CBP Commissioner Bonner Testifies on FY 2006 Budget Request
On March 15, 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert Bonner testified before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Homeland Security regarding CBP's fiscal year (FY) 2006 budget request.
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The following are "highlights" of Commissioner Bonner's written statement:
Increased funding for CSI and C-TPAT. According to Bonner, CBP's FY 2006 budget request includes funding increases of $5.4 million to expand the Container Security Initiative (CSI) to strategically important foreign seaports, and $8.2 million for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) to increase supply chain security and expedite the clearance of legitimate trade.
C-TPAT security profiles of 4,460 companies have been reviewed & verified, etc. Bonner stated that as of January 12, 2005, C-TPAT had reviewed and verified the security profiles for 4,460 companies, with more than 3,500 company profiles pending acceptance. According to Bonner, CBP has validated or is in the process of validating parts of the supply chain of over 1,200 of the 4,460 certified partners, or approximately 27%. Bonner noted that CBP's FY 2006 program increase request of $8.2 million will enable outreach activities and continue validations and verifications of C-TPAT certified partner profiles.
Over 350 importers, brokers & carriers are using ACE Secure Data Portal, etc. Bonner indicated that CBP has over 350 importers, brokers, and carriers using the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal and, since June 2004, CBP has been collecting an increasing amount of duties and fees via the ACE Periodic Monthly Statement.
ACE truck cargo release capability to be expanded to other U.S. northern & southern border ports. Commissioner Bonner noted that CBP is operating a pilot test of the ACE truck cargo release software in the port of Blaine, WA, and plans to expand this new capability to ports across the U.S.' northern and southern borders.
ITDS Board of Directors have adopted a standard set of trade data. According to Bonner, the International Trade Data System (ITDS) Board of Directors has adopted a standard set of trade data as a step toward realizing the concept of using the ACE portal as the "single window" into government for the trade community.
26 agencies are now participating in ITDS. Bonner reported that the original group of eight participating agencies in ITDS has now grown to 26, and that representatives from these agencies are actively involved in defining the releases of ACE software.
CBP Commissioner Bonner's statement (dated 03/15/05) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/commissioner/speeches_statements/mar17_05.xml