H.R. 993 — Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act

This section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner and Under Secretary for Science and Technology, to submit to the House Committee on Homeland Security and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, not later than 180 days after enactment, a plan to identify, integrate, and deploy new, innovative, disruptive, or emerging or advanced technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, machine learning, fiber-optic sensing, hyperspectral and LIDAR sensors) to enhance border security operations or address capability gaps therein. The plan must include (1) information on CBP's use of and contributions from CBP Innovation Teams and other mechanisms; (2) team compositions and coordination with acquisition offices and partners; (3) technologies used by other federal entities applicable to CBP; (4) analysis of procurement authorities and needs; (5) plans to scale programs into programs of record; (6) descriptions of planned technology programs with objectives, goals, and timelines; (7) privacy and security impact assessments on border communities; (8) assessments of legacy programs for phase-out with cost estimates; (9) coordination with the Science and Technology Directorate on research, private-sector incentives, and collaboration; (10) metrics for evaluating effectiveness; (11) identifications of advancements in manned/unmanned aircraft, surveillance, nonintrusive inspection, tunnel detection, and communications technologies; and (12) other relevant information. This section further authorizes the CBP Commissioner to maintain one or more CBP Innovation Teams to research and adapt commercial emerging technologies for border security, including establishment of operating procedures, planning, strategic goals, projected costs, timelines, metrics, and performance parameters.