Federal

Securing Guam’s Shores Reimbursement Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 748 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to give money grants to the Territory of Guam. The grants reimburse Guam for costs related to security measures when people enter the territory unlawfully through the shores.

Who It Affects

The Territory of Guam and its Governor. The Secretary of Homeland Security. Local law enforcement in Guam. The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make grants to Guam to reimburse expenses for security measures related to unlawful shore entries, which may include extra wages for local law enforcement (Sec. 2(a)). • Guam's Governor must submit an application to the Secretary of Homeland Security in the form and with the information the Secretary determines appropriate to receive a grant (Sec. 2(b)). • Each grant cannot exceed $500,000 per fiscal year (Sec. 2(c)). • Grants cannot be used to reimburse nonprofit organizations, pay for legal representation, or provide educational, housing, food, or healthcare resources to people who unlawfully entered Guam through the shores (Sec. 2(d)). • The Secretary of Homeland Security must submit a report annually through 2033 to Congress describing how each grant was used and recommending improvements (Sec. 2(e)).

What Changes

If this becomes law, Guam becomes eligible to receive federal reimbursement grants for security expenses caused by unlawful shore entries. The Secretary of Homeland Security must report annually to Congress on how these grants are being used.

Important Definitions

The bill uses the term "alien" but states it has the meaning given in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill does not provide a separate definition of this term.

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 864 To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to the Territory of Guam for the purpose of reimbursing the territory for expenses related to security measures associated with aliens unlawfully entering the Terri- tory, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 7, 2023 Mr. MOYLAN 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 the Territory of Guam for the purpose of reimbursing the territory for expenses related to security measures associated with aliens unlawfully entering the Territory, 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 ‘‘Securing Guam’s 4 Shores Reimbursement Act of 2023’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Mar 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H864.IH H864 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 864 IH SEC. 2. SECURING GUAM’S SHORES REIMBURSEMENT 1 GRANT PROGRAM. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap- 3 propriations, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 4 make grants to the Territory of Guam for the purpose 5 of reimbursing the Territory for expenses related to secu- 6 rity measures associated with aliens unlawfully entering 7 the Territory through the shores, which expenses may in- 8 clude additional wages for local law enforcement providing 9 security for such shores. 10 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant under 11 this section, the Governor of the Territory of Guam shall 12 submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security an applica- 13 tion in such form, at such time, and containing such infor- 14 mation as the Secretary determines appropriate. 15 (c) GRANT AMOUNT.—A grant under this section 16 may not exceed $500,000 for any fiscal year. 17 (d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—A grant under 18 this section may not be used to reimburse nonprofit orga- 19 nizations, to fund legal representation, or to provide edu- 20 cational, housing, food, or healthcare resources to aliens 21 who unlawfully entered the Territory of Guam through the 22 shores. 23 (e) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 24 of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter 25 through 2033, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Mar 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H864.IH H864 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 864 IH through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border 1 Protection, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 2 Security of the House of Representatives and the Com- 3 mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 4 of the Senate a report that includes the following: 5 (1) Information relating to the following: 6 (A) The use of each grant made under 7 subsection (a). 8 (B) The implementation of this section. 9 (2) Any recommendations of the Secretary for 10 improving such implementation, including with re- 11 spect to the amount of funding provided to the Ter- 12 ritory of Guam pursuant to grant under this section. 13 (f) CONDITIONAL LIMITATION ON SECRETARY.—The 14 Secretary of Homeland Security may not obligate or ex- 15 pend any Federal funds for official travel, except for such 16 travel to and from the Territory of Guam, if the following 17 conditions are satisfied: 18 (1) Funds are appropriated or otherwise made 19 available to carry out this section. 20 (2) The Secretary does not implement this sec- 21 tion before the date that is 180 days after the ap- 22 propriation or availability, as the case may be, of 23 such funds. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Mar 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H864.IH H864 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HR 864 IH (g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘‘alien’’ 1 has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the 2 Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). 3 (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 4 authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for each of fiscal 5 years 2024 through 2034 to carry out this section. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Mar 02, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H864.IH H864 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

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