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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 6439 (115th)

Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

19 July 2018

Last action

5 December 2018 · Reported

Status

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 724.

Sponsors

Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Don Bacon, John Katko, Debbie Lesko, Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Clay Higgins, Mike Rogers, PETER KING, Martha McSally, Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Daniel Donovan, John Ratcliffe, Mike Gallagher

Subjects

Immigration

Source updated

7 April 2025

Immigration

Summary

Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018 This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide statutory authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP). That program was established to address and reduce national security, border security, and terrorist threats before such threats reach the international border of the United States. In carrying out BITMAP operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must: (1) coordinate foreign and U.S. officials to facilitate the sharing of biometric and biographic information of foreign nationals to identify and screen such nationals for terrorism and threats to national or border security; (2) provide capabilities, including training and equipment, to collect and compare biometric and biographic identification data of foreign nationals to protect against national security, border security, or terrorist threats and illegal entries; and (3) ensure that such data are incorporated into appropriate government databases. Before carrying out BITMAP operations in a foreign country, DHS must enter into an agreement with the government of such country that outlines such operations and must provide the congressional homeland security committees with a copy of the agreement.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 19 July 2018

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 19 July 2018

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 19 July 2018

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 24 July 2018

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Committee

  5. 24 July 2018

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  6. 28 August 2018

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 705.

    Source: Calendars

  7. 28 August 2018

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-909.

    Source: Committee

  8. 28 August 2018

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-909.

    Source: Committee

  9. 4 September 2018

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  10. 4 September 2018

    Vote

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 272 - 119 (Roll no. 381). (text: CR H7786-7787)

    Source: Floor

  11. 4 September 2018

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 272 - 119 (Roll no. 381).(text: CR H7786-7787)

    Source: Floor

  12. 4 September 2018

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR S7786-7789)

    Source: Floor

  13. 4 September 2018

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: Floor

  14. 4 September 2018

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6439.

    Source: Floor

  15. 4 September 2018

    Floor

    Mr. McCaul moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

    Source: Floor

  16. 5 September 2018

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  17. 26 September 2018

    Reported

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

    Source: Committee

  18. 5 December 2018

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 724.

    Source: Calendars

  19. 5 December 2018

    Reported

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-419.

    Source: Committee

  20. 5 December 2018

    Reported

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-419.

    Source: Committee

Votes

4 September 2018 · passed · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Passed · Official source

Yes 272 · No 119 · Abstain · Absent/not voting 37

Showing the first 8 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

13 official files

Reported to Senate (text)

View fileDownload file

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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