[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3920 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3920
To strengthen homeland security by expanding Urban Areas Security
Initiative grant eligibility criteria to promote cooperation with U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to advance election security
protections.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 25, 2026
Mr. Scott of Florida introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To strengthen homeland security by expanding Urban Areas Security
Initiative grant eligibility criteria to promote cooperation with U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to advance election security
protections.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.
This Act may be cited as the ``Unifying American Security Interests
Act'' or the ``UASI Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Urban Areas Security Initiative provides critical
funding to high-risk urban areas to enhance preparedness
against terrorism and other threats under the Homeland Security
Grant Program.
(2) Effective border security and immigration enforcement
are integral to national homeland security, requiring
collaboration between Federal, State, local, Tribal, and
territorial entities.
(3) The fiscal year 2025 Homeland Security Grant Program
Notice of Funding Opportunity established National Priority
Areas to address emerging threats, including support for border
crisis response through cooperation with U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement.
(4) Codifying the requirements referred to in paragraphs
(1) through (3) will ensure consistent application and prevent
future circumvention through administrative or judicial
actions.
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR URBAN AREAS SECURITY INITIATIVE GRANTS.
Section 2008 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Eligibility for Urban Areas Security Initiative Grants.--
``(1) National priority areas requirement.--As a condition
of eligibility for a grant under the Urban Areas Security
Initiative, each applicant (including State administrative
agencies and eligible urban areas) shall demonstrate in its
application that it will allocate not less than 30 percent of
the total award amount across the following National Priority
Areas:
``(A) Enhancing cybersecurity.
``(B) Enhancing the protection of soft targets and
crowded places.
``(C) Supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and
Fusion Centers.
``(D) Enhancing election security.
``(E) Supporting border crisis response and
enforcement.
``(2) Minimum allocations.--Of the amount required to be
allocated under paragraph (1)--
``(A) not less than 3 percent of the total award
shall be dedicated to activities in support of
enhancing election security; and
``(B) not less than 10 percent of the total award
shall be dedicated to activities that supporting border
crisis response and enforcement, which shall include--
``(i) participating in the program
authorized under section 287(g) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1357(g)), including training and authorizing
local officers to perform immigration
enforcement functions such as identifying and
processing removable noncitizens in their
custody;
``(ii) cooperating with detainers received
from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
and other jurisdictional responsibilities
related to immigration enforcement;
``(iii) training for law enforcement
personnel in immigration law, civil rights
protections, and procedures under the program
referred to in clause (i);
``(iv) developing information-sharing
platforms or secure networks between local
agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement;
``(v) procuring technology for screening,
detection, and communications to support
immigration enforcement;
``(vi) participating in joint training
exercises with U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement to improve coordination; and
``(vii) staffing and operational overtime
directly tied to activities described in clause
(i), such as expanding screening in
correctional facilities.
``(3) Investment justification and coordination.--Each
applicant for a grant under the Urban Areas Security Initiative
shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security a dedicated
investment justification for projects that supporting border
crisis response and enforcement that details alignment with
border security goals. All such projects shall require
coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
field offices.
``(4) Compliance certifications.--Each applicant for a
grant under the Urban Areas Security Initiative shall certify
to the Secretary of Homeland Security that funded activities
will comply with all applicable Department of Homeland Security
terms, including prohibitions on benefitting or incentivizing
illegal immigration.
``(5) Noncompliance penalties.--Failure of a grantee to
meet the minimum allocations required under this subsection may
result in the Secretary of Homeland Security--
``(A) denying eligibility for a grant under the
Urban Areas Security Initiative;
``(B) placing a hold on up to 30 percent of the
award until such failure is remedied; or
``(C) imposing another remedy, including award
termination or debarment of the grantee from future
grants.
``(6) Applicability.--The requirements under this
subsection shall apply to all Urban Areas Security Initiative
grants awarded for fiscal year 2027 or for any fiscal year
thereafter.''.
SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to preempt State or local
laws, except to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with the
conditions for Federal grant funding established under section 2008(h)
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609(h)), as added by
section 3.
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