H.R. 761House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

SAFE Border Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 3:04 AM UTC

The SAFE Border Act directs FEMA to set up a grant program that reimburses property owners within 10 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border for loss or damage caused by illegal crossings and helps owners improve security. It targets individuals who have suffered damage (impacted parties) and those who fear damage (at‑risk parties). The program is funded by $75 million transferred from Customs and Border Patrol funds, with limits on annual spending and per‑person awards. The authority ends after fiscal year 2026.

Key Provisions

Defines “impacted party” (property owners who suffered loss/damage) and “at‑risk party” (owners who believe they may be harmed) and sets the “border zone” as within 10 miles of the border
Creates the Southern Border Landowner Security Grant Program administered by FEMA
Allows grants to impacted parties to cover uninsured loss or damage, requiring documentation of the incident
Allows grants to at‑risk parties for security improvements, with a reporting requirement and return of unspent funds
Allocates $75 million from existing Customs and Border Patrol funds, permitting $25 million per fiscal year (2022‑2024) and capping individual awards at $25 000
Authorizes FEMA to issue regulations on application evidence, fraud review, and penalties
Sets a sunset date for the grant authority at the end of fiscal year 2026, with unspent funds reverting to Customs and Border Patrol

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee

February 8, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 2, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

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.

Homeland Security Committee

February 2, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.

Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee

February 8, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee

February 8, 2023

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 761 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. John GaramendiD-CA-8 · May 6, 2024

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to thank President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. for his proclamation pursuant to the Antiquities Act of 1906 expanding the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. I also thank…

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to thank President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. for his proclamation pursuant to the Antiquities Act of 1906 expanding the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. I also thank Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D- CA), Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA04), and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for their support in conserving this special place forever.

President Biden's proclamation expands the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include approximately 13,696 additional acres of federally owned public land in Lake and Colusa Counties, California, encompassing the entirety of the Molok Luyuk region within the Monument. Second, it directs the federal Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to improve tribal co-management of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. Third, it renames the former Walker Ridge tract to ``Molok Luyuk,'' meaning Condor Ridge in the Patwin language of the Yocha Dehe and other Native American tribes indigenous to the area.

I am thrilled that President Biden issued this presidential proclamation to preserve the tribal wisdom, heritage, and cultural traditions that Molok Luyuk has been home to for over 11,000 years. This expansion follows years of advocacy by me, Congressman Thompson, Senator Padilla; federal, tribal, and local officials representing Northern California; and nongovernmental organizations, including environmental conservation, public access, outdoor recreation, and off- highway vehicle groups.

In July 2015, President Obama issued Presidential Proclamation 9298, establishing the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. This set the boundary as federal land surrounding the Lake Berryessa reservoir but omitted Molok Luyuk in Lake and Colusa Counties. My legislation (H.R.761/S.393) in the 114th Congress with then-U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman Thompson to establish the National Monument would have included Molok Luyuk within the boundary.

In the 117th Congress, at the behest of Woodland, California-based Tuleyome, a nonprofit conservation advocacy organization co-founded by my former constituent Bob Schneider in 2002, I introduced the ``Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act'' (H.R.6366/ S.4080) with Senator Padilla and Congressman Thompson. I and other members of California's Congressional delegation then called on President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and provide opportunities for federally recognized tribes like the Yocha Dehe to engage in voluntary co-management with the relevant federal land management agencies. We also called on Secretary Deb Haaland to order the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to officially rename Walker Ridge to Molok Luyuk. On May 2, 2024, I joined the President in the Oval Office with Secretary Haaland for a signing ceremony granting our requests.

Conserving California's special places has been a lifelong passion throughout my tenure in the state legislature, as Deputy Secretary of the Interior during the Clinton Administration, and now as a Member of Congress. Molok Luyuk is one of those special places. It was a privilege to represent Lake and Colusa Counties as the U.S. Representative for California's Third Congressional District from 2013 to 2023, and I am honored to have played a leading role in expanding the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to preserve Molok Luyuk's ecological diversity and tribal heritage for future generations.

Lastly, I want to thank my former Legislative Assistant, Mr. Tigran Agdaian, and my former Knauss Fellows, Mr. Sean Mullin and Mr. Jeffrey Beauvais, for their important role in developing this legislation while on my staff.

President Biden's expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument honors the Patwin Tribes who walked this land long before our country was founded. On behalf of California's Congressional delegation, I thank the President.

Rep. John GaramendiD-CA-8 · Mar 7, 2023

Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act'' with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). I thank Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA04) and U.S. Senator…

Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act'' with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). I thank Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA04) and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for their support as original cosponsors.

Our bicameral legislation would expand the National Monument to include 3,925 acres of adjacent federal land in Lake County, California known as the ``Walker Ridge'' tract. Second, it would provide new opportunities for federally recognized tribes to enter into co- management agreements for the National Monument with the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Third, it would rename Walker Ridge to ``Molok Luyuk,'' meaning Condor Ridge in the Patwin language of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and other Native American peoples indigenous to the area. Lastly, it would direct the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service to complete the management plan for the National Monument, which has remained unfinished since 2015.

President Obama issued Presidential Proclamation 9298 in July 2015, establishing the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. This set the boundary as encompassing federal land surrounding the Lake Berryessa reservoir but omitted the Walker Ridge tract. My legislation (H.R.761/S.393) in the 114th Congress with then-U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman Thompson to establish the National Monument would have included the Walker Ridge tract within the boundary.

On October 17, 2022, I and other members of California's Congressional delegation called on President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. We also called on Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to order the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to officially rename Walker Ridge. I hope that the Biden Administration will act on our request, which is supported by the Lake County Board of Supervisors and Tribal Council for the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

Conserving California's special places has been a lifelong passion throughout my tenure in the state legislature, as Deputy Secretary of the Interior during the Clinton Administration, and now as a Member of Congress. Walker Ridge, soon to be known as Molok Luyuk, is one of those special places. It was an honor to represent Lake County as the U.S. Representative for California's Third Congressional District from 2013 to 2023. I look forward to finishing the job for my former constituents in Lake County by expanding the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument for future generations to enjoy.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members of the California delegation to join me in cosponsoring the ``Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act.'' We must conserve this unique landscape and honor the Native American peoples who walked this land long before our country was founded.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 2, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 761

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 2, 2023

Mrs. Bice (for herself, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Mr. Fallon, and Mr. Jackson of Texas) 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 a grant program to reimburse individuals for loss or damage to property near the southern border of the United States caused by an individual illegally crossing the border, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Securing American Families from Exploitation at the Border Act or the SAFE Border Act .

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Impacted party

The term impacted party means an individual who—

(A)

owns real property within, the border zone; and

(B)

has experienced property theft or property damage on the property, as applicable, by an individual illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

(2)

At-risk party

The term at-risk party means an individual who—

(A)

owns property within the border zone that does not have a bollard-style border barrier that is adjacent to such property; and

(B)

reasonably believes to be at risk of experiencing property theft or property damage on the property, as applicable, by an individual illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

(3)

Border zone

The term border zone means the area of the United States that is within 10 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Southern Border Landowner Security Grant Program

The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall establish a grant program to be known as the Southern Border Landowner Security Grant Program to provide grants to impacted parties to cover losses or damage to property and to at-risk parties to improve the security of certain property.

Grants to impacted parties

(a)

In general

The Administrator may provide grants under this Act to an impacted party to cover loss or damages not otherwise covered by insurance to the impacted property if such party certifies, to the satisfaction of the Administrator, that the property—

(1)

was located in the border zone at the time such loss or damage occurred; and

(2)

the loss or damage was caused by an individual illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

(b)

Application

To be eligible for a grant under this section, an impacted party shall submit to the Administrator an application that includes documentation of the loss or damage and an estimate of the value of such loss or an estimate of the cost to repair such damage.

Grants to at-risk parties

(a)

In general

The Administrator may provide grants under this Act to an at-risk party to improve the physical security of property located within the border zone if such party certifies, to the satisfaction of the Administrator, that the party reasonably believes that the property of such party is at risk of loss or damage caused by an individual illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

(b)

Report on use of funds

Not later than 290 days after an at-risk party receives funds under this section, such party shall submit to the Administrator documentation on how the party spends such funds. Any funds that remain unspent on the day on which such documentation is submitted shall be returned to the Administrator for further provision under this section.

Funding

(a)

Transfer of funds

Of the funds appropriated under the heading Procurement, Construction, and Improvement for use by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol that are unobligated and unexpended as of the date of enactment of this Act, $75,000,000 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 $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024.

(c)

Limitation on grant amount

An individual may not receive more than a total of $25,000 under this section for fiscal years 2022 through 2024.

Regulations

The Administrator may issues such regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act, including—

(1)

requirements that applicants for funds under this Act submit evidentiary documentation, including property deeds, police reports, insurance coverage documentation, and other documentation considered appropriate by the Administrator;

(2)

a review process conducted by the Administrator or the inspector general of the Agency to review applications annually for waste, fraud, and abuse; and

(3)

the applicable penalties for fraudulent claims or false statements.

Sunset

The authority to provide grants under this Act shall cease on the last date of fiscal year 2026. Any funds that have not been obligated under this section before that date shall be transferred to the heading Procurement, Construction, and Improvement for use by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.