Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act

Bill Number: H.R. 993
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Immigration
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2025-03-11: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Last Updated: 2025-03-14T16:25:57Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act (H.R. 993) aims to strengthen U.S. border security by requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a detailed plan for identifying, integrating, and deploying cutting-edge technologies. These technologies, such as artificial intelligence and advanced sensors, are intended to improve border operations and fill existing gaps in capabilities, like detection and surveillance.

Key Provisions Outlined

Development and Submission of a Technology Plan: Within 180 days of enactment, the DHS Secretary, through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, must submit a comprehensive plan to congressional committees (House Committee on Homeland Security and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs). The plan focuses on new, innovative, disruptive, or emerging technologies to enhance border security.
Contents of the Plan: The plan must include:
Details on how CBP uses its Innovation Teams and other methods to adopt technologies, along with assessments of their contributions.
Descriptions of Innovation Team structures, coordination with CBP's acquisition office and DHS partners.
Identification of useful technologies from other federal agencies not yet used by CBP.
Analysis of CBP's procurement powers and whether new authorities are needed.
Strategies to expand pilot programs into full-scale operations, including timelines and goals for security tech programs.
Evaluations of privacy and security effects on border communities.
Assessments of outdated CBP technologies for replacement, with cost estimates.
Coordination with DHS's Science and Technology Directorate for research, private-sector incentives, and collaboration with businesses, universities, and labs.
Metrics to measure the success of technology adoption efforts.
Reviews of recent advancements in areas like aircraft sensors, drones (including counter-drone tech), surveillance systems (e.g., mobile vehicles, towers, sensors), non-invasive inspection tools (e.g., muon tomography for detecting hidden items without X-rays), tunnel detection, and communication devices (e.g., radios, satellites).
CBP Innovation Team Authority:
Authorizes CBP Commissioner to maintain teams for researching and adapting commercial technologies to address border security needs and urgent issues, including assessing risks.
Teams must establish operating procedures (roles, responsibilities, transition protocols), planning goals (costs, timelines, metrics for success and transitions to full programs), and submit annual reports to Congress on activities, piloted technologies, successes, and transition statuses.

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

Formalizes and expands CBP's use of Innovation Teams by authorizing their ongoing maintenance, defining their roles in technology adaptation, and mandating structured procedures, goals, and reporting—previously, such teams operated under more limited or informal authority.
Introduces a mandatory, detailed planning requirement for emerging technologies, including privacy impact assessments and coordination mandates with DHS's Science and Technology Directorate, which were not previously required at this level of specificity.
Requires evaluations of legacy (outdated) technologies for phase-out and replacement, potentially streamlining CBP's tech inventory but introducing new obligations for cost analysis and scalability.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: Enhances DHS and CBP's operational efficiency by accelerating adoption of advanced tools, potentially reducing capability gaps in surveillance and detection. It promotes inter-agency and public-private collaboration, but increases administrative burdens through planning, reporting, and assessments.
On Citizens: Border communities may experience improved security but face privacy risks from new surveillance tech; the required impact assessments aim to mitigate this. Broader public benefits could include safer borders and faster threat responses.
On International Relations: Could indirectly strengthen U.S. border enforcement, affecting migration and trade flows with neighboring countries like Mexico and Canada, though no direct international provisions are included.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Agencies: DHS (including CBP and Science and Technology Directorate) bears primary implementation responsibilities; other agencies may share technologies.
Congressional Committees: House and Senate Homeland Security committees receive reports and oversee progress.
Private Sector and Academia: Businesses (especially small and disadvantaged ones), universities, and labs are incentivized to develop and collaborate on technologies.
Border Communities: Local residents and governments impacted by technology deployments, with privacy and security effects assessed.
CBP Personnel: Innovation Teams and acquisition staff involved in research, testing, and integration.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens DHS's authority for rapid technology procurement and transitions but requires assessments of whether additional legal powers are needed, potentially leading to future amendments. Mandates privacy evaluations, aligning with existing data protection laws like those under the Fourth Amendment (protecting against unreasonable searches).
Constitutional: Balances border security enhancements with privacy rights for communities near borders; assessments could help avoid challenges related to surveillance overreach.
Political: Bipartisan potential in improving national security amid ongoing border debates, but may spark discussions on costs, private-sector involvement, and technology ethics. Annual reporting ensures congressional accountability without granting new enforcement powers.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]

Recent Actions

2025-03-11: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
2025-03-10: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-03-10: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 9 (Roll no. 65). (text: CR H1052-1053) (Roll call 65)
2025-03-10: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 9 (Roll no. 65). (text: CR H1052-1053) (Roll call 65)
2025-03-10: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1059-1060)
2025-03-10: 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.
2025-03-10: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 993.
2025-03-10: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1052-1053)
2025-03-10: Mr. Green (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2025-02-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
2025-02-05: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
2025-02-05: Introduced in House
2025-02-05: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act — issued 2025-03-10 — PDF (10 pages)
Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (9 pages)
Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act — issued 2025-03-11 — PDF (9 pages)