Border Security and Enforcement Block Grant Act of 2024

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8256 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8256

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
 to establish the Border Security and Enforcement Block Grant Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 6, 2024

  Mr. McCaul introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Appropriations, 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 direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
 to establish the Border Security and Enforcement Block Grant Program.

    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 ``Border Security and Enforcement 
Block Grant Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. BORDER SECURITY AND ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Authorization.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency is authorized to establish a grant program, to be 
known as the ``Border Security and Enforcement Block Grant Program'', 
to provide block grants to eligible States to construct , maintain, 
repair, or improve, a physical border barrier system along the 
southwest border of the United States.
    (b) Application.--An eligible State seeking a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Administrator at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator 
may reasonably require, including--
            (1) a description of the intended use of funds under 
        subsection (c); and
            (2) documentation of any alleged loss or damage to the 
        State as a result of the lack of an updated physical border 
        barrier along the southwest border of the United States in that 
        State.
    (c) Uses of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under this 
        section may use such funds to--
                    (A) construct a physical border barrier system 
                along the southwest border of the United States;
                    (B) maintain a physical border barrier system along 
                the southwest border of the United States; or
                    (C) improve and or repair a physical border barrier 
                system along the southwest border of the United States.
            (2) Clarification.--The uses of funds described in 
        paragraph (1) include costs associated with--
                    (A) maintaining equipment used for any of the 
                activities described in such paragraph;
                    (B) paying personnel to carry out such activities, 
                including the payment of overtime and backfill; and
                    (C) any activity permitted for Operation 
                Stonegarden under the most recent fiscal year 
                Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security 
                Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity.
    (d) Eligibility.--A State is eligible for a grant under this 
section if--
            (1) the State is located along the southwest border of the 
        United States; and
            (2) at the time of applying for the grant, a physical 
        border barrier along the portion of the southwest border of the 
        United States in that State does not exist or is in need of 
        maintenance, improvement or repair.
    (e) Awards.--Not later than 90 days after receiving a grant 
application under this section, the Administrator shall make a 
determination with respect to the application.
    (f) Federal Land.--Upon approval of a grant application under this 
section by a State seeking to use the grant for a purpose described in 
subsection (c) on Federal land, the Secretary shall enter into an 
agreement with the State to provide the State with any easement 
(including any appropriate right of way) that is necessary for the 
State to complete such work.
    (g) Notification.--If the Administrator denies a grant application 
under this section, the Administrator shall provide written notice to 
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate, detailing the justification for the denial.
    (h) Report.--For each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027, the 
Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that contains information 
on the expenditure of grants made under this section by each grant 
recipient.
    (i) Funding.--
            (1) Transfer of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--Of the funds appropriated under 
                ``Procurement, Construction, and Improvement'' for use 
                by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that are 
                unobligated and unexpended as of the date of enactment 
                of this Act, $60,000,000 shall be transferred to the 
                Administrator to provide grants under this Act.
                    (B) Fiscal year limitation.--Of the funds 
                transferred under subsection (a), the Administrator may 
                expend up to $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 
                through 2027.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated $110,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 
        through 2027 for grants under this section.

SEC. 3. SUNSET.

    The authority to provide grants under this Act shall cease on the 
last day of fiscal year 2027. Any funds that have not been obligated 
under this section prior that date shall be transferred to 
``Procurement, Construction, and Improvement'' for use by the U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection.
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