LINKING FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE NEXUS APPLICATION PROCESS

On 2026-09-16, Representative Seth Magaziner (D-RI-2) delivered a floor speech titled "LINKING FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE NEXUS APPLICATION PROCESS" in the House.

LINKING FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE NEXUS APPLICATION PROCESS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5899-H5900] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] LINKING FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE NEXUS APPLICATION PROCESS Mr. VAN EPPS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9382) to require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to link together applications of family members throughout the NEXUS application process, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 9382 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. LINKING FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE NEXUS APPLICATION PROCESS. (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall link together applications of family members throughout the NEXUS application process. (b) Options.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection-- (1) shall permit an individual family member to schedule interviews during the NEXUS application process under subsection (a) for all family members who are linked together in accordance with such subsection; and (2) may offer such families the option to conduct joint interviews. (c) Exception.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may exempt from an interview during the NEXUS application process a child under 14 years of age who is linked to the application of an eligible family member. (d) Definition.--In this section: (1) Family members.--The term ``family members'' means parents, legal guardians, children, grandparents, grandchildren and siblings residing within a single household. (2) NEXUS.--The term ``NEXUS'' means the program under section 404 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (8 U.S.C. 1753; relating to joint United States-Canada projects for alternative inspections services). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Van Epps) and the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Magaziner) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee. General Leave Mr. VAN EPPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 9382. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Tennessee? There was no objection. Mr. VAN EPPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9382, the NEXUS for families act. The NEXUS program is operated jointly with the Canada Border Services Agency. It allows prescreened Americans, Canadians, and certain legal residents expedited processing between our two countries at land, air, and sea ports of entry. This bill would require CBP to link together a family's applications throughout the NEXUS approval process. It would also allow families to schedule joint interviews and for CBP to exempt applicants under 14 years of age who are linked to a family from needing to interview, provided there are no other vetting concerns. This legislation will ease burdens for families undergoing the NEXUS approval process while maintaining necessary security standards. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9382, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Kennedy), the sponsor of the bill. Mr. KENNEDY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, the NEXUS for families act. Every day, nearly 328,000 people cross the northern border, powering local economies and cementing the deep ties that bind us with our Canadian neighbors. In western New York, seamless, smooth travel through customs and across the U.S.-Canada border can make all the difference, whether you are reporting to work, visiting family and friends, or making the kickoff at a Bills' game or puck drop at a Sabres game. NEXUS, a joint trusted traveler program between the U.S. and Canada was created in 2000 to improve this kind of travel and to allow preapproved, vetted travelers expedited processing across the northern border with their NEXUS pass. NEXUS has over 2 million members who benefit from dedicated processing lanes at northern ports of entry to move through customs efficiently. Unfortunately, families in northern border States face unique challenges when applying for or renewing NEXUS. They still have to submit separate applications for each family member, including young children. Parents must then schedule separate interviews for their children, requiring multiple trips to enrollment centers, often located far from their home. [[Page H5900]] Even young children have to go through the interview process, including toddlers. In practice, this means families bear the burden of bureaucratic red tape, discouraging NEXUS enrollment, and stifling travel to and from Canada. That is why I am proud to lead the NEXUS for families act, legislation that modernizes and improves the process and ensures it actually works for families. By allowing families to apply together and conduct joint interviews, this bill makes the travel process simpler for parents, children, and spouses. By allowing CBP to waive interviews where appropriate for children under 14, this legislation removes unnecessary hurdles to enrollment, keeping travel efficient and seamless. Importantly, this bill maintains the safe, secure vetting processes that have underpinned NEXUS for over two decades. I thank my fellow colleagues from New York, Representatives Mannion, LaLota, and Tenney, for their cosponsorship of this legislation, and I am pleased to have the endorsement of over 20 organizations, including the Canadian American Business Council, U.S. Travel Association, Visit Buffalo, the New York State Restaurant Association, and Destination Niagara USA. I urge my colleagues to support this underlying legislation to improve, encourage, and simplify travel to and from Canada. Mr. VAN EPPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9382, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I also urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9382, the NEXUS for families act. This is a commonsense bill endorsed by the U.S. Travel Association and a host of other business organizations. We should be supporting legislation that makes government programs like NEXUS easier for families to use. I think it bears saying at this moment that we should also recognize that our neighbor to the north, Canada, is an ally and a friend, and that we should be encouraging free flow of people and goods across the border to the greatest extent possible while keeping America safe. This bill helps to achieve that, and I thank Mr. Kennedy for leading on this issue. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Van Epps) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 9382. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR9382, HR9382