What This Bill Does
This bill changes the definition of U.S. customs waters to include an expanded area off America's coasts. The law updates two existing federal statutes to include both the territorial sea and the contiguous zone (an additional area beyond the territorial sea) based on international law.
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Who It Affects
Not specified in bill text
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Key Provisions
* The definition of customs waters now includes the territorial sea of the United States, to the limits permitted by international law in accordance with a Presidential Proclamation from December 27, 1988 (Sec. 2(a)(4)(A))
* The definition of customs waters now includes the contiguous zone of the United States, to the limits permitted by international law in accordance with a Presidential Proclamation from September 2, 1999 (Sec. 2(a)(4)(B))
* These same changes apply to the Anti-Smuggling Act with identical new definitions (Sec. 2(b))
* Measurements for customs waters start from the baselines of the United States, determined in accordance with international law (Sec. 2(a)(2) and 2(b)(2))
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What Changes
The law updates the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Anti-Smuggling Act to extend customs waters coverage to include the contiguous zone rather than limiting it to waters closer to shore. Previous law is replaced with new language referencing international law and specific Presidential Proclamations.
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Important Definitions
* Customs waters: the territorial sea and contiguous zone of the United States, as defined by international law and Presidential Proclamations
* Contiguous zone: an additional area of ocean beyond the territorial sea
* Territorial sea: ocean waters immediately surrounding U.S. baselines
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Effective Date
The day after the date this act becomes law (Sec. 2(c))
II
118TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 529
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MAY 1, 2024
Received
AN ACT
To extend the customs waters of the United States from
12 nautical miles to 24 nautical miles from the baselines
of the United States, consistent with Presidential Procla-
mation 7219.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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HR 529 RDS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Extending Limits of
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U.S. Customs Waters Act’’.
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SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF CUSTOMS WATERS.
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(a) TARIFF ACT OF 1930.—Section 401(j) of the
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Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1401(j)) is amended—
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(1) by striking ‘‘means, in the case’’ and insert-
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ing the following: ‘‘means—
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‘‘(1) in the case’’;
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(2) by striking ‘‘of the coast of the United
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States’’ the first place it appears and inserting
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‘‘from the baselines of the United States, determined
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in accordance with international law,’’;
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(3) by striking ‘‘and, in the case’’ and inserting
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the following: ‘‘; and
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‘‘(2) in the case’’; and
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(4) by striking ‘‘the waters within four leagues
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of the coast of the United States.’’ and inserting the
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following: ‘‘the waters within—
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‘‘(A) the territorial sea of the United
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States, to the limits permitted by international
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law in accordance with Presidential Proclama-
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tion 5928 of December 27, 1988; and
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‘‘(B) the contiguous zone of the United
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States, to the limits permitted by international
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HR 529 RDS
law in accordance with Presidential Proclama-
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tion 7219 of September 2, 1999.’’.
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(b) ANTI-SMUGGLING ACT.—Section 401(c) of the
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Anti-Smuggling Act (19 U.S.C. 1709(c)) is amended—
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(1) by striking ‘‘means, in the case’’ and insert-
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ing the following: ‘‘means—
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‘‘(1) in the case’’;
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(2) by striking ‘‘of the coast of the United
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States’’ the first place it appears and inserting
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‘‘from the baselines of the United States, determined
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in accordance with international law,’’;
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(3) by striking ‘‘and, in the case’’ and inserting
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the following: ‘‘; and
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‘‘(2) in the case’’; and
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(4) by striking ‘‘the waters within four leagues
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of the coast of the United States.’’ and inserting the
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following: ‘‘the waters within—
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‘‘(A) the territorial sea of the United
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States, to the limits permitted by international
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law in accordance with Presidential Proclama-
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tion 5928 of December 27, 1988; and
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‘‘(B) the contiguous zone of the United
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States, to the limits permitted by international
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law in accordance with Presidential Proclama-
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tion 7219 of September 2, 1999.’’.
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HR 529 RDS
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
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this section shall take effect on the day after the date of
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the enactment of this Act.
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Passed the House of Representatives April 30, 2024.
Attest:
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,
Clerk.
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