Bill > HR1294

This bill establishes a pilot program for Image Technician positions within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations to enhance border security and trade facilitation. The program creates two types of Image Technician roles: Image Technician 1 and Image Technician 2, who will be responsible for reviewing non-intrusive inspection images of conveyances and containers entering or exiting the United States. These positions are not law enforcement roles and cannot be filled by independent contractors, but can be staffed by existing CBP employees. Their primary duties include analyzing images for potential contraband, unauthorized persons, or illicitly concealed merchandise, and recommending further inspection or release of conveyances and containers. The bill mandates annual training for these technicians on privacy rights, image analysis techniques, and emerging tactics used by malign actors. The pilot program will establish five regional command centers and include annual performance assessments for the technicians. The program is set to run for five years, after which employees can transfer to comparable positions within CBP or the Department of Homeland Security. Additionally, the bill requires semiannual reports to congressional committees detailing the program's implementation, performance, and impact on border security operations.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1294/all-info