[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1188-S1189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2043. Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Portman, and Mr. Moran)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R.
2579, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the premium
tax credit with respect to unsubsidized COBRA continuation coverage;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. PROVIDING LEGAL PROTECTION FOR CERTAIN CHILDHOOD
ARRIVALS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible individual.--The term ``eligible individual''
means an individual who meets the eligibility criteria
described in subsection (b)(2).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
[[Page S1189]]
(b) Deferred Action Status.--
(1) Program authorized.--The Secretary shall establish a
program through which an eligible individual may apply for
deferred action status.
(2) Eligibility criteria.--An individual shall be eligible
for deferred action status under the program established
under paragraph (1) if the individual--
(A) on June 15, 2012, was under the age of 31 years;
(B) entered the United States--
(i) on a date on which the alien was under the age of 16
years; and
(ii) without inspection or lawful status before June 15,
2012;
(C) has continuously resided in the United States since
June 15, 2007;
(D) was physically present in the United States--
(i) on June 15, 2012; and
(ii) on the date on which the Secretary makes a
determination with respect to the eligibility of the
individual for deferred action status;
(E)(i) is in school;
(ii) has--
(I) graduated from high school; or
(II) obtained--
(aa) a certificate of completion from a high school; or
(bb) a general education development certificate; or
(iii) is--
(I) a member of the armed forces (as defined in section
101(a) of title 10, United States Code), including a member
of the National Guard or Reserves; or
(II) a veteran, as defined in section 101 of title 38,
United States Code, except that an individual discharged
other than honorably is excluded;
(F) has not been convicted of--
(i) a felony;
(ii) a significant misdemeanor; or
(iii) 3 or more misdemeanor offenses;
(G) does not pose a threat to national security or public
safety; and
(H) was granted deferred action status before the date of
the enactment of this Act.
(3) Period of deferred action status.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), deferred
action status granted under this subsection shall be valid
for a period of 2 years beginning on the date on which the
Secretary grants deferred action status to the eligible
individual.
(B) Renewal.--
(i) In general.--On application to the Secretary, deferred
action status granted under this subsection may be renewed
for additional 2-year periods.
(ii) Renewal application.--Not more than 120 days before
the date on which the deferred action status of an eligible
individual expires, the eligible individual may submit to the
Secretary an application for renewal of deferred action
status.
SEC. __. BORDER SECURITY TRUST FUND.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of
the United States a trust fund to be known as the Border
Security Trust Fund (in this section referred to as the
``Trust Fund''), consisting of amounts appropriated to the
Trust Fund under subsection (b) and any amounts that may be
credited to the Trust Fund under subsection (c).
(b) Appropriation.--There are appropriated to the Trust
Fund $25,000,000,000, to remain available until expended.
(c) Investment of Amounts.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest
such portion of the Trust Fund as is not required to meet
current withdrawals in interest-bearing obligations of the
United States or in obligations guaranteed as to both
principal and interest by the United States.
(2) Interest and proceeds.--The interest on, and the
proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held
in the Trust Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the
Trust Fund.
(d) Availability of Amounts.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), amounts in the
Trust Fund shall be available to the Secretary of Homeland
Security, without further appropriation, for--
(A) construction of not fewer than 700 miles of reinforced
fencing, excluding vehicle barriers;
(B) installation of additional physical barriers;
(C) construction and maintenance of access and patrol
roads;
(D) lighting;
(E) an interlocking surveillance camera system;
(F) remote sensors; and
(G) the purchase from the Secretary of Defense of surplus
aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems.
(2) Limitation.--Not more than $5,000,000,000 of the amount
in the Trust Fund may be obligated and expended in any fiscal
year.
SEC. ___. ANNUAL REPORT ON BORDER SECURITY.
Not less frequently than once each fiscal year, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit annually to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of
the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the
House of Representatives a report that describes for the
applicable fiscal year--
(1) the status of the construction of fencing and security
improvements at United States borders; and
(2) the estimated number of unlawful border crossings.
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