Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, my first order of business is to thank Congresswoman Kuster for her leadership on this legislation; and then to make mention of a bill just an hour or two ago that bears mentioning, that I want to take note of the importance of its passage, and that is S. 1632. In the House it was H.R. 3833. The Senate bill has now passed, a bill to require a regional strategy to address the threat posed by Boko Haram.

As I begin to discuss this bill, the issue of security is on all of our minds, certainly the tragedy of the Boko Haram onslaught in Nigeria, the missing Chibok girls should be on our mind, and this bill that I just mentioned that was passed and supported by Congresswoman Wilson of Florida will be a very, very important initiative, one of which I cosponsored and will continue to work on this issue.

Now I rise in strong support of H.R. 6431, the Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016. The bill would establish U.S. criminal jurisdiction over offenses committed by Federal employees conducting border security duties in Canada. In so doing, H.R. 6431 will strengthen our national security as well as promote the safe and efficient flow of travelers and goods between the United States and Canada, one of the United States' strongest allies.

In addition, it will facilitate the expansion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities in Canada, which is our Nation's largest trading partner. Each day, our countries trade billions of dollars of goods, services, and stock investments. Annually this relationship generates in excess of $1.4 trillion in value. This partnership also creates millions of jobs for both Canadians and Americans.

To protect this incredibly important relationship, the Beyond the Border agreement between the United States and Canada created a plan to enhance national security and promote efficient travel and trade.

This agreement is intended to facilitate the expansion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities in Canada, which prevents inadmissible people and items from entering the United States before they reach a U.S. entry point.

The United States, as a result of this agreement, saves millions of dollars in processing costs, and our national security is strengthened because potential threats are stopped before they access U.S. soil.

In addition, preclearance facilities help alleviate congestion for millions of travelers and traders arriving at U.S. airports from Canada. That is a very, very important aspect of this legislation, along with its very strong security commitment. The expansion will include rail preclearance facilities for the first time, thereby creating another safe and efficient way to travel between each country.

This bill is intended to resolve a final procedural impediment to the full expansion of the preclearance facilities in Canada by ensuring that U.S. personnel who work at these facilities are held accountable under U.S. law.
Again, I thank my good friend, Congresswoman Kuster. Her leadership is one that we are greatly appreciative of. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 6431.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6431, the ``Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016.''

This bill would establish U.S. criminal jurisdiction over offenses committed by federal employees conducting border security duties in Canada.

In so doing, H.R. 6431 will strengthen our national security as well as promote the safe and efficient flow of travelers and goods between the United States and Canada.

In addition, it will facilitate the expansion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facilities in Canada, which is our Nation's largest trading partner.

Each day, our countries trade billions of dollars of goods, services and stock investments. Annually, this relationship generates in excess of $1.4 trillion in value. And, this partnership also creates millions of jobs for both Canadians and Americans.

To protect this incredibly important relationship, the ``Beyond the Border Agreement'' between the United States and Canada created a plan to enhance national security and promote efficient travel and trade.

This Agreement is intended to facilitate the expansion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facilities in Canada, which prevents inadmissible people and items from entering the United States before they reach a U.S. entry point.

The United States, as a result of this Agreement, saves millions of dollars in processing costs and our national security is strengthened because potential threats are stopped before they access U.S. soil.

In addition, pre-clearance facilities help alleviate congestion for millions of travelers and traders arriving at U.S. airports from Canada. And, the expansion will include rail pre-clearance facilities for the first time, thereby creating another safe and efficient way to travel between each country.

This bill is intended to resolve a final procedural impediment to the full expansion of the preclearance facilities in Canada by ensuring that U.S. personnel who work at these facilities are held accountable under U.S. law.
H.R. 6431 is an important bill that will advance the interests of the United States.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, which will allow the expansion of preclearance facilities in Canada and thereby enhance national security and promote trade and travel in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I will close at this time.

It is my pleasure to indicate what an important bill H.R. 6431 is because it will advance the interests of the United States. I thank the two leading cosponsors for their collaboration and for their leadership: the gentlewoman from New York and the gentlewoman from New Hampshire. I thank the gentlewomen so very much for bringing this bill forward and working so hard on it to improve the relationships and the ability for travel and commerce between Canada and the United States.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, which will allow the expansion of preclearance facilities in Canada, thereby enhance national security and promote trade and travel in the United States. I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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