[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1531 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1531
To provide for the renewed availability of funds to construct the
border wall upon the deployment of the National Guard to the southern
land border of the United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 10, 2023
Mr. Strong introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Homeland Security
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the renewed availability of funds to construct the
border wall upon the deployment of the National Guard to the southern
land border of the United States, 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. RESUME CONSTRUCTION OF BARRIERS AND ROADS ALONG UNITED
STATES AND MEXICO BORDER.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Homeland Security.
(2) Physical barriers.--The term ``physical barriers'' has
the meaning given such term in section 102(e) of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, as
added by section 3(5) of this Act.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
(4) Tactical infrastructure; technology.--The terms
``tactical infrastructure'' and ``technology'' have the
meanings given such terms in section 102(e) of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, as
added by section 3(5) of this Act.
(b) In General.--
(1) Immediate resumption of border barrier construction.--
During any period beginning on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act in which members of the Armed Forces or
the National Guard are performing active service (as such term
is defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) at
the southern land border of the United States, the Secretary
shall resume all projects relating to the construction of
physical barriers, tactical infrastructure, and technology
along the international border between the United States and
Mexico that were underway, or being planned for, prior to
January 20, 2021.
(2) No cancellations.--The Secretary may not cancel any
contract for activities related to the construction of the
border barrier system that was entered into on or before
January 20, 2021.
(3) Use of funds.--To carry out this section, the Secretary
shall expend all funds that were appropriated or explicitly
obligated for the construction of the border barrier system on
or after October 1, 2016.
(c) Uphold Negotiated Agreements.--The Secretary shall ensure that
all agreements relating to current and future construction of the
border barrier system entered into before January 20, 2021, that were
executed in writing between the Department and any State, local, or
Tribal government, private citizen, or other stakeholder, and to which
the applicable non-Federal parties consent to revive in whole or in
part, are honored by the Department in accordance with such agreements
and to the extent provided by such consent.
(d) Availability of Funds.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, any amount appropriated or otherwise made available during
fiscal year 2018, 2019, 2020, or 2021 for any project relating
to the construction of physical barriers, tactical
infrastructure, and technology along the southern border shall
remain available until expended.
(2) Authorization.--In addition to amounts described in
paragraph (1), there is authorized to be made available to
carry out this Act the unobligated balances of any amount
appropriated or otherwise made available during fiscal year
2022 and each year thereafter for projects described in such
paragraph (1). Amounts so authorized shall be authorized to
remain available until expended.
(e) Use of Funds.--Any amounts appropriated or otherwise made
available for fiscal year 2021 that remain available pursuant to
subsection (d) may only be used for barriers, technology, or roads
that--
(1) use--
(A) operationally effective designs deployed as of
the date of enactment of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31), such as
currently deployed steel bollard designs, that
prioritize agent safety; or
(B) operationally effective adaptations of such
designs that help mitigate community or environmental
impacts of barrier system construction, including
adaptations based on consultation with jurisdictions
within which barrier system will be constructed; and
(2) are constructed in the highest priority locations as
identified in the Border Security Improvement Plan.
<all>