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119-hr-7812119th CongressWALLET

Securing Accountability in Foreign Entries Act

Sponsored By: Representative Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]

Introduced

Summary

Requires U.S.-based importers of record and verified U.S. payment accounts. This bill would tighten who can act as an importer of record, raise minimum bonds, and force banks to verify identities before duty payments are accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

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  • Importers and foreign sellers: Individuals must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and entities must have a U.S. physical location or be an approved affiliate meeting strict thresholds like at least 1,500 U.S. full-time employees and $1,000,000 in U.S. receipts or assets.
  • Customs brokers and carriers: Brokers would be limited from using their own bonds unless they qualify as the designated importer of record, and express consignors/operators can only designate brokers they wholly own if they meet strict conditions including 300,000 U.S.-based personnel.
  • Banks and depository institutions: Payments for duties must be electronic from a U.S.-chartered depository, from an account in the importer’s legal name or a qualifying U.S. affiliate, and banks must attest to identity checks under anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer rules.
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection: CBP would write regulations within specified timeframes, including a 360-day window to set verification rules, and gain authority to reject payments or records that do not meet the new standards.

*Overall, the bill would shift import compliance and payment responsibility onto U.S.-based importers and banks to strengthen importer accountability and protect customs collections.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Stricter importer of record rules

If enacted, the bill would narrow who may serve as an importer of record (IOR). Individual IORs would have to be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Entity IORs would need either a U.S. street address with real business operations and at least one U.S. citizen or LPR owner or full‑time employee, or be organized in Canada, Australia, or a U.S.‑designated covered country, or be an affiliate of a qualifying U.S. company that meets control and certification tests. The bill would define "affiliate," require written proof that a full‑time employee is full time under IRS rules, and bar an individual from serving as IOR for more than one entity (with a narrow customs broker exception). These IOR rules would apply to entries starting one year after enactment. The bill would also require CBP to issue rules within 360 days to verify IOR eligibility, to perform those checks without relying on brokers or sureties, and to set penalties for false or missing statements.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]

TX • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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