Docket HopperPart I · Bills · 119th S. 578
S. 578 · 119th CongressImmigration

BEST Facilitation Act has not moved since its introduction on Feb 13, 2025, with cosponsors from both parties

Sponsored by Lankford, James R-OK · 3 cosponsors: 2 Democrats, 1 Republican
IntroducedFeb 13, 2025
Reported—
Passed one chamber—
Passed both—
Law—
What it changes · CRS summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service [2]. 247 words.

Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade Facilitation Act of 2025 or the BEST Facilitation Act This bill establishes a pilot program for positions within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to review inspection images of vehicles and cargo entering or exiting the United States. Specifically, the bill establishes the position of image technician 1 within the CBP Office of Field Operations. An image technician must (1) review nonintrusive inspection images of vehicles and cargo entering or exiting the United States; (2) assess whether such vehicles and cargo contain contraband, illicit drugs, weapons, or persons seeking to unlawfully enter the United States; and (3) refer suspicious vehicles and cargo for further inspection by a CBP officer. These reviews must take place at one of five regional command centers established pursuant to this pilot program. The bill also establishes the position of image technician 2 with additional responsibilities, including receiving and reporting intelligence to the National Targeting Center about techniques used by malign actors to transport contraband, illicit drugs, weapons, and persons seeking to unlawfully enter the United States. Image technicians must be supervised by a supervisory CBP officer. The bill establishes annual training requirements for both positions, including training on privacy and civil liberties and how to analyze inspection images. This pilot program ends five years after the date of enactment of this bill. Individuals employed as image technicians at the end of the pilot program may transfer to comparable positions within CBP or the Department of Homeland Security.

Context
Committees
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Policy area
Immigration: 20 of 2,400 bills became law, 113th–118th (0.8%)
Sponsor
4 of 251 bills enacted since 2013
Text versions
1: introduced in senate · 1,654 words
Latest action
Feb 13, 2025: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Records
Congress.gov · Bill text
Exhibit 1Passage odds band at each stage, rated when the bill reached it [4]
Related bills · 1

Each bill appears once, under its strongest link. 1 in all.

Identical or companion · 1

See this link on the network map →

Exhibit 2Articles naming the bill per day, last 90 days, US sources [3]