WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) today praised the Department of Homeland Security for taking steps to improve the way in which the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects information on non-maritime cargo.
“Identifying high-risk shipments before they reach U.S. borders will help to reduce the threat to our nation’s security,” said Senator Collins, whose committee has jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security. “Just one small lapse in security at any point of entry could have disastrous consequences for our nation.”
Under new rules released today, CBP will process advance cargo information through an automated targeting system linked to various law enforcement and commercial databases. The system is designed to enable CBP to efficiently identify shipments that pose a potential risk. Previously, most non-maritime inbound shipments entered the United States without being assessed for risk.