[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1283 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1283

To establish a nonpartisan commission on immigration reform and border 
                               security.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2019

   Mr. Ryan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on 
     Homeland Security, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a nonpartisan commission on immigration reform and border 
                               security.

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

SECTION 1. NONPARTISAN COMMISSION ON IMMIGRATION REFORM AND BORDER 
              SECURITY.

    (a) Establishment and Composition of Commission.--
            (1) In general.--Effective on the date of the enactment of 
        this Act, there is established a Nonpartisan Commission on 
        Immigration Reform and Border Security (in this section 
        referred to as the ``Commission'') which shall be composed of 
        nine members to be appointed as follows:
                    (A) One member, who shall serve as Chairperson, to 
                be appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House of 
                Representatives and the majority leader of the Senate.
                    (B) One member to be appointed by the Speaker of 
                the House of Representatives who shall select such 
                members from a list of nominees provided by the 
                Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and 
                Citizenship of the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
                House of Representatives.
                    (C) One member to be appointed by the Speaker of 
                the House of Representatives who shall select such 
                members from a list of nominees provided by the 
                Chairman of the Subcommittee on Border Security, 
                Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on 
                Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.
                    (D) One member to be appointed by the minority 
                leader of the House of Representatives who shall select 
                such members from a list of nominees provided by the 
                ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on 
                Immigration and Citizenship of the Committee on the 
                Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
                    (E) One member to be appointed by the minority 
                leader of the House of Representatives who shall select 
                such members from a list of nominees provided by the 
                ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on Border 
                Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee 
                on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.
                    (F) Two members to be appointed by the majority 
                leader of the Senate who shall select such members from 
                a list of nominees provided by the Chairman of the 
                Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration of the 
                Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.
                    (G) Two members to be appointed by the minority 
                leader of the Senate who shall select such members from 
                a list of nominees provided by the ranking minority 
                member of the Subcommittee on Border Security and 
                Immigration of the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
                Senate.
            (2) No elected officials.--No member may be a Federal, 
        State, or local elected official or political appointee.
            (3) Deadline.--Initial appointments to the Commission shall 
        be made not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
        same manner in which the original appointment was made.
            (4) Term of service.--Members shall be appointed to serve 
        for the life of the Commission.
    (b) Functions of Commission.--The Commission shall--
            (1) in accordance with subsection (c), review and assess--
                    (A) the security of the borders of the United 
                States and methods to enhance the integrity and 
                efficacy of security at such borders; and
                    (B) the immigration system of the United States in 
                general; and
            (2) transmit to the Congress--
                    (A) not later than 90 days after the initial 
                appointments to the Commission are completed, a first 
                report describing the progress made in carrying out 
                paragraph (1); and
                    (B) not later than 270 days after the initial 
                appointments to the Commission are completed, a final 
                report setting forth the Commission's findings and 
                recommendations, including recommendations for 
                additional changes that should be made with respect to 
                border security as the Commission deems appropriate.
    (c) Particular Considerations.--In particular, the Commission shall 
consider the following:
            (1) Vulnerabilities in border security screening and 
        surveillance programs, inspection and detection technologies, 
        and physical infrastructure.
            (2) U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration 
        and Customs Enforcement, and Office of Refugee Resettlement 
        operations and personnel.
            (3) Cross-border criminal activity.
            (4) Drug trafficking and interdiction activities.
            (5) Severe forms of trafficking and smuggling of persons.
            (6) Migrant interdiction and detention operations.
            (7) Protocols pertaining to migrant families and 
        unaccompanied alien minors.
            (8) Protocols pertaining to asylum seekers and refugees.
            (9) Protection of the human rights of immigrants, refugees, 
        and asylum seekers, in particular minor children.
            (10) Protection of the physical and mental health of 
        migrants in custody, in particular minor children.
            (11) Asylum and immigration court system backlog.
            (12) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
            (13) Family-sponsored immigrants.
            (14) Employee-based immigrants.
            (15) Diversity immigrants.
            (16) Temporary protected status.
            (17) Nonimmigrant visitors.
            (18) Visa overstays.
            (19) Naturalization and a pathway to citizenship.
            (20) Criminal aliens.
            (21) Removal proceedings.
    (d) Compensation of Members.--
            (1) Pay.--Each member of the Commission who is not an 
        officer or employee of the Federal Government is entitled to 
        receive, subject to such amounts as are provided in advance in 
        appropriations Acts, pay at the daily equivalent of the minimum 
        annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS-18 of the 
        General Schedule. Each member of the Commission who is such an 
        officer or employee shall serve without additional pay.
            (2) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or 
        regular places of business in the performance of services for 
        the Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed 
        travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence.
    (e) Meetings, Staff, and Authority of Commission.--The provisions 
of subsections (e) through (g) of section 304 of the Immigration Reform 
and Control Act of 1986 shall apply to the Commission in the same 
manner as they apply to the Commission established under such section, 
except that paragraph (2) of subsection (e) thereof shall not apply.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Commission such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
        section.
            (2) Subject to appropriations.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of this section, the authority to make payments, or 
        to enter into contracts, under this section shall be effective 
        only to such extent, or in such amounts, as are provided in 
        advance in appropriations Acts.
    (g) Termination Date.--The Commission shall terminate on the date 
on which a final report is required to be transmitted under subsection 
(b)(2)(B), except that the Commission may continue to function until 
January 20, 2021, for the purpose of concluding its activities, 
including providing testimony to standing committees of Congress 
concerning its final report under this section and disseminating that 
report.
    (h) Congressional Response.--
            (1) Hearings.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        receipt of each report transmitted under subsection (b)(2), the 
        Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and 
        of the Senate shall initiate hearings to consider the findings 
        and recommendations of the report.
            (2) Findings and recommendations.--Not later than 180 days 
        after the date of receipt of such a report, each such Committee 
        shall report to its respective House its oversight findings and 
        any legislation it deems appropriate.
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