H.R. 1437 – Reading Mode

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1437

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 11, 2009

Mr. Cuellar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 Southern Border Security Task Force to coordinate the efforts of Federal, State, and local border and law enforcement officials and task forces to protect United States border cities and communities from violence associated with drug trafficking, gunrunning, illegal alien smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international border between the United States and Mexico.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Southern Border Security Task Force Act of 2009.

Southern Border Security Task Force

(a)

Establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a Southern Border Security Task Force (in this Act referred to as the Task Force) to coordinate the efforts of Federal, State, and local border and law enforcement officials and task forces to protect United States border cities and communities from violence associated with drug trafficking, gunrunning, illegal alien smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international border between the United States and Mexico.

(b)

Composition and deployment

(1)

Composition

The Task Force shall be comprised of personnel from—

(A)

United States Customs and Border Protection;

(B)

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement;

(C)

the Coast Guard;

(D)

other Federal agencies, as appropriate;

(E)

southern border State law enforcement agencies; and

(F)

local law enforcement agencies from affected southern border cities and communities.

(2)

Deployment

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall deploy the Task Force along the international border between the United States and Mexico in cities and communities most affected by violence, as determined by the Secretary.

(c)

Director

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall appoint as a Director of the Task Force an individual who is experienced and knowledgeable in law enforcement generally and border security issues specifically.

(d)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the establishment of the Task Force under subsection (a) and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security 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 on the effectiveness of the Task Force in reducing the drug trafficking, gunrunning, illegal alien smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international border between the United States and Mexico as measured by crime statistics, including violent deaths, incidents of violence, and drug related arrests.

(e)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014—

(1)

to establish and operate the Task Force, including to provide for operational, administrative, and technological costs to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies participating in the Task Force; and

(2)

to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals engaged in drug trafficking, gunrunning, illegal alien smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international border between the United States and Mexico.