HOUSE MEMBERS TO HOLD BRIEFING TO URGE FUNDING CUSTOMS ACE

HOUSE MEMBERS TO HOLD BRIEFING TO URGE FUNDING CUSTOMS ACE    Members from the U.S. House of Representative will hold a noon briefing on Capitol Hill today to show their support for funding Customs’ future computer system.
   The briefing is co-sponsored by Steven T. Kuykendall, R-Calif.; Steve Horn, R-Calif.; Julian Dixon, D-Calif.; Tillie Fowler, R-Fla.; and James P. Moran, D-Va.
   The purpose of the briefing is to educate other House members and their staff, and the Administration about Customs’ current system, the Automated Commercial System.
   The briefing also includes a panel of industry representatives: George Weise, former commissioner of Customs; Ron Schoof of Caterpillar; Kevin Smith of General Motors; Mike Lane, former deputy commissioner of Customs; and Robin Lanier of the Coalition for Customs Automation Funding. Representatives from the American Association of Port Authorities and the Information Technology Association of America are also expected to speak.
   “ACS has experienced numerous brownouts that have resulted in prolonged delays in the clearance of goods and it is only a matter of time before the system encounters a major shutdown,” the Coalition for Customs Automation Funding said.
   The goal is to get Customs’ future Automated Commercial Environment funded in fiscal 2001. Most congressional leaders and the industry oppose President Clinton’s proposal to pay for ACE through user fees.