Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7832, the Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act, is an opportunity to improve the Department of Homeland Security's ability to quickly acquire innovative technologies, like artificial intelligence and machine learning, that enhance border technologies overall.

With newer, more innovative technologies, we can improve CBP's targeting and our detection capabilities, which will help officers find and stop more illegal drugs before they flood our communities and harm our children.

By requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to create a plan to address capability gaps and integrate innovative technologies, like AI, machine learning, and nanotechnology, into our border security operations, this bill would force the Department of Homeland Security to think strategically about opportunities to work with private-sector operators and others to develop and implement the latest technologies.

My bill also authorizes CBP's Innovation Team, which works with frontline agents and officers to develop and pilot promising technologies that help them do their jobs, primarily keeping Americans safe.

The Innovation Team finds and tests new commercial technologies, works with companies to adapt them for use along our border, and then helps the successful programs navigate government procurement bureaucracies so they can help scale up quickly to meet the government's needs.

Innovative technologies don't just help with catching drugs. New technologies can also help detect victims of human trafficking or migrants in need of help in the middle of a desert.

New technologies can also help Border Patrol agents communicate reliably in remote areas. When an agent is down or finds somebody injured, the ability to communicate quickly can literally save lives and be the difference between life and death.

Technology also helps CBP facilitate legal trade and travel. Long lines at our ports of entry can result in produce spoiling as opposed to making it to our grocery stores.

No one enjoys long lines at the airport. I am proud to represent Disneyland, and I know that most international travelers want to get to go see Minnie and Mickey as soon as possible.

While we clearly need more manpower at our ports of entry, new technologies can help get people and goods on their way to our markets and to our communities much quicker and much safer.

My legislation is just one way of many ways that Congress can support our border agents.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Luttrell and his team for working with us to make sure this piece of legislation is successful. I hope we continue to come together to craft bipartisan solutions to making our border more secure and support our men and women working in a safer environment on a daily basis.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support H.R. 7832, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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