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119-hr-1294119th Congress

BEST Facilitation Act

Sponsored By: Representative Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]

In Committee

Summary

Creates an Office of Field Operations Image Technician pilot program that would add civilian image‑review staff and regional command centers to scan non‑intrusive inspection images at ports and crossings. The pilot sets job rules, training, supervision, and reporting requirements to test whether dedicated image analysts improve border screening and intelligence sharing.

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  • Adds two civilian job grades, Image Technician 1 and Image Technician 2, fillable by existing CBP staff under competitive service rules; these are not law enforcement roles and cannot be contractors.
  • Would centralize image review in 5 regional command centers serving land, sea, air ports and international rail crossings, and requires reports to track effects on throughput, wait times, and seizures.
  • Requires Image Technician 2 to receive and report intelligence from the National Targeting Center. Supervisory CBP officers keep final release authority. Image technicians get annual and ad hoc training plus recurring assessments, and the pilot sunsets after 5 years.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Pilot adds CBP image tech jobs

This bill would start a five-year pilot at CBP. It would create Image Technician 1 and 2 jobs and open five regional command centers at land, rail, air, and sea ports. Techs would review X-ray and similar images for drugs, weapons, hidden goods, or people. They would recommend release or more inspection, while supervisors keep the final say. Jobs would be in the competitive civil service, open to current CBP staff, not contractors, and not law enforcement roles. Image Technician 2s would also share and receive tips with CBP’s national targeting center.

Training and oversight for image techs

If enacted, image techs would get yearly training and extra training as needed. Topics would include privacy, civil rights, image analysis, finding contraband, and tactics used by smugglers. Supervisors would also receive added training. Techs would take yearly assessments on accuracy and speed. CBP would report to Congress within 180 days after the first hires and every 180 days after. CBP’s field operations lead would also brief Congress twice a year on results.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]

AZ • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 6/5/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/16/2025

  • Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 12/19/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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