[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 455 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 455
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 29, 2015
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a northern
border threat analysis, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Northern Border Security Review
Act''.
SEC. 2. NORTHERN BORDER THREAT ANALYSIS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a Northern Border threat
analysis that includes--
(1) current and potential terrorism and criminal threats
posed by individuals and organized groups seeking to--
(A) enter the United States through the Northern
Border; or
(B) exploit border vulnerabilities along the
Northern Border;
(2) improvements needed at and between ports of entry along
the Northern Border to--
(A) prevent terrorists and instruments of terror
from entering the United States; and
(B) reduce criminal activity, as measured by the
total flow of illegal goods, illicit drugs, and
smuggled and trafficked persons moved in either
direction across the Northern Border;
(3) gaps in law, policy, cooperation between State, local,
and tribal law enforcement, international agreements, or tribal
agreements that hinder effective and efficient border security,
counter-terrorism, anti-human smuggling and trafficking
efforts, and the flow of legitimate trade along the Northern
Border; and
(4) an analysis of whether additional U.S. Customs and
Border Protection preclearance and pre-inspection operations at
ports of entry along the Northern Border could help prevent
terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the United
States.
(b) Analysis Requirements.--For the threat analysis required under
subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider and
examine--
(1) technology needs and challenges;
(2) personnel needs and challenges;
(3) the role of State, local, and tribal law enforcement in
general border security activities;
(4) the need for cooperation among Federal, State, local,
tribal, and Canadian law enforcement entities relating to
border security; and
(5) the terrain, population density, and climate along the
Northern Border.
(c) Classified Threat Analysis.--To the extent possible, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit the threat analysis
required under subsection (a) in unclassified form. The Secretary may
submit a portion of the threat analysis in classified form if the
Secretary determines such is appropriate.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Northern border.--The term ``Northern Border'' means
the land and maritime borders between the United States and
Canada.
Passed the House of Representatives October 28, 2015.
Attest:
KAREN L. HAAS,
Clerk.