[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1283 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1283
To establish a nonpartisan commission on immigration reform and border
security.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2019
Mr. Ryan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on
Homeland Security, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a nonpartisan commission on immigration reform and border
security.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NONPARTISAN COMMISSION ON IMMIGRATION REFORM AND BORDER
SECURITY.
(a) Establishment and Composition of Commission.--
(1) In general.--Effective on the date of the enactment of
this Act, there is established a Nonpartisan Commission on
Immigration Reform and Border Security (in this section
referred to as the ``Commission'') which shall be composed of
nine members to be appointed as follows:
(A) One member, who shall serve as Chairperson, to
be appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the majority leader of the Senate.
(B) One member to be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives who shall select such
members from a list of nominees provided by the
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and
Citizenship of the Committee on the Judiciary of the
House of Representatives.
(C) One member to be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives who shall select such
members from a list of nominees provided by the
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Border Security,
Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.
(D) One member to be appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives who shall select
such members from a list of nominees provided by the
ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on
Immigration and Citizenship of the Committee on the
Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
(E) One member to be appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives who shall select
such members from a list of nominees provided by the
ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on Border
Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee
on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.
(F) Two members to be appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate who shall select such members from
a list of nominees provided by the Chairman of the
Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration of the
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.
(G) Two members to be appointed by the minority
leader of the Senate who shall select such members from
a list of nominees provided by the ranking minority
member of the Subcommittee on Border Security and
Immigration of the Committee on the Judiciary of the
Senate.
(2) No elected officials.--No member may be a Federal,
State, or local elected official or political appointee.
(3) Deadline.--Initial appointments to the Commission shall
be made not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the
same manner in which the original appointment was made.
(4) Term of service.--Members shall be appointed to serve
for the life of the Commission.
(b) Functions of Commission.--The Commission shall--
(1) in accordance with subsection (c), review and assess--
(A) the security of the borders of the United
States and methods to enhance the integrity and
efficacy of security at such borders; and
(B) the immigration system of the United States in
general; and
(2) transmit to the Congress--
(A) not later than 90 days after the initial
appointments to the Commission are completed, a first
report describing the progress made in carrying out
paragraph (1); and
(B) not later than 270 days after the initial
appointments to the Commission are completed, a final
report setting forth the Commission's findings and
recommendations, including recommendations for
additional changes that should be made with respect to
border security as the Commission deems appropriate.
(c) Particular Considerations.--In particular, the Commission shall
consider the following:
(1) Vulnerabilities in border security screening and
surveillance programs, inspection and detection technologies,
and physical infrastructure.
(2) U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement, and Office of Refugee Resettlement
operations and personnel.
(3) Cross-border criminal activity.
(4) Drug trafficking and interdiction activities.
(5) Severe forms of trafficking and smuggling of persons.
(6) Migrant interdiction and detention operations.
(7) Protocols pertaining to migrant families and
unaccompanied alien minors.
(8) Protocols pertaining to asylum seekers and refugees.
(9) Protection of the human rights of immigrants, refugees,
and asylum seekers, in particular minor children.
(10) Protection of the physical and mental health of
migrants in custody, in particular minor children.
(11) Asylum and immigration court system backlog.
(12) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
(13) Family-sponsored immigrants.
(14) Employee-based immigrants.
(15) Diversity immigrants.
(16) Temporary protected status.
(17) Nonimmigrant visitors.
(18) Visa overstays.
(19) Naturalization and a pathway to citizenship.
(20) Criminal aliens.
(21) Removal proceedings.
(d) Compensation of Members.--
(1) Pay.--Each member of the Commission who is not an
officer or employee of the Federal Government is entitled to
receive, subject to such amounts as are provided in advance in
appropriations Acts, pay at the daily equivalent of the minimum
annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS-18 of the
General Schedule. Each member of the Commission who is such an
officer or employee shall serve without additional pay.
(2) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or
regular places of business in the performance of services for
the Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence.
(e) Meetings, Staff, and Authority of Commission.--The provisions
of subsections (e) through (g) of section 304 of the Immigration Reform
and Control Act of 1986 shall apply to the Commission in the same
manner as they apply to the Commission established under such section,
except that paragraph (2) of subsection (e) thereof shall not apply.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Commission such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
section.
(2) Subject to appropriations.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of this section, the authority to make payments, or
to enter into contracts, under this section shall be effective
only to such extent, or in such amounts, as are provided in
advance in appropriations Acts.
(g) Termination Date.--The Commission shall terminate on the date
on which a final report is required to be transmitted under subsection
(b)(2)(B), except that the Commission may continue to function until
January 20, 2021, for the purpose of concluding its activities,
including providing testimony to standing committees of Congress
concerning its final report under this section and disseminating that
report.
(h) Congressional Response.--
(1) Hearings.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
receipt of each report transmitted under subsection (b)(2), the
Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and
of the Senate shall initiate hearings to consider the findings
and recommendations of the report.
(2) Findings and recommendations.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of receipt of such a report, each such Committee
shall report to its respective House its oversight findings and
any legislation it deems appropriate.
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