115th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 504
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
AN ACT
To permanently authorize the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Program.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017
.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards
In general
Subtitle B of title IV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 417 the following:
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards
In general
The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is authorized to issue an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card (referred to in this section as an ABT Card
) to any individual described in subsection (b).
Card issuance
An individual described in this subsection is an individual who—
is a citizen of the United States;
has been approved and is in good standing in an existing international trusted traveler program of the Department; and
is—
engaged in business in the Asia-Pacific region, as determined by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection; or
a United States Government official actively engaged in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation business, as determined by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Integration with existing travel programs
The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall integrate application procedures for, and issuance, renewal, and revocation of, ABT Cards with existing international trusted traveler programs of the Department.
Cooperation with private entities and nongovernmental organizations
In carrying out this section, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may consult with appropriate private sector entities and nongovernmental organizations, including academic institutions.
Fee
In general
The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall—
prescribe and collect a fee for the issuance and renewal of ABT Cards; and
adjust such fee to the extent the Commissioner determines necessary to comply with paragraph (2).
Limitation
The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall ensure that the total amount of the fees collected under paragraph (1) during any fiscal year is sufficient to offset the direct and indirect costs associated with carrying out this section during such fiscal year, including the costs associated with operating and maintaining the ABT Card issuance and renewal processes.
Account for collections
There is established in the Treasury of the United States an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account
into which the fees collected under paragraph (1) shall be deposited as offsetting receipts.
Use of funds
Amounts deposited into the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account established under paragraph (3) shall—
be credited to the appropriate account of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for expenses incurred in carrying out this section; and
remain available until expended.
Notification
The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall notify the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate not later than 60 days after the expenditures of funds to operate and provide ABT Card services beyond the amounts collected under subsection (e)(1).
Trusted traveler program defined
In this section, the term trusted traveler program means a voluntary program of the Department that allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection to expedite clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers arriving in the United States.
.
Clerical amendment
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 417 the following new item:
Sec. 418. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards.
.
Account
In general
Notwithstanding the repeal of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 (Public Law 112–54; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) pursuant to section 4(b)(1), amounts deposited into the APEC Business Travel Card Account established pursuant to such Act as of the date of the enactment of this Act are hereby transferred to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account established pursuant to section 418(e) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 2(a) of this Act), and shall be available without regard to whether such amounts are expended in connection with expenses incurred with respect to an ABT Card issued at any time before or after such date of enactment.
Availability
Amounts deposited in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account established pursuant to section 418(e) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, in addition to the purposes for which such amounts are available pursuant to such subsection, shall also be available for expenditure in connection with expenses incurred with respect to ABT Cards issued at any time before the date of the enactment of such section.
Termination
After the completion of the transfer described in subsection (a), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account established pursuant to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 shall be closed.
Conforming amendments and repeal
Conforming amendments
Section 411(c) of section 411 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211(c)) is amended—
in paragraph (17), by striking and
at the end;
by redesignating paragraph (18) as paragraph (19); and
by inserting after paragraph (17) the following:
carry out section 418, relating to the issuance of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards; and
.
Repeal
In general
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 (Public Law 112–54; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) is repealed.
Saving clause
Notwithstanding the repeal under paragraph (1), an ABT Card issued pursuant to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 before the date of the enactment of this Act that, as of such date, is still valid, shall remain valid on and after such date until such time as such Card would otherwise expire.
Passed the Senate September 26, 2017.
Secretary
