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Hearing Hearing Date: September 7, 2017 12:00 am 2154 Rayburn HOB

Illicit Drugs in International Mail

Subject
Illicit Drugs in International Mail
Date
September 7, 2017
Time
12:00 am
Place
2154 Rayburn HOB

PURPOSE:

  • To examine how the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) security standards for international mail facilitate an influx of illicit drugs to the United States.
  • To examine a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examining the costs and benefits of using electronic data to screen items sent through international mail.    

BACKGROUND:

  • USPS reported a 54 percent increase on inbound international mail volume from FY 2012 to FY 2016. The rise of e-commerce paired with the lack of adequate security screening measures creates a way for items to enter the country virtually unchecked through inbound international mail. 
  • Under USPS’ current system, the majority of packages sent from foreign countries can enter the U.S. without having advanced electronic data processed by our national intelligence and law enforcement agencies. 
  • At the request of the House Oversight Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, GAO examined and released a report titled, “International Mail Security: Costs and Benefits of Using Electronic Data to Screen Mail Need to be Assessed”. 
Witnesses and testimonies: The Honorable Gregory Thome

Director, Office of U.N. Specialized and Technical Agencies Bureau of International Organization Affairs
U.S. Department of State

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Mr. Guy Cottrell

Chief Postal Inspector
U.S. Postal Service

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Mr. Todd C. Owen

Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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Ms. Lori Rectanus

Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues
U.S. Government Accountability Office

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Ms. Tammy Whitcomb

Acting Inspector General
U.S. Postal Service

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