U.S. Reps. Carol Miller (R-WV) and John Moolenaar (R-MI) on June 13 joined more than a dozen of their Republican colleagues in proposing legislation that aims to bolster national security at the U.S.-Canada border, the world’s longest international border spanning 5,525 miles and 13 states.
“The crisis at America’s borders has had a devastating effect on the United States,” Rep. Miller said on Monday. “While the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] ignores the obvious catastrophes, our northern border is seeing an unprecedented number of illegal crossings and thousands of pounds of fentanyl being trafficked.”
“President Biden’s border policies have failed and there is an unprecedented level of illegal crossings occurring at the northern border,” added Rep. Moolenaar in a separate statement. “This legislation tells DHS that it must annually review the threats to the northern border and use its resources to protect the American people.”
The members are among 16 GOP original cosponsors — who also include U.S. Reps. Pete Stauber (R-MN), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Mike Kelly (R-PA), and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) — of the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act, H.R. 8734, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY).
If enacted, H.R. 8734 would amend the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act to require updates to the DHS Northern Border Threat Analysis Report and its Northern Border Strategy, according to the bill’s text.
“The Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act will produce a comprehensive threat analysis that will give Congress a better ability to protect the United States from outside threats,” said Rep. Miller.
Specifically, H.R. 8734 would mandate that DHS annually conduct and submit a Northern Border Threat Analysis that includes up-to-date assessments of security risks, and would require DHS to update its Northern Border Strategy within 90 days following the annual threat analysis, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Additionally, DHS would be required to provide classified briefings to Congress within 30 days after submitting the threat analysis and to develop performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of Air and Marine Operations in securing the northern border, the summary says.
“Michigan is a border state and this legislation will help make sure the northern border is secure,” Rep. Moolenaar said.
H.R. 8734 has been referred to the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee for consideration.