CATCH Fentanyl Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (25 Feb 2025): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
What this bill does
S. 703, the CATCH Fentanyl Act, would direct the Department of Homeland Security to establish a five-year pilot program testing new technologies to speed up and improve cargo and vehicle inspections at land ports of entry along U.S. borders. Led by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Innovation Team, working with CBP field operations and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, the program must test at least five types of nonintrusive inspection technology enhancements, drawn from categories such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, high-performance computing, and quantum sensing, aimed at detecting contraband, drugs, weapons, and threats. The bill sets criteria for evaluating these technologies, including detection accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and privacy protections, and requires data-privacy safeguards during testing.
The bill primarily affects DHS and CBP operations at land border crossings, as well as private technology companies that may participate by offering commercial detection systems. It would also indirectly affect travelers and cargo shippers subject to inspection, since the pilot could change how inspections are conducted. The Secretary of Homeland Security must report to Congress on the pilot's results, costs, and privacy/civil liberties impacts, both before and after implementation. Notably, the bill does not authorize any new funding to carry out these activities.
The bill was introduced on February 25, 2025, by Senator John Cornyn with bipartisan cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It has not yet been voted on, and would need committee and floor action in both chambers before it could become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
25 Feb 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Common questions
- What does S. 703 do?
- S. 703, the CATCH Fentanyl Act, would direct the Department of Homeland Security to establish a five-year pilot program testing new technologies to speed up and improve cargo and vehicle inspections at land ports of entry along U.S. borders. Led by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Innovation Team, working with CBP field operations and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, the program must test at least five types of nonintrusive inspection technology enhancements, drawn from categories such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, high-performance computing, and quantum sensing, aimed at detecting contraband, drugs, weapons, and threats. The bill sets criteria for evaluating these technologies, including detection accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and privacy protections, and requires data-privacy safeguards during testing. The bill primarily affects DHS and CBP operations at land border crossings, as well as private technology companies that may participate by offering commercial detection systems. It would also indirectly affect travelers and cargo shippers subject to inspection, since the pilot could change how inspections are conducted. The Secretary of Homeland Security must report to Congress on the pilot's results, costs, and privacy/civil liberties impacts, both before and after implementation. Notably, the bill does not authorize any new funding to carry out these activities. The bill was introduced on February 25, 2025, by Senator John Cornyn with bipartisan cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It has not yet been voted on, and would need committee and floor action in both chambers before it could become law.
- Has S. 703 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 703. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 703?
- S. 703 was sponsored by Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX), with 11 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 703?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (25 Feb 2025).
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