Gluesenkamp Perez, Lee Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Port Inspection Services

Last week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) and Rep. Laurel Lee (FL-15) introduced the bipartisan CBP SPACE Act to ensure Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection services stay operational without resulting in additional expenses to ports of entry and small businesses.

Customs and Border Protection provides security and facilitation operations at ports of entry throughout the country. Currently, there are no restrictions on what requests CBP may ask ports to provide in order to complete inspection services. Ports have encountered situations where CBP makes significant demands for facility upgrades, coupled with the threat of reducing inspection windows.

The CBP SPACE Act would create a sustainable funding mechanism for CBP facilities at ports and limit the demands CBP could make of ports. Specifically, the bill:

• Expands permissible offsets when setting merchandise processing fees (MPFs)  rates to include capital costs associated with CBP passenger inspection services.
• Establishes a sense of Congress that the Treasury and CBP should work to set an appropriate level for rates so CBP is able to adequately fund facility upgrades, construction, and maintenance at ports.
• Prohibits CBP from requiring ports to provide or maintain administrative, training, or recreational facilities at the port of entry.

“Customs and Border Protection inspection services at Southwest Washington ports are a first line of defense to stopping fentanyl from entering our communities,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “Our bipartisan bill will help  properly fund these crucial services without our local ports of entry carrying the expense.”

 “Our nation’s seaports are not only critical to our economy, but they are key points of entry that must be secured,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “This bill is a straightforward, bipartisan solution that alleviates the burden placed on private seaports by CBP’s recent equipment demands. This bill will ensure the obligations placed on seaports are fair, transparent, and help support safe, lawful trade and travel.”

“Ports’ roles as economic engines and gateways for American products are strengthened when CBP is doing all it can to support them,” said Julianna Marler, Port of Vancouver USA CEO and AAPA Board Member. “On behalf of ports up and down the Columbia River and across the nation, the Port of Vancouver USA is grateful to Representatives Lee and Gluesenkamp Perez for their commitment to this legislative solution that would place the financial responsibility with the appropriate agency.”

Read the full text of the bill here. 

The lawmakers previously introduced the legislation in the 118th Congress.