US Federal 2023-2024 Regular Session

US Federal House Bill HB163

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  

Caption

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.

Impact

The bill also establishes an Operation Stonegarden Trust Fund funded by the Treasury, sourced from the seizure of unreported monetary instruments by Customs and Border Protection at the U.S.-Mexico border. This funding mechanism seeks to ensure that resources are consistently available without the need for annual appropriations. Furthermore, it mandates the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct an assessment of its hiring practices and to report on the technological needs for seamless border security operations, including the designations of certain Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

Summary

House Bill 163, titled the 'Security First Act,' aims to reauthorize funding for Operation Stonegarden from fiscal years 2024 to 2027. This program allocates grants to enhance the border security capabilities of state, local, and tribal governments, focusing particularly on areas adjacent to the Southwest border. By authorizing $180 million annually for this program, the bill emphasizes the importance of local law enforcement in national border security efforts. Additionally, the bill stipulates a minimum of $60 million each year for procuring advanced technologies such as communications devices, sensors, and drones to further strengthen security measures.

Contention

Notably, the proposal to classify specific Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations has emerged as a contentious point. This designation would facilitate the application of more stringent federal measures and resources against such organizations. Some lawmakers support this provision as a necessary step in combating drug-related violence and trafficking, while opponents argue it may lead to overreach and disproportionately impact communities along the border. The bill's potential implications for civil liberties and local governance present ongoing debates regarding the proper balance between national security and individual rights.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB506

Security First ActThis bill reauthorizes the Operation Stonegarden program from FY2025 through FY2028 and addresses other border security issues. (Operation Stonegarden provides grants to enhance the border security capabilities of state, local, and tribal governments.)From FY2025 through FY2028, 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 2024, and (2) whether certain criminal gangs and 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 HB199

Secure America's Borders First Act This bill prohibits using federal funds to provide certain military assistance to Ukraine until a border wall system along the U.S.-Mexico border is completed and operation control of such border is achieved. Specifically, this prohibition shall apply to funds made available to the Department of Defense and funds made available for security assistance or security cooperation.

US SB41

Advanced Border Coordination Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish at least two Joint Operations Centers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The centers shall provide centralized operations hubs for (1) coordinating operations between federal, state, local, and tribal agencies as needed; and (2) coordinating and supporting border operations, including detecting criminal activity, such as activity related to transnational criminal organizations and illegal border crossings.

US HB4832

Relating to the deposit of federal reimbursements for border security operations into the general revenue fund and the funding of services and programs in the border region.

US HB103

Congressional Border Security Assessment ActThis bill grants Members of Congress and their accompanying staff lawful access to Indian reservations for the purpose of assessing national security, public safety, and the security of the border. Specifically, the bill applies to an Indian reservation that includes 50 or more contiguous miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. 

US HB424

State Border Security Reimbursement Act of 2025 This bill requires the federal government to reimburse eligible states for their border security expenses.To be eligible, a state must have expended more than $2.5 billion on border security and enforcement in the 10 years before this bill's enactment. If such a state provides by a certain deadline an accounting of all of its nonfederally funded border security expenses, the federal government must reimburse the full amount.

US HB445

Border Security Investment ActThis bill imposes a fee on the electronic transfer of funds (i.e., remittances) sent to certain countries and provides funding for border security activities from the collected amounts.Specifically, the fee shall apply to remittances sent through money services business to one of the five countries that had the most citizens or nationals unlawfully enter the United States in the previous fiscal year, as determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The fee must be 37% of the amount sent.Half of the money collected by the fee must be placed in a trust fund for reimbursing border states for expenses incurred for border security enforcement measures. The other half must be placed in another trust fund for (1) deploying technology and installing physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, and (2) paying the wages and salaries of U.S. Border Patrol agents.If the amount in the trust funds exceeds a certain threshold, the excess money must be used only for deficit reduction.

US HB1994

Relating to efficiency audits of Operation Lone Star and other border security programs.

US SB930

Relating to efficiency audits of Operation Lone Star and other border security programs.

US HB1165

Port Crane Security and Inspection Act of 2025 This bill limits the operation of foreign cranes at U.S. ports. In general, foreign cranes are those that have information technology and operational technology components that (1) were manufactured by companies that are subject to the ownership, control, or influence of a country designated as a foreign adversary; and (2) connect to ports' cyber infrastructure.Foreign cranes that are contracted for on or after the date of the bill's enactment may not operate at a U.S. port. Also, beginning five years after this bill is enacted, foreign cranes operating at U.S. ports may not use software or other technology manufactured by a company owned by a country designated as a foreign adversary.Additionally, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) must (1) inspect foreign cranes for potential security risks or threats before they are placed into operation, (2) assess the threat posed by security risks or threats of existing or newly constructed foreign cranes, and (3) take any crane that poses a security risk or threat offline until the crane can be certified as no longer being a risk or threat.CISA must also report to Congress about security risks or threats posed by foreign cranes at U.S. ports.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.