[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 163 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 163
To immediately resume construction of the border wall system along the
international border between the United States and Mexico to secure the
border, enforce the rule of law, and expend appropriated funds as
mandated by Congress, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Higgins of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. Brecheen, Mr. Bergman, Mr.
Meuser, Mr. Cline, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Feenstra, Mr.
Buchanan, Mr. Rose, Mr. Ezell, Ms. Mace, Mr. Bost, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr.
Roy, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. Kustoff, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Crank, Mr.
Taylor, Mrs. Harshbarger, and Mr. Guest) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To immediately resume construction of the border wall system along the
international border between the United States and Mexico to secure the
border, enforce the rule of law, and expend appropriated funds as
mandated by Congress, 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 ``Finish the Wall Act''.
SEC. 2. BORDER WALL SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION.
(a)(1) Immediately Resume Border Wall System Construction.--Not
later than 24 hours after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall resume all activities related to
the construction of the border barrier system (also known as, and
referred to in this Act as, the ``border wall system'') 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 of Homeland Security may not
cancel any contract for activities related to border wall system
construction referred to in paragraph (1) that was entered into on or
before January 20, 2021.
(3) Use of Funds.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall expend
all funds appropriated or explicitly obligated for border wall system
construction referred to in paragraph (1) that were appropriated or
obligated, as the case may be, beginning on October 1, 2016, to carry
out this Act.
(4) Implementation Plan for Border Wall System.--Not later than 30
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees an implementation plan to complete, by not later than
September 30, 2026, border wall system construction referred to in
paragraph (1) and funded in accordance with paragraph (3).
(b) Plan To Complete Tactical Infrastructure and Technology
Elements of Border Wall System.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees an implementation
plan, including quarterly benchmarks and cost estimates, for satisfying
all requirements of border wall system construction referred to in
subsection (a)(1), including tactical infrastructure, technology, and
other elements as identified by the Department of Homeland Security
prior to January 20, 2021, through the expenditure of funds
appropriated or explicitly obligated, as the case may be, for use
beginning on October 1, 2016, as well as any future funds appropriated
by Congress.
(c) Uphold Negotiated Agreements.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security shall ensure that all agreements executed in writing between
the Department of Homeland Security and private citizens, State, local,
and Tribal governments, and other stakeholders are honored by the
Department relating to current and future border wall system
construction as required by such agreements.
SEC. 3. DNA COLLECTION CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL LAW.
Not later than 14 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure and certify to the
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate
that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is fully compliant with the DNA
Fingerprint Act of 2005 at all border facilities that process adults,
including as part of a family unit, in the custody of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection at the border.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on
Homeland Security and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of
the Senate.
(2) Tactical infrastructure.--The term ``tactical
infrastructure'' includes boat ramps, access gates,
checkpoints, lighting, and roads associated with a border wall
system.
(3) Technology.--The term ``technology'' includes border
surveillance and detection technology, including linear ground
detection systems, associated with a border wall system.
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