S. 4672Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Border Weather Resiliency Act of 2024

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 5:50 PM UTC

The Border Weather Resiliency Act of 2024 requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner to evaluate how hazardous weather and water events have affected border operations, personnel, and equipment, and to create a preparedness and response plan. The Department of Homeland Security must report findings, develop a strategy with input from various agencies and stakeholders, and establish safety protocols, all without providing new funding.

Key Provisions

CBP must assess the impacts of hazardous weather and water events over the past five years on its duties, staff safety, inspected individuals, and border infrastructure.
Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary of Homeland Security must submit a report with the assessment results and response efforts to the relevant congressional committees.
Within one year, the Secretary must deliver a mitigation strategy that includes a cost‑benefit analysis and consults agencies such as NOAA, GSA, HHS, state governors, tribal governments, and CBP personnel representatives.
The strategy must be implemented within a year of its submission, with semi‑annual progress reports to Congress for five years.
The CBP Commissioner must establish safety protocols within one year to protect personnel, the public, and border technology during hazardous weather events.
No additional funds are authorized for carrying out the Act.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 682.

December 9, 2024

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 11, 2024

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

July 11, 2024

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

July 31, 2024

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-279.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

December 9, 2024

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 682.

December 9, 2024

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 4672 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. John GaramendiD-CA-8 · Feb 28, 2023

Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act'' with Representatives Panetta (D-CA), Scanlon (D-PA), Schiff (D-CA), Jacobs (D-CA), and Carbajal (D-CA) as original…

Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Military Support for Fighting

Wildfires Act'' with Representatives Panetta (D-CA), Scanlon (D-PA), Schiff (D-CA), Jacobs (D-CA), and Carbajal (D-CA) as original cosponsors.

As California and other western states face increasingly severe and frequent wildfires due to the climate crisis, we need all the help we can get from our federal government. My comprehensive ``Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act'' would improve the American military's support for civilian emergency response to wildfires and similar natural disasters. It would also provide permanent Congressional authorization for the California Air National Guard's ``FireGuard'' program, in partnership with the U.S. Air Force and the National Geospatial-lntelligence Agency.

The James M. lnhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263) included provisions from my bill (H.R. 5560) last Congress extending the National Guard's Fireguard program until 2029; requiring the U.S. Department of Defense to budget for extreme weather events linked to climate change; directing the National Guard to consult with the National lnteragency Fire Center when training for domestic emergency response to wildfires; and requiring an updated interagency review of the U.S. Air Force and National Guard's existing legal authorities to respond to domestic wildfires. The White House Office of Management and Budget last completed such a review in 2004.

The FY2023 NOAA also enacted my bill section authorizing the Department of Defense to transfer excess aircraft to other federal departments for search and rescue or emergency operations related to wildfires. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced my bill section as the bipartisan ``Emergency Aircraft Act of 2022'' (S. 4672) last Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with you and other members of the California delegation to advance these remaining reforms included in my ``Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act.'' As ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I plan to make this a top priority for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued December 9, 2024

Calendar No. 682

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4672

[Report No. 118–279]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 11 (legislative day, July 10), 2024

Ms. Sinema (for herself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Cramer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

December 9, 2024

Reported by Mr. Peters, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To require the Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to assess current efforts to respond to hazardous weather and water events at or near United States borders and, to the extent such efforts may be improved, to develop a hazardous weather and water events preparedness and response strategy, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Border Weather Resiliency Act of 2024.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees means—

(A)

the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and

(B)

the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Commissioner

The term Commissioner means the Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

(3)

Hazardous weather and water events

The term hazardous weather and water events means weather and weather-related water events that have a high risk of endangering life or causing significant damage to property, including—

(A)

severe storms, such as hurricanes and short-fused, small-scale hazardous weather or hydrologic events produced by thunderstorms, including large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash floods;

(B)

winter storms, such as freezing or frozen precipitation (including freezing rain, sleet, and snow), or combined effects of freezing or frozen precipitation and strong winds; and

(C)

other weather hazards, such as extreme heat or cold, wildfire, drought, dense fog, damaging winds, earthquakes, tsunamis, river flooding, and lakeshore flooding.

(4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Assessment of impacts of hazardous weather and water events on U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, technology, and infrastructure

(a)

Assessment

The Commissioner shall conduct an assessment of the impacts that hazardous weather and water events, occurring during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of the enactment of this Act, have had on—

(1)

the effectiveness by which U.S. Customs and Border Protection has carried out the duties as set forth in section 411(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211(c));

(2)

the health, safety, and well being of—

(A)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel; and

(B)

individuals being inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection;

(3)

the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to maintain the integrity and operability of border security technology, infrastructure, vehicles, and other significant real or personal property owned or operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and

(4)

the effectiveness of agent and officer uniforms and the uniform distribution platform in ensuring agent and officer safety and comfort during such events.

(b)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that—

(1)

contains the results of the assessment conducted by the Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a); and

(2)

describes the efforts of the Secretary and the Commissioner to respond to and otherwise address the impacts of the hazardous weather and water events referred to in subsection (a).

Strategy to address impacts of hazardous weather and water events

(a)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy for mitigating the impacts of hazardous weather and water events on—

(1)

the effectiveness by which U.S. Customs and Border Protection carries out its statutory duties, as prescribed under section 411 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211);

(2)

the health, safety, and well-being of—

(A)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel; and

(B)

individuals being inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and

(3)

(b)

Consultation

(1)

In general

While developing and implementing the strategy required under subsection (a), the Secretary, in addition to consulting with appropriate officials of the Department of Homeland Security, and except as provided in paragraph (2)—

(A)

shall consult and engage with, at a minimum—

(i)

the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(ii)

the Administrator of the General Services Administration;

(iii)

the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(iv)

Governors of States with an international border;

(v)

Tribal governments whose official territory is within 50 miles of the southern or northern border of the United States; and

(vi)

representative organizations representing U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, including Border Patrol agents; and

(B)

may consult with nongovernmental experts, including experts in the fields of—

(i)

meteorology;

(ii)

public health; and

(iii)

infrastructure and technology weather resiliency.

(2)

Nonapplicability of federal advisory committee act

Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Federal Advisory Committee Act), shall not apply to any consultation authorized under paragraph (1)(B).

(c)

Cost-Benefit analysis

The strategy required under subsection (a) shall include a cost-benefit analysis of implementing such strategy.

(d)

Implementation

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the strategy required under subsection (a) is submitted to the appropriate congressional committees, the Secretary shall commence the implementation of such strategy.

(2)

Semiannual report

Not later than 180 days after the commencement of the implementation of the strategy pursuant to paragraph (1), and semiannually thereafter for the following 5 years, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that—

(A)

describes the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to implement the strategy and the progress made as a result of such efforts;

(B)

includes any recommendations for mitigating the impacts of hazardous weather and water events and the extent to which such recommendations were implemented; and

(C)

assesses the resources and cost necessary for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to implement such recommendations, with a focus on effectively carrying out its statutory duties.

(e)

Limitation

Nothing in the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (a) may conflict with any provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).

Safety protocols to protect U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, technology, and infrastructure

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall establish safety protocols and procedures to mitigate the impact of hazardous weather and water events on the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection—

(1)

to carry out its statutory duties;

(2)

to ensure the health, safety, and well being of—

(A)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel; and

(B)

individuals being inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and

(3)

to maintain the integrity and operability of border security technology, infrastructure, vehicles, and other significant real or personal property owned or operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Border Weather Resiliency Act of 2024.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Relevant congressional committees

The term relevant congressional committees means—

(A)

the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and

(B)

the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Commissioner

The term Commissioner means the Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

(3)

Hazardous weather and water events

The term hazardous weather and water events means weather and weather-related water events that have a high risk of endangering life or causing significant damage to property, including—

(A)

severe storms, such as hurricanes and short-fused, small-scale hazardous weather or hydrologic events produced by thunderstorms, including large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash floods;

(B)

winter storms, such as freezing or frozen precipitation (including freezing rain, sleet, and snow), or combined effects of freezing or frozen precipitation and strong winds; and

(C)

other weather hazards, such as extreme heat or cold, wildfire, drought, dense fog, damaging winds, earthquakes, tsunamis, river flooding, and lakeshore flooding.

(4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Assessment of impacts of hazardous weather and water events on U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, technology, and infrastructure

(a)

Assessment

(1)

the effectiveness by which U.S. Customs and Border Protection has carried out the duties as set forth in section 411(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211(c));

(2)

the health, safety, and well being of—

(A)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel; and

(B)

individuals being inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection;

(3)

(4)

the effectiveness of agent and officer uniforms and the uniform distribution platform in ensuring agent and officer safety and comfort during such events.

(b)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the relevant congressional committees that—

(1)

contains the results of the assessment conducted by the Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a); and

(2)

describes the efforts of the Secretary and the Commissioner to respond to and otherwise address the impacts of the hazardous weather and water events referred to in subsection (a).

Strategy to address impacts of hazardous weather and water events

(a)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the relevant congressional committees a strategy for mitigating the impacts of hazardous weather and water events on—

(1)

the effectiveness by which U.S. Customs and Border Protection carries out its statutory duties, as prescribed under section 411 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211);

(2)

the health, safety, and well-being of—

(A)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel; and

(B)

individuals being inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and

(3)

(b)

Consultation

(1)

In general

(A)

shall consult and engage with, at a minimum—

(i)

the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(ii)

the Administrator of the General Services Administration;

(iii)

the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(iv)

Governors of States with an international border;

(v)

Tribal governments whose official territory is within 50 miles of the southern or northern border of the United States; and

(vi)

representative organizations representing U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, including Border Patrol agents; and

(B)

may consult with nongovernmental experts, including experts in the fields of—

(i)

meteorology;

(ii)

public health; and

(iii)

infrastructure and technology weather resiliency.

(2)

Nonapplicability of federal advisory committee act

Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Federal Advisory Committee Act), shall not apply to any consultation authorized under paragraph (1)(B).

(c)

Cost-Benefit analysis

The strategy required under subsection (a) shall include a cost-benefit analysis of implementing such strategy.

(d)

Implementation

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the strategy required under subsection (a) is submitted to the relevant congressional committees, the Secretary shall commence the implementation of such strategy.

(2)

Semiannual report

(A)

describes the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to implement the strategy and the progress made as a result of such efforts;

(B)

includes any recommendations for mitigating the impacts of hazardous weather and water events and the extent to which such recommendations were implemented; and

(C)

assesses the resources and cost necessary for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to implement such recommendations, with a focus on effectively carrying out its statutory duties.

(e)

Limitation

Nothing in the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (a) may conflict with any provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).

Safety protocols to protect U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, technology, and infrastructure

(1)

to carry out its statutory duties;

(2)

to ensure the health, safety, and well being of—

(A)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel; and

(B)

individuals being inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and

(3)

No additional funds

No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out this Act.

December 9, 2024

Reported with an amendment