HR 4309

110th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. R. 4309

To require the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress reports on the commercial and passenger vehicle traffic at certain points of entry, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 6, 2007

Mr. RODRIGUEZ (for himself, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. REYES, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HINOJOSA, and Mr. FILNER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress reports on the commercial and passenger vehicle traffic at certain points of entry, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the `Border Wait Times Study Act'.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--

      (1) to analyze the traffic patterns of commercial and passenger vehicles at international land ports of entry along the northern and southern borders of the United States;

      (2) to analyze the volume and wait times of commercial and passenger vehicles entering and exiting the United States at such land ports of entry since 2000;

      (3) to analyze how staffing levels affect wait times at such land ports of entry since 2000; and

      (4) to analyze the impact of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) on the economic impact on commerce in international border communities, border States, and the United States.

SEC. 3. STUDY OF TRAFFIC PATTERNS AT LAND PORTS OF ENTRY.

    (a) Study Required- The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall conduct a study of the traffic patterns of commercial and passenger vehicles entering and exiting the United States at international land ports of entry along the northern and southern borders.

    (b) Matters Covered- The study required under subsection (a) shall include an analysis of--

      (1) traffic volume and wait times of commercial and passenger vehicles at international land ports of entry along the northern and southern borders of the United States since 2000; and

      (2) how staffing levels at such ports of entry for the United States along these boarders has affected wait times since 2000.

    (c) Report- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the study required under subsection (a).

SEC. 4. STUDY ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TRAFFIC AT LAND PORTS OF ENTRY.

    (a) Study Required- The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall conduct a study regarding of the negative economic impact, if any, on the United States of wait times at the international land ports of entry referred to in section 3.

    (b) Matters Covered- The study required under subsection (a) shall include an analysis of such economic impact--

      (1) with respect to the volume of commercial and passenger vehicles since 2000; and

      (2) on the United States, including on border States and communities.

    (c) Report- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the study required under subsection (a).

END