United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 6439 (115th)
Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018
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
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
19 July 2018
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Source: IntroReferral
19 July 2018
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
19 July 2018
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
24 July 2018
Reported
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
24 July 2018
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
28 August 2018
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 705.
Source: Calendars
28 August 2018
Reported
Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-909.
Source: Committee
28 August 2018
Reported
Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-909.
Source: Committee
4 September 2018
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
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
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
4 September 2018
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR S7786-7789)
Source: Floor
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
4 September 2018
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6439.
Source: Floor
4 September 2018
Floor
Mr. McCaul moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Source: Floor
5 September 2018
Introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Source: IntroReferral
26 September 2018
Reported
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Source: Committee
5 December 2018
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 724.
Source: Calendars
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
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
- A. FergusonYea
- A. McEachinNay
- ALCEE HASTINGSNay
- Adam KinzingerYea
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]Nay
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]Nay
- Adrian SmithYea
- Adriano EspaillatNay
Showing the first 8 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
Versions
- Reported to Senate · 5 December 2018 · Official file
- Referred in Senate · 5 September 2018 · Official file
- Engrossed in House · 4 September 2018 · Official file
- Reported in House · 28 August 2018 · Official file
- Introduced in House · 19 July 2018 · Official file
Documents
13 official files
Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 5 December 2018
Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 5 December 2018
Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN · 5 September 2018
Referred in Senate (PDF)
Referred in Senate · EN · 5 September 2018
Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 4 September 2018
Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 4 September 2018
Passed House without amendment
summary · EN · 4 September 2018
Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 28 August 2018
Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 28 August 2018
Reported to House without amendment
summary · EN · 28 August 2018
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 19 July 2018
Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 19 July 2018
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 19 July 2018
Sponsors
- Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · R · Sponsor
- Don Bacon · R · Sponsor
- John Katko · R · Sponsor
- Debbie Lesko · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] · R · Sponsor
- Clay Higgins · R · Sponsor
- Mike Rogers · R · Sponsor
- PETER KING · R · Sponsor
- Martha McSally · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] · D · Sponsor
- Daniel Donovan · R · Sponsor
- John Ratcliffe · R · Cosponsor
- Mike Gallagher · R · Cosponsor
- · ssga00 · Standing
- · hshm00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018
- related to → American Border Act
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6439
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/115/hr/6439
- us · 115-hr-6439 · source updated 7 April 2025