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Proposed Federal House Legislation HB4482

Legislation Overview

Title: Southwest Border Security Threat Assessment Act of 2016

Subject: Emergency management: Border security and unlawful immigration: Canada: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation: Department of Homeland Security: Drug trafficking and controlled substances: Fraud offenses and financial crimes: Human trafficking: Intergovernmental relations: International law and treaties: International organizations and cooperation: Latin America: Law enforcement administration and funding: Law enforcement officers: Mexico: Organized crime: Smuggling and trafficking: State and local government operations: Terrorism: Travel and tourism

Description: Southwest Border Security Threat Assessment Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit a southwest border threat analysis that includes an assessment of: terrorism and criminal threats posed by individuals and organized groups seeking to unlawfully enter the United States through the southwest border or seeking to exploit security vulnerabilities along such border; improvements needed at and between ports of entry to prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the United States; gaps in law, policy, and coordination that hinder effective and efficient border security, counterterrorism, anti-human smuggling and trafficking efforts; the flow of legitimate trade along the southwest border; the current percentage of situational awareness and of operational control achieved by DHS along the southwest border; the impact of trusted traveler programs on border wait times and border security; and traveler crossing times and any potential security vulnerability associated with prolonged wait times. As part of such analysis, the Secretary shall consider and examine: technology, personnel, and infrastructure needs and challenges; the roles and authorities of law enforcement; the status of coordination among law enforcement entities; the terrain, population density, and climate along the southwest border; and international agreements between the United States and Mexico. (Sec. 3) The bill requires the Chief of the Border Patrol, within 180 days after submission of the threat analysis and every five years thereafter, to issue a Border Patrol Strategic Plan that includes consideration of: the southwest border threat analysis; efforts to analyze and disseminate border security and border threat information between DHS components and with other federal agencies with missions associated with the border; efforts to increase situational awareness, to detect and prevent terrorists and instruments of terrorism from entering the United States, and to detect, interdict, and disrupt aliens and illicit drugs at the earliest possible point upon entry into the United States; efforts to focus intelligence collection to disrupt transnational criminal organizations outside of U.S. borders; efforts to ensure that any new border security technology can be operationally integrated with existing DHS technologies; technology required to maintain, support, and enhance security and facilitate trade at ports of entry; operational coordination unity of effort initiatives of DHS border security components; lessons learned from Operation Jumpstart and Operation Phalanx; cooperative agreements and information sharing with agencies that have jurisdiction on the borders; border security information received from consultation with such agencies and from border community stakeholders; staffing requirements; a prioritized list of departmental research and development objectives; an assessment of training programs for detecting fraudulent documents, understanding the scope of enforcement authorities and the use of force policies, and screening, identifying, and addressing vulnerable populations; and an assessment of how border security operations affect crossing times.

Session: 114th Congress

Last Action: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Last Action Date: April 14, 2016

Link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4482/all-info

Sponsors

Note: the first sponsor listed is normally the primary sponsor. If a sponsor's name is a hyperlink you can click on it to 'follow the money'.

12 sponsors: Martha McSally (D); Earl Carter (R); Trent Franks (R); Paul Gosar (R); Michael McCaul (R); Mark Walker (R); David Young (R); Krysten Sinema (D); Ryan Zinke (R); Matt Salmon (R); David Schweikert (R); John Culberson (R)

History

Chamber	Date	Action
Senate	Apr 14 2016	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
House	Apr 13 2016	Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 374.
House	Apr 13 2016	Ms. McSally moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
House	Apr 13 2016	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1663-1665)
House	Apr 13 2016	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4482.
House	Apr 13 2016	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1663-1664)
House	Apr 13 2016	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
House	Apr 13 2016	Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-492.
House	Mar 23 2016	Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
House	Mar 23 2016	Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
House	Feb 16 2016	Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
House	Feb 4 2016	Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
House	Feb 4 2016	Introduced in House

Texts

Type	Date	Federal Link	Text
Introduced	Feb 9 2016	federal bill text	bill text
Introduced	Apr 13 2016	federal bill text	bill text
Engrossed	Apr 14 2016	federal bill text	bill text

Amendments

Title	Description	Date	State Link	Text	Adopted
There are no amendments to this bill at this time

Committee

Chamber: S

Committee Name: Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs

Votes

There have not been any votes on this bill