[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6007 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6007

   To address critical needs for additional resources, coordination 
  between Federal, State, and local law enforcement, and supplemental 
 funding, to support border security activities of State and local law 
     enforcement agencies, including sheriffs, in regions near an 
            international land border of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2006

 Mr. McCaul of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Homeland Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To address critical needs for additional resources, coordination 
  between Federal, State, and local law enforcement, and supplemental 
 funding, to support border security activities of State and local law 
     enforcement agencies, including sheriffs, in regions near an 
            international land border of the United States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. BORDER AREA SECURITY INITIATIVES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall designate 
a high-threat area adjacent to an international land border of the 
United States for a border area security initiative if the area 
satisfies the criteria described in subsection (c).
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of a designation under subsection (a) 
shall be to provide State and local agencies, including sheriffs, with 
the resources and capabilities necessary--
            (1) to assist the Secretary in gaining operational control 
        over the border in the area;
            (2) to address increased cross-border criminal activity in 
        the area; and
            (3) to reduce the threats to national security posed by 
        opportunities for terrorists to enter the United States at an 
        international land border, made apparent by the tragic events 
        of September 11, 2001.
    (c) Designation.--The criteria relating to area designations 
referred to in subsection (a) are as follows:
            (1) A significant number of illegal aliens and contraband 
        are brought through the area.
            (2) Law enforcement personnel are targets of violence, or 
        threats of violence, due to their border security mission.
            (3) State and local law enforcement agencies, including 
        sheriffs, have committed resources to respond to the border 
        security problems in the area, thereby indicating a 
        determination to respond aggressively to the problems.
            (4) Illegal activities linked to the area are having a 
        harmful impact in other parts of the country.
            (5) High levels of crime in communities in or near the area 
        are directly linked to illegal border activity.
            (6) The risk or threat of terrorist activity, based upon 
        credible evidence.
            (7) Any additional criteria determined to be appropriate by 
        the Secretary.
    (d) Post-Designation Activities.--After designating an area under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall undertake the following:
            (1) The Secretary shall establish a border area security 
        initiative executive committee, comprised of senior executives 
        from interested local, State, and Federal domestic security and 
        law enforcement agencies, including sheriffs, operating within 
        the designated area. This committee shall be responsible for 
        the development and execution of multi-agency enforcement 
        strategies and activities to support Federal border security 
        missions in the area.
            (2) The Secretary shall--
                    (A) provide for additional Federal resources to be 
                sent to the area, including personnel, fencing 
                materials, barriers, cameras, body armor, and any other 
                material, technology, or equipment as the Secretary, in 
                consultation with the border area security initiative 
                executive committee, may deem necessary;
                    (B) provide for the construction or acquisition of 
                such temporary detention facilities in the area as may 
                be necessary; and
                    (C) to the extent consistent with appropriations 
                Acts, provide funds to State and local law enforcement 
                entities, including sheriffs, operating in the area, to 
                be used in accordance with subsection (e).
    (e) Use of Funds.--Funds provided to State and local authorities, 
including sheriffs, under subsection (d)(2)(C) may be used to carry out 
activities consistent with the purpose described in subsection (b), 
including--
            (1) operational expenses (such as transportation);
            (2) personnel expenses, including overtime pay, except that 
        not more than 45 percent of such funds may be used to hire new 
        personnel; and
            (3) equipment expenses.
    (f) Sunset.--A designation made under subsection (a) shall expire 
on the date that is 5 years after the date on which the designation 
takes effect.
    (g) Reports.--The Secretary--
            (1) shall notify the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
        United States House of Representatives upon the designation of 
        an area for a border area security initiative; and
            (2) shall report annually to such committee the progress 
        made in securing the border as a result of such designation.
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