The CBP SPACE Act amends federal law to allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use merchandise processing fees, which are taxes collected on imported goods, to cover capital costs like equipment upgrades and facility construction at seaports, in addition to the salaries and operating expenses these fees currently support. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment and directs the Treasury Secretary and CBP Commissioner to work together to set appropriate fee levels that enable adequate funding for port improvements. The legislation also prohibits CBP from requiring seaports to provide or maintain administrative, training, or recreational facilities for the agency. Finally, the bill requires CBP to submit annual reports to Congress detailing how much merchandise processing fee revenue was collected and how much was directed toward improving inspection facilities at seaports, along with information about outstanding facility needs. This primarily affects import businesses that pay merchandise processing fees and CBP operations at U.S. seaports.
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