Federal

Reimbursing Border Communities Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 834 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to give grants to certain communities near the U.S.-Mexico border. The grants will reimburse (pay back) these communities for expenses they spend on border security measures, including extra pay for local police officers who provide border security.

Who It Affects

Local governments within 200 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border who apply for grants. The Secretary of Homeland Security who administers the program. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner who reports on the program.

Key Provisions

• Border communities can receive grants if they are local government units located within 200 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, submit an application the Secretary requires, and are not sanctuary jurisdictions (places that don't follow certain immigration laws). (Sec. 2(b)) • Each grant cannot exceed $500,000 per fiscal year (yearly budget period). (Sec. 2(c)) • Grant money cannot be used to pay nonprofit organizations, fund legal representation, or provide education, housing, food, or healthcare resources to immigrants. (Sec. 2(d)) • The Secretary, through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, must report annually through 2033 on how grants are used and how the program is working. (Sec. 2(e)) • The Secretary of Homeland Security cannot use federal funds for travel except to the U.S.-Mexico border if funds are appropriated for this program and the Secretary does not start the program within 180 days of receiving funding. (Sec. 2(h))

What Changes

If this becomes law, border communities near Mexico will be able to apply for grants to cover their security expenses and local police overtime costs. The Secretary of Homeland Security must create an application process and decide which communities qualify. Communities must comply with federal immigration law to receive grants.

Important Definitions

"Sanctuary jurisdiction" means a state or local government that violates federal immigration law requirements, restricts cooperation with immigration detainers (official requests to hold people), or has laws or policies that violate immigration laws. (Sec. 2(f)(1)) "Alien" has the meaning given in federal immigration law. (Sec. 2(f)(2))

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 725 To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to certain border communities for the purpose of reimbursing such communities for expenses related to security measures along the United States land border with Mexico, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 1, 2023 Mr. JACKSON of Texas (for himself, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. MORAN, and Mr. BACON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to certain border communities for the purpose of reim- bursing such communities for expenses related to security measures along the United States land border with Mex- ico, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reimbursing Border 4 Communities Act of 2023’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:08 Feb 22, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H725.IH H725 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 725 IH SEC. 2. BORDER COMMUNITY REIMBURSEMENT GRANT 1 PROGRAM. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap- 3 propriations, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 4 make grants to certain border communities for the pur- 5 pose of reimbursing such communities for expenses related 6 to security measures along the United States land border 7 with Mexico, including additional wages for local law en- 8 forcement providing security for such border. 9 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant under 10 this section, a border community— 11 (1) shall be a unit of local government located 12 in the United States within 200 miles of the land 13 border with Mexico; 14 (2) shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland 15 Security an application in such form, at such time, 16 and containing such information as the Secretary 17 determines appropriate; and 18 (3) may not be a sanctuary jurisdiction. 19 (c) GRANT AMOUNT.—A grant made under sub- 20 section (a) may not exceed $500,000 for each fiscal year. 21 (d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Any grant 22 awarded under this section may not be used to reimburse 23 nonprofit organizations, to fund legal representation, or 24 to provide educational, housing, food, or healthcare re- 25 sources to an alien. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:08 Feb 22, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H725.IH H725 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 725 IH (e) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 1 of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter 2 through 2033, the Secretary, acting through the Commis- 3 sioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall sub- 4 mit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 5 of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Secu- 6 rity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that 7 includes— 8 (1) information relating to the— 9 (A) use of each grant made under sub- 10 section (a); and 11 (B) implementation of this section; and 12 (2) any recommendations of the Secretary for 13 improving the implementation of this section, includ- 14 ing with respect to the amount of funding provided 15 to each recipient of a grant under this section. 16 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 17 (1) The term ‘‘sanctuary jurisdiction’’ means a 18 State or unit of local government that— 19 (A) violates section 642 of the Illegal Im- 20 migration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility 21 Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373); 22 (B) restricts compliance with a detainer 23 issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security 24 (or the Secretary’s designee); or 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:08 Feb 22, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H725.IH H725 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HR 725 IH (C) has any law or policy in effect that vio- 1 lates the immigration laws. 2 (2) The term ‘‘alien’’ has the meaning given 3 such term in section 101 of the Immigration and 4 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). 5 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 6 authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fis- 7 cal years 2024 through 2034 to carry out this section. 8 (h) CONDITIONAL LIMITATION ON SECRETARY.—The 9 Secretary of Homeland Security may not use Federal 10 funds for travel, except for travel to and along the United 11 States land border with Mexico if— 12 (1) funds are appropriated to carry out this 13 section; and 14 (2) the Secretary fails to implement the pro- 15 gram under this section before the date that is 180 16 days after the appropriation of such funds. 17 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:08 Feb 22, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H725.IH H725 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

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