U.S. Customs and Border Protection collects fees from importers every time goods enter the country through a sea port — these are called merchandise processing fees. Currently those fees can only pay for agency salaries and day-to-day expenses. The CBP SPACE Act expands the allowed uses to also cover capital costs — things like equipment upgrades and construction or maintenance of inspection facilities at sea ports. The bill also bars CBP from requiring sea ports to provide office, training, or recreational space for agency staff at their own expense. Starting 180 days after enactment, CBP must report annually to Congress on how much fee revenue was collected, how much went to sea port facilities, and what capital needs remain.
Transparency & Accountability
- Annual reporting on CBP fee use — Commissioner must report fee collections and capital expenditures to Congress each year
Congressional Summary
CBP SPACE ActThis bill expands the authorities for adjusting the rate for merchandise processing fees and the requirements for using certain customs user fees. It also prohibits U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from requiring sea ports of entry to provide or maintain certain facilities for CBP inspection services.Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to adjust the ad valorem rate for merchandise processing and the related limits on the amount of the fees to offset CBP's capital costs for processing entries and releases of merchandise. (Currently, Treasury may only adjust the rate and limits to offset CBP's related salaries and expenses.) The bill also requires Treasury to use certain customs user fees to reimburse CBP for paying capital costs associated with passenger inspection services.Additionally, the bill (1) prohibits CBP from requesting or requiring a sea port of entry to provide or maintain administrative, training, or recreational facilities at the port for purposes of facilitating CBP's inspection services; and (2) requires CBP to submit an annual report to appropriate congressional committees on the amount and use of proceeds from merchandise processing fees.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-07-10
- Date Added
- 2026-06-13
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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