February 12, 2025
Ms. Salazar (for herself, Mr. Gimenez, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Levin, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Ms. De La Cruz, Mr. Webster of Florida, Mr. Bean of Florida, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Ezell, Mr. Moylan, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Donalds, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Mast, Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr. Allen, Mr. Guest, Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. Rutherford, Ms. Lee of Florida, Mr. Baird, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Haridopolos, and Mr. Smith of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
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 Proclamation 7219.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act
.
Sec. 2. Definition of customs waters
(a) Tariff Act of 1930
Section 401(j) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1401(j)) is amended—
(1)
by striking means, in the case
and inserting the following: “means—
(1)
in the case;
(2)
by striking of the coast of the United States
the first place it appears and inserting from the baselines of the United States, determined in accordance with international law,
;
(3)
by striking and, in the case
and inserting the following: “; and
(2)
in the case; and
(4)
by striking the waters within four leagues of the coast of the United States.
and inserting the following: “the waters within—
(A)
the territorial sea of the United States, to the limits permitted by international law in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 5928 of December 27, 1988; and
(B)
the contiguous zone of the United States, to the limits permitted by international law in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 7219 of September 2, 1999.
(b) Anti-Smuggling Act
Section 401(c) of the Anti-Smuggling Act (19 U.S.C. 1709(c)) is amended—
(1)
by striking means, in the case
and inserting the following: “means—
(1)
in the case;
(2)
by striking of the coast of the United States
the first place it appears and inserting from the baselines of the United States, determined in accordance with international law,
;
(3)
by striking and, in the case
and inserting the following: “; and
(2)
in the case; and
(4)
by striking the waters within four leagues of the coast of the United States.
and inserting the following: “the waters within—
(A)
the territorial sea of the United States, to the limits permitted by international law in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 5928 of December 27, 1988; and
(B)
the contiguous zone of the United States, to the limits permitted by international law in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 7219 of September 2, 1999.
(c) Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the day after the date of the enactment of this Act.