Goodlatte Applauds Approval of Bill to Strengthen Economic Competitiveness & National Security

Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved the Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016 (H.R. 6431) by voice vote. In March 2015, Canada and the United States signed the Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance. This agreement established an immigration and trade preclearance system in order to strengthen economic competitiveness and national security. Preclearance facilities permit travelers to pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspections at a particular foreign port prior to entering the United States.  This process expedites a traveler’s arrival in the U.S., while also protecting national security by preventing from entry those individuals deemed a threat.  CBP officers currently conduct preclearance operations at airports around the world, including various Canadian airports, marine ports, and a rail station in British Columbia. The Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016 helps implement the agreement by ensuring that CBP preclearance officers, who are stationed in Canada, can be held accountable in U.S. courts if they commit a crime while performing their official duties, assuming their actions would constitute a crime if committed in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) praised today’s approval of the bill in the statement below. Chairman Goodlatte: “Strengthening our nation’s relationship with our Northern neighbor is important for both our economy and national security. The Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act helps pave the way for increased cooperation with Canada to spur economic growth here at home and prevent those who shouldn’t be coming to the United States from arriving in the first place. I thank Representatives Kuster and Stefanik for their work on this bill and call on the Senate to pass it without delay.” ###