CATCH Fentanyl Act

This bill establishes a pilot program for testing and assessing technologies to speed up and enhance cargo inspection at U.S. land ports of entry. The program aims to help Customs and Border Protection detect contraband, illegal drugs, weapons, human smuggling, and other threats.

Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines key terms including 'appropriate congressional committees' (Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and House Homeland Security Committee), 'artificial intelligence' (as defined in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019), 'CBP Innovation Team' (the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Innovation Team), 'nonintrusive inspection technology' (equipment like X-ray or gamma-ray imaging that allows cargo inspection without opening transport), and 'pilot projects' (the testing projects required under section 3(a)).

Sec. 3, Pilot projects for technology providers at ports of entry: Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the CBP Innovation Team and in coordination with the Office of Field Operations and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, to start pilot projects within one year. The projects must test at least five types of nonintrusive inspection technology enhancements from categories including artificial intelligence, machine learning, high-performance computing, quantum information sciences, or other emerging technologies. The projects will identify the most effective enhancements based on detection ability, efficiency, safety, cost, integration, and other measures. The CBP Innovation Team may seek private sector input and must prioritize cost-effective solutions. The projects terminate after five years. Reports to Congress are required at three years and 180 days after termination, including analysis of effectiveness, recommendations, a deployment plan with costs, a list of existing technologies with implementation status, and performance measures. The DHS Privacy Officer and Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Officer must provide reports on privacy, civil liberties, and civil rights impacts before implementation and after termination.