Bill · S. 703· Senate(119-S-703)
CATCH Fentanyl Act
- Introduced
- 2/25/2025
- Last activity
- 2/25/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- John Cornyn
- Cosponsors
- - 6 - 5
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The CATCH Fentanyl Act establishes a pilot program to test new technologies at land ports of entry along the U.S. border. The program aims to improve the inspection of cars, trucks, and cargo containers to better detect illegal drugs, weapons, human smuggling, and other threats. The Secretary of Homeland Security will oversee the testing of at least five types of nonintrusive inspection technology enhancements, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. These pilot projects are intended to increase efficiency and reduce wait times at the border. The program will conclude five years after the Act is enacted.
Yes· 3 of 7
Does this tighten control of the border?+7
The bill establishes a pilot program to enhance the detection of contraband, drugs, weapons, and human smuggling at land ports of entry.
Would business owners be better off under this?+3
Increased efficiency in cargo inspections may benefit business owners by reducing border delays.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+3
The bill mandates several reports to congressional committees regarding technology effectiveness and privacy impacts.
The opposite
Would immigrants be better off under this?-2
The increased technological scrutiny may negatively impact the privacy and civil liberties of individuals crossing the border.
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?-2
The new surveillance and inspection technologies present potential risks to the privacy of individuals crossing the border.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Detection of Threats: The pilot projects aim to assist personnel in detecting contraband, illegal drugs, illegal weapons, and human smuggling (Section 3(a)(1)).
-
Reduced Wait Times: The technology enhancements are intended to increase the efficiency of inspections to help address long wait times at land ports of entry (Section 3(a)(2)(B)(ii)).
-
Data Privacy Protections: The Secretary is required to safeguard the privacy and security of personal data collected during inspections through measures like data anonymization and regular audits (Section 3(a)(4)).
-
Civil Rights Protections: The bill requires reports regarding the potential impacts of these technologies on privacy, civil liberties, and civil rights, including recommendations for mitigation (Section 3(e)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Privacy and Civil Liberty Risks: There is a recognized potential for the new technologies to impact the privacy, civil liberties, and civil rights of individuals crossing the United States border (Section 3(e)(1)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Border Security+7Improves Racial Equity+1
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+2
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+3Good For Immigrants-2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Roads And Bridges+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Improves Privacy Rights-2
- 3/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/25/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
James JusticeRepublican · West Virginia
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma
Bernie MorenoRepublican · Ohio
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina