Homeland Panel Advances Meehan Customs Pre-Clearance Bill
Legislation prohibits overseas customs facilities that threaten American jobs
WASHINGTON, DC – The House Committee on Homeland Security today approved H.R. 998, legislation introduced by Representatives Patrick Meehan (PA-07) and Candice Miller (MI-10) that improves congressional oversight of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol’s overseas preclearance operations. The legislation will help domestic air carriers compete on a level playing field by prohibiting the opening of any overseas customs site at an airport not served by a U.S. carrier.
Customs preclearance facilities enable travelers to the United States to complete the customs process at their point of origin, avoiding long lines at domestic customs sites in the U.S. The legislation authorizes the preclearance program and requires CBP to assess the economic and security implications of any future customs facility opened overseas.
“We need strong border control and customs policies that protect our skies and support American jobs,” said Congressman Meehan. “Overseas customs facilities can be useful and important tools to reduce delays and ease the flow of travelers at domestic airports. But Congress has an important oversight responsibility. These facilities should be operated in the best interests of our homeland security, and they shouldn’t put our domestic air carriers at a disadvantage to overseas competitors.”
“The legislation approved by the Committee today requires the Department of Homeland Security to certify exactly that. It will prevent the opening of an overseas customs facility in any airport not served by American air carriers. And it requires CBP to detail how any future facility will benefit American travelers, jobs and security.”
The legislation was approved by voice vote and supported by Homeland Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (TX-10) and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (MS-02). Similar legislation was approved by the House of Representatives last year but was not considered by the Senate.
Meehan and Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) led an effort in the 113th Congress to call attention to a preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi, which is not served by a domestic U.S. carrier.
“This move would be a clear benefit for Etihad Airways – a company wholly-owned by the UAE,” Meehan and DeFazio wrote in a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security at the time. “What is less clear is why the Department – knowing that no U.S. carriers currently serve Abu Dhabi – would agree to provide this obvious competitive advantage to a foreign carrier at the expense of the domestic airline industry and its over 500,000 workers.”