On June 18, 2004, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4567, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2005. In addition, on June 17, 2004, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its own version of a fiscal year (FY) 2005 DHS appropriations bill (S. 2537), which as been placed on the Senate's legislative calendar. See future issues of ITT for additional details on congressional action on FY 2005 DHS appropriations legislation.)
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)
The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is the CBP's electronic system through which the international trade community reports imports and exports to and from the U.S. and the government determines admissibility.
The Journal of Commerce reports that the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) will take longer to complete than planned because, among other things, the need for anti-terrorism features in the system has apparently set back its development. The article notes that while U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) originally hoped to have ACE constructed over five years, with completion in 2007 or 2008, officials now state that with the added technology and the need for additional funding, ACE is likely to be on an eight- to ten-year schedule, which would have it completed by 2010 at the earliest. (JoC dated 06/21-27/04, www.joc.com.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that on June 14, 2004 it launched a pilot test of Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Periodic Payment features and other account revenue capabilities.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued the May 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Modernization newsletter, which is highlighted below:
The House Ways and Means Committee's Trade Subcommittee has issued an advisory stating that it will hold a hearing on June 17, 2004 on budget authorizations for fiscal year (FY) 2005 and FY 2006 for the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS') Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and on other Customs issues.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a new Trade Support Network (TSN) committee Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) user requirement recommendation and an updated ACE Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) message draft.
On May 14, 2004, the General Accounting Office (GAO) submitted to the Homeland Security Subcommittees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees a report entitled "Information Technology - Early Releases of Customs Trade System Operating, but Pattern of Cost and Schedule Problems Needs to be Addressed."
On May 14, 2004, the General Accounting Office (GAO) submitted to the Homeland Security Subcommittees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees a report entitled "Information Technology - Early Releases of Customs Trade System Operating, but Pattern of Cost and Schedule Problems Needs to be Addressed."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice to its Web site stating that the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Status Report (dated October 2003 - March 2004) is currently in the review process within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and it will be posted once approved and forwarded to Congress. (CBP notice available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/quarterly_reports/)
On May 14, 2004, the General Accounting Office (GAO) submitted to the Homeland Security Subcommittees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees a report entitled "Information Technology - Early Releases of Customs Trade System Operating, but Pattern of Cost and Schedule Problems Needs to be Addressed."