118 HR 6280 IH: Smart Border Protection Act U.S. House of Representatives 2023-11-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 6280IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESNovember 7, 2023Mr. Vasquez (for himself, Ms. Craig, Mr. Vargas, Ms. Salinas, and Ms. Caraveo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Ways and Means, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 concernedA BILLTo authorize additional appropriations for certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Smart Border Protection Act.

2.

Additional funding for certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations

(a)

Hiring

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security $300,000,000 to hire personnel for U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations at ports of entry, including agents, processing assistants, technicians, agriculture specialists, and import specialists.(b)

Screening

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security $200,000,000 to procure, deploy, install, maintain, and operate screening technology at U.S. Customs and Border Protection ports of entry, such as non-intrusive inspection technology to inspect and detect cargo for illicit materials, such as fentanyl.(c)

Infrastructure

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of General Services $70,000,000 for port of entry infrastructure, including port of entry building infrastructure improvements, vehicle inspection lane expansion or improvements, pedestrian pathway and lane expansion or improvements, and modernization within ports of entry.(d)

Availability

Amounts authorized to be appropriated for the purposes described in this section—(1)shall be expended by not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section; and(2)are in addition to amounts otherwise made available to the Secretary of Homeland Security or to the Administrator of General Services.