HR 76 — Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act

Summary

Fund and Complete the Border Wall ActThis bill establishes funding for a U.S.-Mexico border barrier and revises how border patrol agents are compensated for overtime.The Department of the Treasury shall set up an account for funding the design, construction, and maintenance of the barrier. The funds in the account are appropriated only for that purpose and for vehicles and equipment for border patrol agents.For each fiscal year, financial assistance to a country shall be reduced by $2,000 for each citizen or national of that country apprehended for illegally entering the United States through its southern border. The reduced amount shall be transferred to the border barrier account. The Department of State may opt not to reduce amounts appropriated to Mexico for various military and law enforcement-related activities.This bill establishes a 5% fee on foreign remittance transfers and increases the fee for the arrival/departure I-94 form for various aliens entering the United States, with part of the fees going to the border barrier account.By December 31, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security shall (1) take all actions necessary, including constructing barriers, to prevent illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico barrier; and (2) achieve operational control over all U.S. international borders.The bill changes how border patrol agents receive overtime pay when working up to 100 hours in a two-week period. For hours worked above 80, an agent shall receive at least 150% of the agent's regular hourly rate.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html January 03, 2025

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes the Secure the Southern Border Fund, which will collect fees and provide funding for border security and construction of barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.

• 31 U.S.C. 3344

  ``Sec. 3344. Secure the Southern Border Fund ``(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Treasury shall establish an account in the Treasury of the United States, to be known as the `Secure the Southern Border Fund', into which funds shall be deposited in accordance with the Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act and the amendments made by that Act. ``(b) Appropriation.--Funds deposited in the Secure the Southern Border Fund shall be available until expended. Such funds are authorized to be appropriated, and are appropriated, to the Secretary of Homeland Security only-- ``(1) to plan, design, construct, or maintain a barrier along the international border between the United States and Mexico; and ``(2) to purchase and maintain necessary vehicles and equipment for U.S. Border Patrol agents. ``(c) Limitation.--Not more than 5 percent of the funds deposited in the Secure the Southern Border Fund may be used for the purpose described in subsection (b)(2).''.

  This creates a new fund specifically for border security and related expenditures.

• 15 U.S.C. 1693o-1

  ``(g) Secure the Southern Border Fund Fee.-- ``(1) In general.--If the designated recipient of a remittance transfer is located outside of the United States, a remittance transfer provider shall collect from the sender of such remittance transfer a remittance fee equal to 5 percent of the United States dollar amount to be transferred. ``(2) Transfer of funds.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Bureau and remittance transfer providers, shall develop and make available a system for remittance transfer providers to submit the remittance fees collected in accordance with paragraph (1) to the Secure the Southern Border Fund established under section 3344 of title 31, United States Code. ``(3) Penalties.-- ``(A) Whoever, with the intent to evade a remittance fee to be collected in accordance with this subsection, and who has knowledge that, at the time of a remittance transfer, the value of the funds involved in the transfer will be further transferred to a recipient located outside of the United States, requests or facilitates such remittance transfer to a recipient located outside of the United States shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $500,000 or twice the value of the funds involved in the remittance transfer, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both. ``(B) Any foreign country that, in the joint determination of the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of State, aids or harbors an individual conspiring to avoid the fee collected in accordance with this subsection shall be ineligible to receive foreign assistance and to participate in the visa waiver program or any other programs, at the discretion of the Secretaries described in this subparagraph.''.

  This introduces a new fee for remittance transfers to fund border security.

• 8 U.S.C. 1356(q)

  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 286(q) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(q)), all fees collected for services performed in processing U.S. Customs and Border Protection Form I-94 shall be allocated as follows: → Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 286(q) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(q)), all fees collected for services performed in processing U.S. Customs and Border Protection Form I-94 shall be allocated as follows: (1) $6 shall be deposited in the Land Border Inspection Fee Account and used in accordance with such section 286(q). (2) To the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, $10 shall be used for salaries for U.S. Border Patrol agents. (3) $9 shall be deposited in the Secure the Southern Border Fund established by the amendment made by section 2 of this Act.

  This changes the allocation of fees collected for Form I-94, allowing funds to support the new Secure the Southern Border Fund.

• 8 U.S.C. 1103 note

  Additional fencing → Fencing

  This modifies the terminology used in the context of border fencing construction.

• 8 U.S.C. 1103 note

  the Attorney General → the Secretary of Homeland Security

  This change reassigns the responsibility from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security regarding border construction.

Action History

1. January 03, 2025

   Introduced in House

2. January 03, 2025

   Introduced in House

3. January 03, 2025

   Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, and 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.

4. January 03, 2025

   Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, and 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.

5. January 03, 2025

   Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, and 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.

6. January 03, 2025

   Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, and 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.

7. January 03, 2025

   Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, and 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.

8. January 03, 2025

   Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, and 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.

9. January 03, 2025

   Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, and 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.

10. January 03, 2025

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

Sponsors

• Andy Biggs · Primary
• Nancy Mace · Cosponsor

Subjects