PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 724.
Congressional Research Service
Version 81 · Passed House without amendment · Sep 4, 2018
Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide statutory authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP). That program was established to address and reduce national security, border security, and terrorist threats before such threats reach the international border of the United States.
In carrying out BITMAP operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must: (1) coordinate foreign and U.S. officials to facilitate the sharing of biometric and biographic information of foreign nationals to identify and screen such nationals for terrorism and threats to national or border security; (2) provide capabilities, including training and equipment, to collect and compare biometric and biographic identification data of foreign nationals to protect against national security, border security, or terrorist threats and illegal entries; and (3) ensure that such data are incorporated into appropriate government databases.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Before carrying out BITMAP operations in a foreign country, DHS must enter into an agreement with the government of such country that outlines such operations and must provide the congressional homeland security committees with a copy of the agreement.
People & committees
Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · R–TX
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 724.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-419.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-419.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 272 - 119 (Roll no. 381). (text: CR H7786-7787)
House roll call 381 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 272 - 119 (Roll no. 381).(text: CR H7786-7787)
House roll call 381 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR S7806)
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.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6439.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR S7786-7789)
Mr. McCaul moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 705.
Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-909.
Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-909.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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