Committee debates Bill 108-38 to authorize public‑private partnerships for cargo screening; Customs urges statutory and language changes

The Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Customs, Utilities, Federal and Foreign Affairs took public testimony June 25 on Bill 108‑38 (COR), a measure that would authorize the Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA) to enter into public‑private partnerships to screen cargo entering Guam at ports of entry.

Author Senator William A. Parkinson told the committee the bill was intended to allow CQA to scale screening to approach 100% of incoming containers by leveraging private capital, technology (for example high‑rate x‑ray systems and mobile scanners) and private logistics expertise. Parkinson cited law‑enforcement and medical data he said showed a sharp rise in methamphetamine‑related deaths and arrests in recent years and argued unchecked cargo is a major route for illicit drugs and invasive species. He listed examples of PPPs at mainland ports and said PPPs could reduce upfront public cost and accelerate deployment of scanning facilities and equipment.

CQA Director Sykes Perreido testified the agency supports modernizing screening and acquiring equipment, but raised substantive concerns with the draft bill’s current language and placement. Director Perreido stated that customs’ border search…