Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB331

Introduced
1/12/23  
Refer
1/12/23  

Caption

Illicit Arms Trafficking Security Enforcement Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to establish a new unit—a Border Enforcement Security Task Force unit—to investigate transnational criminal organization arms smuggling across the international border between the United States and Mexico. The purposes of the new unit include, among other things, reducing arms smuggling from the United States to Mexico.

Impact

The bill mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security establish the task force within 180 days of its enactment. The primary focus areas for the task force include reducing arms smuggling, apprehending individuals involved in such activities, ensuring cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, and optimizing the sharing of intelligence and data. Furthermore, the legislation emphasizes the need for effective coordination between various law enforcement bodies, enhancing the capacity to tackle the systemic issues of illegal arms trafficking.

Summary

House Bill 331, known as the Illicit Arms Trafficking Security Enforcement Act, aims to establish a Border Enforcement Security Task Force unit within the Department of Homeland Security. This unit is tasked with investigating arms smuggling activities connected to transnational criminal organizations operating across the U.S.-Mexico border. This initiative is prompted by increasing concerns regarding the illegal flow of arms and munitions from the United States to Mexico and the associated criminal activities, including violence and drug trafficking, that ensue as a result.

Contention

Despite the clear intentions to mitigate arms trafficking, there may be concerns regarding the implications of increased federal involvement in issues traditionally managed at state or local levels. While proponents of HB 331 argue that better coordination among federal agencies will lead to more effective investigations and a decrease in arms smuggling, opponents may critique the expansion of federal authority and the potential for overreach in law enforcement activities. The issue of resource allocation and agency cooperation also raises questions about the practical execution of the bill, including the risks of duplicated efforts and the need for specialized training among personnel involved.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US SB61

Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report and implement a strategy to combat the use of social media by transnational criminal organizations to recruit individuals in the United States to support illicit activities in the United States or countries near a U.S. international border. DHS must also identify a designee within U.S. Customs and Border Protection to receive, process, and disseminate information about these social media recruitment activities. The information must be disseminated to federal, tribal, state, and local entities to support appropriate government functions, such as providing actionable intelligence to law enforcement.

US HB5132

United Against Transnational Criminal Organizations Act

US SB5587

A bill to establish in the Department of Homeland Security the Task Force on the Reunification of Families, and for other purposes.

US HB5713

Homeland Security Fentanyl Enforcement Act

US HB10504

To establish in the Department of Homeland Security the Task Force on the Reunification of Families, and for other purposes.

US HB164

Close Biden's Open Border Act This bill provides $15 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to construct a border wall along the southern border of the United States. It also imposes a two-year moratorium on funding for U.S. contributions to the United Nations (U.N.). During the two-year period, funds may not be authorized or otherwise made available for contributions to the U.N.

US HCR30

Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove all United States Armed Forces, other than United States Armed Forces assigned to protect the United States Embassy, from Somalia.

US HB163

Security First Act This bill reauthorizes the Operation Stonegarden program from FY2024 through FY2027 and addresses other border security issues. (Operation Stonegarden provides grants to enhance the border security capabilities of state, local, and tribal governments.) From FY2024 through FY2027, the money from unreported monetary instruments seized from individuals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and transferred into the Department of the Treasury general fund shall be made available without further appropriation to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fund Operation Stonegarden. DHS must report to Congress on (1) DHS hiring practices from 2018 to 2021, and (2) whether certain Mexican drug cartels meet the criteria to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. DHS must also periodically report to Congress about the technology needed to secure the U.S.-Mexico land border.

US HB10481

To amend title 18, United States Code, to improve safety and security for service weapons used by Federal law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.

US HB1623

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to exclude certain propane storage facilities from certain chemical security standards under the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

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