Focus Of The Hearing:

To meet the challenge of effectively and efficiently processing the volume and increasing complexity of trade in the future, CBP’s structure, policies, operations, and modernization must support its trade facilitation and commercial enforcement functions.  This hearing will examine the following topics:

• Modernizing:  Modernizing CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is critical to supporting the increase in import volume and the successful pre-screening of cargo.  Complementing ACE is the International Trade Data System (ITDS), the window through which 48 government agencies with border responsibilities must function electronically and seamlessly.  Together, these systems will allow CBP and other agencies to process goods more quickly and cost effectively, as well as collect and use trade data.  The hearing will focus on what is needed to process all agency requirements at the border in the face of the ever-increasing volume of imports.
• Streamlining:  CBP must find new models to manage the importing process by streamlining the flow of legitimate trade and providing benefits through a risk-based approach.  CBP’s advance cargo data initiatives and industry partnership programs must work together to process legitimate trade.  The Subcommittee will explore, among other things, how CBP can use an account management summary processing approach as opposed to a shipment-by-shipment approach to facilitate trade by known and established industry partners, increasing compliance by allowing more focus on shipments posing greater risk.
• Enforcing:  Revenue collection and trade enforcement activities are critically important missions for CBP and ICE.  While the overwhelming majority of trade is compliant with U.S. law, the agencies face increasing challenges in revenue collection and customs enforcement as the sophistication of those who seek to evade our laws increases.  The hearing will examine whether these agencies are meeting this challenge.

Witness List:

Panel 1:

Mr. David Aguilar
Acting Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Testimony

Mr. Kumar Kibble
Deputy Director U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Testimony

Mr. Timothy Skud
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax, Trade and Tariff Policy, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Testimony

Panel 2:

Honorable George Weise
Executive Vice President, Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services, (former Commissioner of Customs). Testifying on his own behalf
Testimony
Truth in Testimony

Mr. Darrell Sekin, Jr.
President and CEO, DJS International Services, and President, National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc.
Testimony
Truth in Testimony

Mr. Michael Mullen
Executive Director, Express Association of America
Testimony
Truth in Testimony

Mr. John Williams
Executive Director, Southern Shrimp Alliance
Testimony
Truth In Testimony

Mr. Karl Glassman
COO, Leggett & Platt, Inc.
Testimony
Truth in Testimony

Transcript