I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8256 

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

to establish the Border Security and Enforcement Block Grant Program. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 6, 2024 

Mr. MCCAUL 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 the Border Security and 

Enforcement Block Grant Program. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Border Security and 

5 Enforcement Block Grant Act of 2024’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 8256 IH

1 SEC. 2. BORDER SECURITY AND ENFORCEMENT BLOCK 

2 GRANT PROGRAM. 

3 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Administrator of the 

4 Federal Emergency Management Agency is authorized to 

5 establish a grant program, to be known as the ‘‘Border 

6 Security and Enforcement Block Grant Program’’, to pro7 vide block grants to eligible States to construct , maintain, 

8 repair, or improve, a physical border barrier system along 

9 the southwest border of the United States. 

10 (b) APPLICATION.—An eligible State seeking a grant 

11 under this section shall submit an application to the Ad12 ministrator at such time, in such manner, and containing 

13 such information as the Administrator may reasonably re14 quire, including— 

15 (1) a description of the intended use of funds 

16 under subsection (c); and 

17 (2) documentation of any alleged loss or dam18 age to the State as a result of the lack of an up19 dated physical border barrier along the southwest 

20 border of the United States in that State. 

21 (c) USES OF FUNDS.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—A State that receives a 

23 grant under this section may use such funds to— 

24 (A) construct a physical border barrier sys25 tem along the southwest border of the United 

26 States; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 8256 IH

1 (B) maintain a physical border barrier sys2 tem along the southwest border of the United 

3 States; or 

4 (C) improve and or repair a physical bor5 der barrier system along the southwest border 

6 of the United States. 

7 (2) CLARIFICATION.—The uses of funds de8 scribed in paragraph (1) include costs associated 

9 with— 

10 (A) maintaining equipment used for any of 

11 the activities described in such paragraph; 

12 (B) paying personnel to carry out such ac13 tivities, including the payment of overtime and 

14 backfill; and 

15 (C) any activity permitted for Operation 

16 Stonegarden under the most recent fiscal year 

17 Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland 

18 Security Grant Program Notice of Funding Op19 portunity. 

20 (d) ELIGIBILITY.—A State is eligible for a grant 

21 under this section if— 

22 (1) the State is located along the southwest 

23 border of the United States; and 

24 (2) at the time of applying for the grant, a 

25 physical border barrier along the portion of the 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 8256 IH

1 southwest border of the United States in that State 

2 does not exist or is in need of maintenance, improve3 ment or repair. 

4 (e) AWARDS.—Not later than 90 days after receiving 

5 a grant application under this section, the Administrator 

6 shall make a determination with respect to the application. 

7 (f) FEDERAL LAND.—Upon approval of a grant ap8 plication under this section by a State seeking to use the 

9 grant for a purpose described in subsection (c) on Federal 

10 land, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the 

11 State to provide the State with any easement (including 

12 any appropriate right of way) that is necessary for the 

13 State to complete such work. 

14 (g) NOTIFICATION.—If the Administrator denies a 

15 grant application under this section, the Administrator 

16 shall provide written notice to the Committee on Home17 land Security of the House of Representatives and the 

18 Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af19 fairs of the Senate, detailing the justification for the de20 nial. 

21 (h) REPORT.—For each of fiscal years 2025 through 

22 2027, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee 

23 on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives 

24 and the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern25 mental Affairs of the Senate a report that contains inforVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:09 Jun 06, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8256.IH H8256

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 8256 IH

1 mation on the expenditure of grants made under this sec2 tion by each grant recipient. 

3 (i) FUNDING.— 

4 (1) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.— 

5 (A) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds appro6 priated under ‘‘Procurement, Construction, and 

7 Improvement’’ for use by the U.S. Customs and 

8 Border Protection that are unobligated and un9 expended as of the date of enactment of this 

10 Act, $60,000,000 shall be transferred to the 

11 Administrator to provide grants under this Act. 

12 (B) FISCAL YEAR LIMITATION.—Of the 

13 funds transferred under subsection (a), the Ad14 ministrator may expend up to $20,000,000 for 

15 each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027. 

16 (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

17 There is authorized to be appropriated 

18 $110,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 

19 2027 for grants under this section. 

20 SEC. 3. SUNSET. 

21 The authority to provide grants under this Act shall 

22 cease on the last day of fiscal year 2027. Any funds that 

23 have not been obligated under this section prior that date 

24 shall be transferred to ‘‘Procurement, Construction, and 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 8256 IH

1 Improvement’’ for use by the U.S. Customs and Border 

2 Protection. 

Æ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS