What does Preamble of HR 1294 do?

This bill proposes a pilot program for image technician positions within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 13, 2025.

What does SHORT TITLES. of HR 1294 do?

This bill is formally titled the Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade Facilitation Act of 2025.

What does OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS IMAGE TECHNICIAN PILOT PROGRAM. of HR 1294 do?

This section amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an Image Technician Pilot Program within the Office of Field Operations. The program creates two positions: Image Technician 1 and Image Technician 2, to be filled by existing U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees. Image Technician 1 duties include reviewing non-intrusive inspection images and recommending release or further inspection of conveyances and containers. Image Technician 2 duties include performing the same duties as Image Technician 1, receiving intelligence regarding malign actor tactics, and reporting new information to the National Targeting Center. All image technicians will be supervised by a Supervisory U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer, who retains final decision-making authority. Image technicians and their supervisors are required to receive annual training on topics including privacy, civil rights, image analysis, and identifying contraband. The program will operate through five regional command centers. The pilot program is set to terminate five years after the Act's enactment, after which individuals in Image Technician positions may transfer to comparable roles. Image Technician positions are not law enforcement officer positions and may not be filled by independent contractors.

What does REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. of HR 1294 do?

This section establishes reporting requirements for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding Image Technicians. The Commissioner of CBP, in consultation with the Executive Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations, must submit semiannual reports to specified Congressional committees. These reports must identify the number of Image Technician 1 and 2 positions filled and currently employed, disaggregated by location and position type. The reports must also detail the daily average number of images scanned by each technician, training methodologies, and assessment passage rates. A key focus is on assessing the impact of image technicians on interdiction rates, throughput, waiting times, and seizures at ports of entry and international rail crossings. The reports must evaluate the effectiveness of image technicians compared to CBP officers performing similar duties. Progress in establishing command centers under a pilot program, associated infrastructure needs, and supported ports of entry/rail crossings are also required in the reports. The Executive Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations will provide biannual briefings to the Congressional committees based on the submitted reports.

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BEST Facilitation Act — HR. 1294

Last updated: 2/13/2025 · Introduced: 2/13/2025

Author: Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes a five-year pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection to create Image Technician positions, responsible for reviewing inspection images and recommending actions.
The program creates two tiers of Image Technician roles, with Image Technician 2 receiving intelligence and reporting to the National Targeting Center, while all technicians receive annual training on privacy and civil rights.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection must submit semiannual reports to Congress detailing the program's performance, including interdiction rates, throughput, and the effectiveness of image technicians compared to CBP officers.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short titles., and 2 more.

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