IAP program is not currently authorized by statute, but H.R. 5207, the Immigration Advisory Program Authorization Act of 2018, will finally codify this important safety and security program into law. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to please join me in supporting this commonsense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island for his support on this bipartisan legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5207, the Immigration Advisory Program Authorization Act of 2018.

H.R. 5207 authorizes an important function within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Immigration Advisory Program, or IAP. Under this program, CBP deploys officers to overseas airports to advise law enforcement partners about certain passengers before they board U.S.- bound flights. This important program seeks to essentially push out our borders to prevent travelers who may pose a threat to the U.S. from ever boarding an inbound flight.

Importantly, beyond simply authorizing the program, the bill requires CBP to notify Congress whenever a new agreement is put in place with a foreign partner. It also requires CBP to assess how the overseas deployment of officers may affect officer coverage at U.S. ports of entry.

While I certainly appreciate the sacrifice made by officers serving abroad, I would note that this authorization is coming at a time when CBP has acknowledged that it is currently 4,000 officers short of what it needs to carry out current operations, both domestically and abroad.

Mr. Speaker, there is continued bipartisan support for CBP to push out our borders to prevent individuals who pose a threat to the U.S. from making their way here to our country. H.R. 5207 authorizes an existing DHS program that has proven helpful to our foreign partners in carrying out our shared interest of preventing terrorism, and it reduces the burden of deporting individuals who would be denied entry into the U.S. upon landing here.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentlewoman for sponsoring the bill. I support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 5206, the Office of Biometric Identity Management Authorization Act of 2018; and the cost estimate for H.R. 5207, the Immigration Advisory Program Authorization Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office were not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative reports.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, June 28, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

reviewed the following bills that were reported by the House

Committee on Homeland Security on June 21, 2018:

H.R. 5206, the Office of Biometric Identity Management

Authorization Act of 2018; and

H.R. 5207, the Immigration Advisory Program Authorization

Act of 2018.

Both H.R. 5206, and H.R. 5207 would codify programs that

currently exist at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

CBO estimates that enacting the bills would not significantly

affect DHS spending. Because they would not affect direct

spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting the bills would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

Neither of the bills contain intergovernmental or private-

sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform

Act.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.