Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act (H.R. 993)

Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act

This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to develop a plan to identify, integrate, and deploy emerging and innovative technologies to improve border security operations. Such technologies may incorporate artificial intelligence, machine-learning, automation, fiber-optic sensing technology, nanotechnology, optical and cognitive radar, modeling and simulation technology, hyperspectral and LIDAR sensors, and imaging, identification, and categorization systems. 

The bill authorizes CBP to establish one or more Innovation Teams to research and adapt commercial technologies that may be used by CBP.

The plan must describe how the Innovation Teams have been implemented and also detail

• goals and timelines for adoption of qualifying technologies,
• metrics and key performance parameters for determining the plan's effectiveness,
• which technologies used by other federal agencies CBP may also utilize,
• which existing authorities CBP may use to procure technologies,
• how CBP legacy border technology programs may be replaced,
• the expected privacy and security impact of security-related technology on border communities, and
• recent technological advancements in specified technologies.

CBP must provide the plan to Congress within 180 days of the bill’s enactment. The bill also requires CBP to annually report to Congress regarding the activities of the Innovation Teams.