I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7479 

To authorize certain States to take certain actions on certain Federal land 

to secure an international border of the United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 29, 2024 

Mr. ROUZER (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL, and Mr. PFLUGER) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 

and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 authorize certain States to take certain actions on certain 

Federal land to secure an international border of the 

United States, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. PLACEMENT OF MOVABLE, TEMPORARY 

4 STRUCTURES ON CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND 

5 TO SECURE AN INTERNATIONAL BORDER OF 

6 THE UNITED STATES. 

7 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) BORDER STATE.—The term ‘‘Border State’’ 

2 means a State that is adjacent to the northern bor3 der or southern border. 

4 (2) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 

5 means land under the jurisdiction and management 

6 of a Federal land management agency that is adja7 cent to the northern border or southern border. 

8 (3) FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCY.— 

9 The term ‘‘Federal land management agency’’ 

10 means— 

11 (A) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; 

12 (B) the Bureau of Land Management; 

13 (C) the Bureau of Reclamation; 

14 (D) the Forest Service; 

15 (E) the United States Fish and Wildlife 

16 Service; and 

17 (F) the National Park Service. 

18 (4) NORTHERN BORDER.—The term ‘‘northern 

19 border’’ means the international border between the 

20 United States and Canada. 

21 (5) OPERATIONAL CONTROL.—The term ‘‘oper22 ational control’’ has the meaning given such term in 

23 section 2(b) of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (8 

24 U.S.C. 1701 note; Public Law 109–367). 


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1 (6) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec2 retary concerned’’ means— 

3 (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with re4 spect to Federal land under the jurisdiction and 

5 management of the Secretary of the Interior, 

6 acting through, as applicable— 

7 (i) the Director of the Bureau of In8 dian Affairs; 

9 (ii) the Director of the Bureau of 

10 Land Management; 

11 (iii) the Commissioner of Reclamation; 

12 (iv) the Director of the United States 

13 Fish and Wildlife Service; and 

14 (v) the Director of the National Park 

15 Service; and 

16 (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re17 spect to National Forest System land, acting 

18 through the Chief of the Forest Service. 

19 (7) SOUTHERN BORDER.—The term ‘‘southern 

20 border’’ means the international border between the 

21 United States and Mexico. 

22 (b) SPECIAL USE AUTHORIZATION.—Subject to sub23 section (c), the Secretary concerned shall not require a 

24 Border State to obtain a special use authorization for the 

25 temporary placement on Federal land within the Border 


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1 State of a movable, temporary structure for the purpose 

2 of securing the northern border or southern border, if the 

3 Border State submits to the Secretary concerned notice 

4 of the proposed placement not later than 45 days before 

5 the date of the proposed placement. 

6 (c) TEMPORARY PLACEMENT.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—A movable, temporary struc8 ture described in subsection (b) may be placed by a 

9 Border State on Federal land in accordance with 

10 that subsection for a period of not more than 1 year, 

11 subject to paragraph (2). 

12 (2) EXTENSION.— 

13 (A) IN GENERAL.—The period described in 

14 paragraph (1) may be extended in 90-day incre15 ments, on approval by the Secretary concerned. 

16 (B) CONSULTATION REQUIRED.—The Sec17 retary concerned shall consult with the Commis18 sioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

19 for purposes of determining whether to approve 

20 an extension under subparagraph (A). 

21 (C) APPROVAL.—The Secretary concerned 

22 shall approve a request for an extension under 

23 this paragraph if the Commissioner of U.S. 

24 Customs and Border Protection determines that 

25 operational control has not been achieved as of 


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1 the date of the consultation required under sub2 paragraph (B). 

Æ 


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