PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.3129 / 107th Congress

Customs Border Security Act of 2002

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Official summary

Version 36 · Passed House amended · May 22, 2002

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.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Crane, Philip M. [R-IL-8] · R–IL

Committees

  • Finance Committee
  • Ways and Means Committee
0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

    Actions

    A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

    1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

    2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    3. On passage Passed by recorded vote: 327 - 101 (Roll no. 193).

      House roll call 193 · Individual votes
    4. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 327 - 101 (Roll no. 193).

      House roll call 193 · Individual votes
    5. The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

    6. The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

    7. The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3129.

    8. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 426, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of debate on the Waters amendment in the nature of a substitute.

    9. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 426, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Crane amendment in the nature of a substitute.

    10. GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3129.

    11. The Speaker designated the Honorable John E. Sweeney to act as Chairman of the Committee.

    12. House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 426 and Rule XXIII.

    13. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3129 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Provides that it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill. The rule waives all points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute Specified amendments are in order. Makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution, provides that the amendments printed in the report may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only the member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified, equally divided ...

    14. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 426. (consideration: CR H2861-2891)

    15. Rule H. Res. 426 passed House.

    16. Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 426 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3129 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Provides that it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill. The rule waives all points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute Specified amendments are in order. Makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution, provides that the amendments printed in the report may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only the member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified, equally divided ...

    17. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 256 - 168 (Roll no. 478). (text: CR H8960-8965)

      House roll call 478 · Individual votes
    18. Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 256 - 168 (Roll no. 478).(text: CR H8960-8965)

      House roll call 478 · Individual votes
    19. At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    20. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3129.

    21. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8960-8970, H8971-8972)

    22. Mr. Thomas moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    23. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 195.

    24. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 107-320. (text of measure as reproted in House: 5/22/2002 CR H2869-2873)

    25. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 107-320.(text of measure as reproted in House: 5/22/2002 CR H2869-2873)

    26. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    27. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    28. Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

    29. Introduced in House

    30. Introduced in House

    Bill text & related measures

    Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

    Related bills identified by Congress.gov

    Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

    Explore the bill from different angles

    Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

    Neutral evidence review

    Objective

    Analyze H.R.3129 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

    View full prompt & sources
    Fairness and public impact

    Progressive lens

    Examine H.R.3129 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

    View full prompt & sources
    Institutions and government scope

    Conservative lens

    Examine H.R.3129 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

    View full prompt & sources
    Individual rights and government power

    Liberty lens

    Examine H.R.3129 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

    View full prompt & sources