8 U.S.C. § 1379 : US Code - Section 1379: Technology standard to confirm identity

Search 8 U.S.C. § 1379 : US Code - Section 1379: Technology standard to confirm identity

(1) In general
The Attorney General and the Secretary of State jointly, through
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and in
consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and other Federal
law enforcement and intelligence agencies the Attorney General or
Secretary of State deems appropriate and in consultation with
Congress, shall within 15 months after October 26, 2001, develop
and certify a technology standard, including appropriate biometric
identifier standards, that can be used to verify the identity of
persons applying for a United States visa or such persons seeking
to enter the United States pursuant to a visa for the purposes of
conducting background checks, confirming identity, and ensuring
that a person has not received a visa under a different name or
such person seeking to enter the United States pursuant to a visa.
(2) Interoperable
The technology standard developed pursuant to paragraph (1),
shall be the technological basis for a cross-agency, cross-platform
electronic system that is a cost-effective, efficient, fully
interoperable means to share law enforcement and intelligence
information necessary to confirm the identity of such persons
applying for a United States visa or such person seeking to enter
the United States pursuant to a visa.
(3) Accessible
The electronic system described in paragraph (2), once
implemented, shall be readily and easily accessible to - 
(A) all consular officers responsible for the issuance of
visas;
(B) all Federal inspection agents at all United States border
inspection points; and
(C) all law enforcement and intelligence officers as determined
by regulation to be responsible for investigation or
identification of aliens admitted to the United States pursuant
to a visa.
(4) Report
Not later than one year after October 26, 2001, and every 2 years
thereafter, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall
jointly, in consultation with the Secretary of Treasury, report to
Congress describing the development, implementation, efficacy, and
privacy implications of the technology standard and electronic
database system described in this section.
(5) Funding
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State,
the Attorney General, and the Director of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology such sums as may be necessary to carry out
the provisions of this section.