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TRUSTED TRAVELER RECONSIDERATION AND RESTORATION ACT OF 2021
Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 473) to require a review of Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler programs, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 473
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler programs. Such review shall examine the following:
(1) The extent to which the Department of Homeland Security tracks data and monitors trends related to trusted traveler programs, including root causes for identity-matching errors resulting in an individual's enrollment in a trusted traveler program being reinstated.
(2) Whether the Department coordinates with the heads of other relevant Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial entities regarding redress procedures for disqualifying offenses not covered by the Department's own redress processes but which offenses impact an individual's enrollment in a trusted traveler program.
(3) How the Department may improve individuals' access to reconsideration procedures regarding a disqualifying offense for enrollment in a trusted traveler program that requires the involvement of any other Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial entity.
(4) The extent to which travelers are informed about reconsideration procedures regarding enrollment in a trusted traveler program.
SEC. 3. ENROLLMENT REDRESS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, with respect to an individual whose enrollment in a trusted traveler program was revoked in error extend by an amount of time equal to the period of revocation the period of active enrollment in such a program upon re-enrollment in such a program by such an individual.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Torres) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Torres).
General Leave
Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 473, the Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021.
Before the pandemic, millions of travelers participated in DHS' trusted traveler programs, like TSA's PreCheck and CBP's Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST programs, to get them where they need to go a little faster.
These are win-win programs where DHS moves vetted goods and people in an expeditious manner, thereby freeing up screening resources to focus on higher-risk travelers.
Given the benefits of these programs, it is troubling to hear about people being unable to enroll in one of these programs, despite meeting all of the security requirements needed to participate.
We all have an interest in ensuring that the vetting for these programs is thorough and, where there are identifying matching errors or other issues that may result in a qualified applicant being wrongly rejected, the issues get addressed in a timely way.
To ensure these programs are operating effectively and consistently, H.R. 473 directs the Government Accountability Office to review DHS' trusted traveler programs. The GAO's study will provide important insight into the Department's identity matching process and the redress options available to those who are improperly rejected.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 473, the Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021.
This bill, sponsored by Ranking Member John Katko and cosponsored by Chairwomen Watson Coleman and Slotkin, seeks to ensure the rights of travelers who have erroneously had their trusted traveler status revoked.
From the CBP's Global Entry and NEXUS to TSA's PreCheck programs, the Department of Homeland Security's trusted traveler programs are critical to the safe and secure free movement of people. However, there are instances in which individuals are mistaken for people with the same or similar name or who otherwise find themselves in a position where they lose their trusted traveler status based on a database error.
For those unfortunate persons, the process of getting their trusted traveler status reinstated by DHS involves timely, cumbersome, and confusing bureaucratic hurdles, often among several Federal agencies. In these instances, travelers lose valuable time off of their trusted traveler enrollment period, even though they spent hard-earned money to apply.
H.R. 473 seeks to bring relief to the traveling public who are in need of having their trusted traveler status reinstated. The bill requires a comprehensive review by the Government Accountability Office on the existing DHS processes related to trusted traveler programs and how the Department can improve individuals' access to having their trusted traveler status reinstated when it has been revoked in error.
Additionally, H.R. 473 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to extend an individual's enrollment in a trusted traveler program by a period commensurate with the amount of time they lost in their enrollment due to an error.
I thank Ranking Member Katko for his leadership on this bipartisan bill, and I thank Chairman Thompson for his commitment to bringing it to the floor today.
Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security's trusted traveler programs are important tools in the Department's toolbox to screen people efficiently and concentrate its resources on high-risk travelers.
It is critical that the Department's processes to vet enrollees be fair, consistent, and based on accurate information. The GAO assessment directed by this bill will help drive DHS to work towards those ends.
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Katko) for introducing this bill. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 473, the
``Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021,'' which directs the Government Accountability Office to review Department of Homeland Security (DHS) trusted traveler programs, and DHS to extend the enrollment period where an individual's participation in a trusted traveler program was revoked in error.
The Trusted Traveler consists of several programs that include: Global Entry, TSA Pre, SENTRI, NEXUS, and FAST.
The Trusted Traveler Programs are risk-based programs to facilitate the entry of pre-approved travelers.
All applicants are vetted to ensure that they meet the qualifications for the program to which they are applying.
Receiving a ``Best Match'' or program recommendation based on eligibility or travel habits does not guarantee acceptance into any Trusted Traveler program.
We will be better prepared to face these challenges as one nation united against a common foe, when morale issues within DHS have been effectively addressed.
I urge all members to join me in voting for H.R. 473 the ``Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Torres) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 473.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 67
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