Manifest Modernization Act

Summary#

This bill changes the Tariff Act of 1930 to make more cargo manifest information public. It requires every vessel, vehicle, and aircraft arriving in the United States to have a manifest that meets rules in the law. When certain data is included in a manifest, that data must be available for public disclosure. The bill adds a requirement to list each Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading used to classify cargo. It also changes a cargo origin field so manifests must show the country of origin of the cargo and the last country through which the cargo was transported. The bill adds a broad definition of "aircraft" that covers civil, military, and public devices used to travel in the air. The changes apply to arrivals on or after 30 days after the law is enacted.

What it means for you#

• Carriers and importers: Manifests for vessels, vehicles, and aircraft must follow the updated rules and may include information that becomes publicly visible.
• Members of the public: Certain cargo details in manifests may be available to view if included in a manifest.
• Start date: The rules apply to arrivals 30 days after the act becomes law.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs, budget impacts, or enforcement expenses is included in the bill text or provided metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or metadata states the proponents' reasons or arguments.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or metadata states opponents' reasons or arguments.