American Energy Independence and Affordability Act
In Committee
Introduced:Oct 28, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Tom Cole
Representative
Republican
OK-4
Cosponsors
1
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Immigration
Summary
This bill gives the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) more flexibility to reorganize and adjust the staffing of certain roles related to collecting customs revenue, such as import specialists and customs auditors. It allows CBP to make staffing changes as needed, as long as they maintain an optimal staffing level.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill gives the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) more flexibility to reorganize and adjust the staffing of certain roles related to collecting customs revenue, such as import specialists and customs auditors. It allows CBP to make staffing changes as needed, as long as they maintain an optimal staffing level.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p>This bill expands the authority of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to consolidate, modify, or reorganize customs revenue functions. </p> <p>For example, this bill authorizes CBP to add functions to existing positions that perform these revenue functions. CBP may also establish new job series and grades for personnel that perform these functions.</p> <p>The bill also modifies a provision that prohibits CBP from reducing the staffing level of certain revenue functions (e.g., import specialists, entry specialists, and customs auditors). Specifically, this bill relaxes this prohibition by allowing for reductions if the reduction will not result in a staffing level below the optimal level as determined in a specified resource allocation model. (Currently, CBP is required to report to Congress every two years the results of this model to determine the optimal staffing levels for carrying out CBP commercial operations.)</p> <p>The bill also expands this staffing level reduction restriction to also apply to national account managers and international trade analysts. </p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Expands CBP's authority to consolidate, modify, or reorganize customs revenue functions and related job roles
Allows CBP to add new functions to existing positions and establish new job series and grades for personnel
Relaxes a prohibition on reducing staffing levels for certain revenue functions, as long as the optimal staffing level is maintained
Expands the staffing level restriction to also apply to national account managers and international trade analysts
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This bill would primarily impact CBP and its personnel who handle customs revenue functions, such as import specialists and customs auditors. It would give CBP more flexibility to organize and adjust staffing levels for these roles based on their assessment of optimal staffing needs. This could lead to changes in the number and types of CBP jobs related to customs revenue collection.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Immigration
Related Subjects
Border security and unlawful immigration
Customs enforcement
Employment and training programs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Law enforcement officers
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
5862, 119th Congress (2025). "American Energy Independence and Affordability Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-5862
