H.R. 6439: Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018

115th Congress · introduced 2018-07-19 · Emergency Management · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 724.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2018-07-19 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 381 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR6439 (2018-09-04), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 724. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018

Plain summary

Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018 (Sec. 2) 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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · 12 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 6439, Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018 (2018-08-07); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 6439, Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program Authorization Act of 2018 (2018-10-03)

Cosponsors on this site

Don Bacon (R-NE), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Mike Rogers (R-AL), William R. Keating (D-MA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] reported raising $276,976 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

House roll call 381 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR6439 (2018-09-04): Passed

Words on this page, explained (5)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr6439.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr6439 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115