[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6742 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6742


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 26, 2018

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
                        and Governmental Affairs


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure that appropriate 
officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are equipped 
with secure radios or other two-way communication devices, supported by 
            system interoperability, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Secure Border Communications Act''.

SEC. 2. SECURE BORDER COMMUNICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle B of title IV of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 420. SECURE BORDER COMMUNICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall ensure that each U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection officer or agent, if appropriate, is 
equipped with a secure radio or other two-way communication device, 
supported by system interoperability, that allows each such officer or 
agent to communicate--
            ``(1) between ports of entry and inspection stations; and
            ``(2) with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local law 
        enforcement entities.
    ``(b) U.S. Border Patrol Agents.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
each U.S. Border Patrol agent assigned or required to patrol in remote 
mission critical locations, and at border checkpoints, has a multi- or 
dual-band encrypted portable radio.
    ``(c) Commercial Mobile Broadband Connectivity.--In carrying out 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall acquire radios or other devices 
with the option to connect to appropriate commercial mobile broadband 
networks for deployment in areas where such networks enhance operations 
and are cost effective.
    ``(d) Emerging Communications Technologies Considered.--In carrying 
out this section, the Secretary may evaluate new or emerging 
communications technologies to determine their suitability for the 
unique conditions of border security operations.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 419 the following new item:

``Sec. 420. Secure border communications.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 25, 2018.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.