BOUND Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 4276 To establish a minimum staffing level of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials along the northern border, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 Mr. HIGGINS of New York (for himself, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. PETERSON, Mrs. RODGERS of Washington, Mr. WELCH, and Ms. SLOTKIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Secu- rity, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider- ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To establish a minimum staffing level of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials along the northern border, 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 ‘‘Border Officers Utili- 4 zation for National Defense Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘BOUND 5 Act’’. 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:54 Sep 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4276.IH H4276 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 4276 IH SEC. 2. MINIMUM U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION 1 STAFFING ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of the en- 3 actment of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs 4 and Border Protection shall ensure that not fewer than 5 the maximum number of U.S. Customs and Border Pro- 6 tection officers deployed along the international border be- 7 tween the United States and Canada (referred to in this 8 Act as the ‘‘northern border’’) at any time between Janu- 9 ary 1, 2016, and such date of enactment are always de- 10 ployed along the northern border, including at ports of 11 entry along the northern border. 12 (b) LIMITATION ON TRANSFERS.—The Commissioner 13 of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may not transfer 14 any U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer away 15 from an assignment along the northern border, including 16 at ports of entry along the northern border, if such trans- 17 fer would reduce the number of such officers assigned to 18 the northern border below the level required under sub- 19 section (a). 20 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:54 Sep 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H4276.IH H4276 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS