The House Homeland Security Committee approved legislation on Wednesday that U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) introduced to leverage physical barriers, additional personnel and cutting-edge technology to help secure the nation’s borders.
The Border Security for America Act, H.R. 3548, also included elements from U.S. Rep. Will Hurd’s (R-TX) Secure Miles with All Resources and Technology (SMART) Act that would implement innovative technologies, such as radar, LIDAR and sensors to secure the borders.
H.R. 3548 would offer a comprehensive approach to border security. It would invest $10 billion in infrastructure like walls, fencing, technology, air assets and additional tactical barriers. It also calls for $5 billion to be invested in modernizing ports of entry and adding 5,000 Border Patrol agents in order to help streamline lawful trade and crack down on illegal trafficking.
“The U.S. Constitution enumerates Congress’ authority to provide for the common defense of our nation,” McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said. The bill “… better empowers the Department of Homeland Security’s secretary to take other necessary actions to secure the border.”
The National Guard would also be authorized to provide aviation and intelligence support along the southern border under the bill, and $35 million in reimbursements would be provided to states that have dedicated National Guard resources to border security.
“We have been talking about border security for many years,” McCaul said. “Now that we finally have a partner in the White House who has prioritized this issue, it’s time for Congress to do its part and get the job done. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both chambers to get this bill to the president’s desk so we can finally provide the American people with the security they have long demanded and deserve.”
A biometric entry-exit system would be deployed at all ports of entry to target visa overstays under the bill, and funding would be doubled to $110 million for the Stonegarden grant program that helps state and local law enforcers fight drug trafficking, smuggling and other crimes at the border.
The Border Security for America Act also included two amendments from Hurd, whose district includes more than 800 miles along the southern border, more than any other member of Congress.
One amendment was designed to prevent installing physical barriers over certain regions of Texas where the rough terrain would make them ineffective.
“As I have been saying for years, a wall from sea to shining sea is the least effective and most expensive solution for border security,” Hurd said. “This is especially true in areas, like Big Bend National Park, where rough terrain, natural barriers, and the remoteness of a location render a wall or other structure impractical and ineffective.”
Another amendment would allow pre-existing park-access agreements between Customs and Border Protection and national parks, such as Big Bend National Park, to stand in order to respect the scenic nature of the park without harming security operations, Hurd said.