Bill > HR2015

This bill, titled the Customs Training Enhancement Act, mandates that the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) establish at least 15 educational seminars annually at U.S. ports of entry to improve the skills of CBP personnel, including Import Specialists, in correctly identifying and valuing imported goods according to U.S. customs laws. These seminars will also focus on training personnel to detect and prevent the mislabeling of imported articles, meaning incorrect information about the product's origin or contents, and transshipment, which is the practice of shipping goods through a third country to avoid tariffs or regulations. The content of these seminars will be developed with input from various "interested parties," defined as U.S. manufacturers, producers, wholesalers, unions, or trade associations that deal with products comparable to those being imported, and will cover aspects like physical inspection of goods, verification of origin and supply chain information, and other relevant topics, with all instructional materials requiring the Commissioner's approval. The bill also authorizes $3 million per year for fiscal years 2016 through 2020 to fund these training initiatives.