[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 761 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 761
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
to establish a grant program to reimburse individuals for loss or
damage to property near the southern border of the United States caused
by an individual illegally crossing the border, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 2, 2023
Mrs. Bice (for herself, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Mr.
Fallon, and Mr. Jackson of Texas) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to
the Committee on Appropriations, 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 direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
to establish a grant program to reimburse individuals for loss or
damage to property near the southern border of the United States caused
by an individual illegally crossing the border, 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 ``Securing American Families from
Exploitation at the Border Act'' or the ``SAFE Border Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Impacted party.--The term ``impacted party'' means an
individual who--
(A) owns real property within, the border zone; and
(B) has experienced property theft or property
damage on the property, as applicable, by an individual
illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
(2) At-risk party.--The term ``at-risk party'' means an
individual who--
(A) owns property within the border zone that does
not have a bollard-style border barrier that is
adjacent to such property; and
(B) reasonably believes to be at risk of
experiencing property theft or property damage on the
property, as applicable, by an individual illegally
crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
(3) Border zone.--The term ``border zone'' means the area
of the United States that is within 10 miles of the U.S.-Mexico
border.
SEC. 3. SOUTHERN BORDER LANDOWNER SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM.
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall
establish a grant program to be known as the Southern Border Landowner
Security Grant Program to provide grants to impacted parties to cover
losses or damage to property and to at-risk parties to improve the
security of certain property.
SEC. 4. GRANTS TO IMPACTED PARTIES.
(a) In General.--The Administrator may provide grants under this
Act to an impacted party to cover loss or damages not otherwise covered
by insurance to the impacted property if such party certifies, to the
satisfaction of the Administrator, that the property--
(1) was located in the border zone at the time such loss or
damage occurred; and
(2) the loss or damage was caused by an individual
illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, an
impacted party shall submit to the Administrator an application that
includes documentation of the loss or damage and an estimate of the
value of such loss or an estimate of the cost to repair such damage.
SEC. 5. GRANTS TO AT-RISK PARTIES.
(a) In General.--The Administrator may provide grants under this
Act to an at-risk party to improve the physical security of property
located within the border zone if such party certifies, to the
satisfaction of the Administrator, that the party reasonably believes
that the property of such party is at risk of loss or damage caused by
an individual illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
(b) Report on Use of Funds.--Not later than 290 days after an at-
risk party receives funds under this section, such party shall submit
to the Administrator documentation on how the party spends such funds.
Any funds that remain unspent on the day on which such documentation is
submitted shall be returned to the Administrator for further provision
under this section.
SEC. 6. FUNDING.
(a) Transfer of Funds.--Of the funds appropriated under the heading
``Procurement, Construction, and Improvement'' for use by the U.S.
Customs and Border Patrol that are unobligated and unexpended as of the
date of enactment of this Act, $75,000,000 shall be transferred to the
Administrator to provide grants under this Act.
(b) Fiscal Year Limitation.--Of the funds transferred under
subsection (a), the Administrator may expend $25,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2022 through 2024.
(c) Limitation on Grant Amount.--An individual may not receive more
than a total of $25,000 under this section for fiscal years 2022
through 2024.
SEC. 7. REGULATIONS.
The Administrator may issues such regulations as are necessary to
carry out this Act, including--
(1) requirements that applicants for funds under this Act
submit evidentiary documentation, including property deeds,
police reports, insurance coverage documentation, and other
documentation considered appropriate by the Administrator;
(2) a review process conducted by the Administrator or the
inspector general of the Agency to review applications annually
for waste, fraud, and abuse; and
(3) the applicable penalties for fraudulent claims or false
statements.
SEC. 8. SUNSET.
The authority to provide grants under this Act shall cease on the
last date of fiscal year 2026. Any funds that have not been obligated
under this section before that date shall be transferred to the heading
``Procurement, Construction, and Improvement'' for use by the U.S.
Customs and Border Patrol.
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