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Public Law116th CongressImmigration
H.R. 5273Became Law

Securing America's Ports Act

This bill became law

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What it doesSummary public law (Jan 5, 2021)

Securing America's Ports Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress a plan to perform high-throughput scanning of all commercial and passenger vehicles and freight rail traffic entering the United States at a land port of entry or rail-border crossing using large-scale non-intrusive inspection systems, such as X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems, or similar technology. The plan shall include elements such as (1) an inventory of such systems currently in use, (2) the estimated costs of achieving a 100% scanning rate, and (3) the anticipated impact that increasing the scanning rate will have on wait times at land ports of entry and rail-border crossings. DHS shall periodically report to Congress on the progress in implementing the plan.

What just happenedJan 5, 2021

Became Public Law No: 116-299.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Torres Small, Xochitl [D-NM-2](D-NM)Sponsor
9 cosponsors6 D3 R
Read on Congress.gov
9cosponsors2committees36actions7subjects
  1. Jan 5, 2021President

    Became Public Law No: 116-299.

  2. Jan 5, 2021BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 116-299.

  3. Jan 5, 2021President

    Signed by President.

  4. Jan 5, 2021BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Dec 24, 2020Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Dec 24, 2020President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Dec 10, 2020ResolvingDifferencesH41931

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

  8. Dec 10, 2020ResolvingDifferencesH41610

    On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H7128-7129)

  9. Dec 10, 2020NotUsed19500

    Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.(text: CR H7128-7129)

  10. Dec 10, 2020ResolvingDifferencesH40110

    Ms. Torres Small (NM) asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.

  11. Dec 10, 2020FloorH8D000

    Ms. Torres Small (NM) asked unanimous consent to take the bill, H.R. 5273, from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H7128-7129)

  12. Dec 8, 2020Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  13. Dec 7, 2020Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7243-7244; text: CR S7244)

  14. Dec 7, 2020Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7243-7244; text: CR S7244)

  15. Sep 9, 2020Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530.

  16. Sep 9, 2020Committee

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 116-267.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  17. Sep 9, 2020Committee14000

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 116-267.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  18. Mar 11, 2020Committee

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  19. Feb 11, 2020IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  20. Feb 10, 2020FloorH38310

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

  21. Feb 10, 2020FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H987)

  22. Feb 10, 2020Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  23. Feb 10, 2020FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5273.

  24. Feb 10, 2020FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H986-988)

  25. Feb 10, 2020FloorH30300

    Ms. Torres Small (NM) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  26. Feb 6, 2020CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 317.

  27. Feb 6, 2020CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 116-394.

    Homeland Security Committee
  28. Feb 6, 2020Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 116-394.

    Homeland Security Committee
  29. Jan 29, 2020Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

    Homeland Security Committee
  30. Jan 29, 2020Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Homeland Security Committee
  31. Jan 29, 2020Committee

    Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations Discharged.

    Homeland Security Committee
  32. Dec 13, 2019Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability.

    Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee
  33. Dec 13, 2019Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.

    Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee
  34. Nov 26, 2019IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

    Homeland Security Committee
  35. Nov 26, 2019IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  36. Nov 26, 2019IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawJan 5, 202149

Securing America's Ports Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress a plan to perform high-throughput scanning of all commercial and passenger vehicles and freight rail traffic entering the United States at a land port of entry or rail-border crossing using large-scale non-intrusive inspection systems, such as X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems, or similar technology. The plan shall include elements such as (1) an inventory of such systems currently in use, (2) the estimated costs of achieving a 100% scanning rate, and (3) the anticipated impact that increasing the scanning rate will have on wait times at land ports of entry and rail-border crossings. DHS shall periodically report to Congress on the progress in implementing the plan.

House agreed to Senate amendmentDec 10, 202059

Securing America's Ports Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress a plan to perform high-throughput scanning of all commercial and passenger vehicles and freight rail traffic entering the United States at a land port of entry or rail-border crossing using large-scale non-intrusive inspection systems, such as X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems, or similar technology. The plan shall include elements such as (1) an inventory of such systems currently in use, (2) the estimated costs of achieving a 100% scanning rate, and (3) the anticipated impact that increasing the scanning rate will have on wait times at land ports of entry and rail-border crossings. DHS shall periodically report to Congress on the progress in implementing the plan.

Passed SenateDec 7, 202055

Securing America's Ports Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress a plan to perform high-throughput scanning of all commercial and passenger vehicles and freight rail traffic entering the United States at a land port of entry or rail-border crossing using large-scale non-intrusive inspection systems, such as X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems, or similar technology. The plan shall include elements such as (1) an inventory of such systems currently in use, (2) the estimated costs of achieving a 100% scanning rate, and (3) the anticipated impact that increasing the scanning rate will have on wait times at land ports of entry and rail-border crossings. DHS shall periodically report to Congress on the progress in implementing the plan.

Reported to SenateSep 9, 202025

Securing America's Ports Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress a plan to perform high-throughput scanning of all commercial and passenger vehicles and freight rail traffic entering the United States at a land port of entry or rail-border crossing using large-scale non-intrusive inspection systems, such as X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems, or similar technology. The plan shall include elements such as (1) an inventory of such systems currently in use, (2) the estimated costs of achieving a 100% scanning rate, and (3) the anticipated impact that increasing the scanning rate will have on wait times at land ports of entry and rail-border crossings. DHS shall periodically report to Congress on the progress in implementing the plan.

Passed HouseFeb 10, 202053

Securing America's Ports Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress a plan to expeditiously scan all commercial and passenger vehicles entering the United States at a land port of entry using large-scale non-intrusive inspection systems, such as X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems, or similar technology. The plan shall include elements such as (1) an inventory of such systems currently in use, (2) the estimated costs of achieving a 100% scanning rate, and (3) the anticipated impact that increasing the scanning rate will have on wait times at land ports of entry. DHS shall periodically report to Congress on the progress in implementing the plan.

DHS shall also research and develop technology enhancements to inspection areas at land ports of entry.

Reported to HouseFeb 6, 20207

Securing America's Ports Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress a plan to expeditiously scan all commercial and passenger vehicles entering the United States at a land port of entry using large-scale non-intrusive inspection systems, such as X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems, or similar technology. The plan shall include elements such as (1) an inventory of such systems currently in use, (2) the estimated costs of achieving a 100% scanning rate, and (3) the anticipated impact that increasing the scanning rate will have on wait times at land ports of entry. DHS shall periodically report to Congress on the progress in implementing the plan.

DHS shall also research and develop technology enhancements to inspection areas at land ports of entry.

Introduced in HouseNov 26, 2019

Securing America's Ports Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress a plan to scan all commercial and passenger vehicles entering the United States at a land port of entry using large-scale non-intrusive inspection systems, such as X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems. The plan shall include elements such as (1) an inventory of such systems currently in use, (2) the estimated costs of achieving a 100% scanning rate, and (3) the anticipated impact that increasing the scanning rate will have on wait times at land ports of entry. DHS shall periodically report to Congress on the progress in implementing the plan.

DHS shall also carry out a pilot program to research and develop technology enhancements to inspection areas at land ports of entry.

Securing America's Ports Act — Informed