---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 4431"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "4431"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/4431"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement"
  - "Subchapter VII — Preclearance Operations"
---

# §4431. Definitions


In this subchapter:

- (1) **Appropriate congressional committees—** The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—
  - (A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Finance, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
  - (B) the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
- (2) **Secretary—** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Homeland Security.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 812, Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 217.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this subtitle”, meaning subtitle B (§§ 811–819) of title VIII of Pub. L. 114–125, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of subtitle B to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4301 of this title and Tables.