HR 1569119th CongressIntroduced

CATCH Fentanyl Act

Introduced: Feb 25, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3] (R-Louisiana)

Defense & National SecurityTechnology & Innovation

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The CATCH Fentanyl Act would create a five-year federal pilot program to test and evaluate new technologies at U.S. land border ports of entry to speed up cargo inspections and improve detection of contraband, including fentanyl and other illegal items. Administered by the CBP Innovation Team in coordination with DHS components and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, the program would test at least five nonintrusive inspection (NII) enhancements across emerging tech categories such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, high-performance computing, quantum information science (including quantum sensing), and other new technologies. The bill emphasizes privacy protections, potential private-sector input, and a data-driven assessment of each technology’s effectiveness, efficiency, safety, and interoperability. It also requires detailed reporting to Congress and terminates after five years, with no new appropriations authorized.

Key Points

1Establishes a pilot program within one year of enactment to test and assess technology enhancements that aid CBP inspections at land ports of entry, aiming to detect contraband, drugs, weapons, human smuggling, and threats, using imaging, radiation portals, and chemical detectors.
2Requires testing not fewer than five types of NII technology enhancements, drawn from at least one of these categories: AI, machine learning, high-performance computing, quantum information sciences (including quantum sensing), and other emerging technologies; evaluates effectiveness based on detection capability, efficiency, aging infrastructure, safety (ALARA), workflow integration, open architecture, mobility, and other performance measures.
3Allows private-sector input on commercially viable technologies; prioritizes cost-effectiveness, considering detection, throughput, wait times, and total implementation costs.
4Mandates privacy protections, including adherence to privacy laws, data anonymization where applicable, and regular audits; requires pre-implementation privacy/civil liberties assessments and post-pilot privacy/civil liberties findings with mitigation recommendations.
5Requires comprehensive reports at three years and after pilot termination (five years from enactment) detailing effectiveness, deployment plans across all land ports, cost analyses, interoperability with existing systems, and lessons learned; includes a detailed analysis of technology performance and civilian impacts.
6Prohibits new appropriations for this Act (no additional funds authorized).

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), specifically the CBP Innovation Team and field operations at land ports of entry; technology vendors and private-sector partners developing NII solutions; border-crossing and cargo inspection workflows.Secondary group/area affected: DHS entities (Science and Technology Directorate) coordinating research and development; border communities and travelers whose privacy and civil liberties may be affected by enhanced screening technologies.Additional impacts: Potential changes in inspection throughput, wait times, and officer time commitments; long-term budgeting and infrastructure planning if a deployment plan is adopted; emphasis on data privacy, interoperability with existing CBP technologies, and the need for ongoing audits and oversight.

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