I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2217 

To offset the economic burden on border sheriffs from the lack of southern 

border security, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 16, 2011 

Mr. CARTER (for himself and Mr. GOHMERT) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition 

to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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 offset the economic burden on border sheriffs from the 

lack of southern border security, 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. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Southern Border Sher5 iffs Community Impact Aid Act of 2011’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) The international border of the United 

2 States constitutes Federal infrastructure that has a 

3 substantial economic impact on adjacent counties. 

4 (2) The high level of documented illegal activity 

5 on the United States southern border has placed a 

6 unique economic burden on border sheriffs’ depart7 ments. 

8 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con9 gress that the Federal Government should offset the addi10 tional law enforcement costs on these counties in a similar 

11 manner to the Community Impact Aid program for local 

12 schools that incur additional costs from Federal infra13 structure. 

14 SEC. 3. COMMUNITY IMPACT AID GRANTS. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu16 rity shall make grants to sheriffs’ departments along the 

17 southern border of the United States for the purpose of 

18 hiring additional deputies, including for salaries, benefits, 

19 training, uniforms, patrol vehicles, and arms. 

20 (b) GRANT CALCULATION FORMULA.—Except as 

21 provided in subsection (c), a grant made pursuant to sub22 section (a) shall be in an amount equal to 30 percent of 

23 an eligible sheriff’s department’s fiscal year 2010 budget 

24 for patrol deputies. 


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1 (c) MINIMUM BENEFIT.—Notwithstanding the cal2 culation provided for in subsection (b), a grant made pur3 suant to subsection (a) to an eligible sheriff’s department 

4 shall be in an amount that allows for the hiring of at least 

5 one additional deputy. 

6 (d) AVAILABILITY.—Grants made pursuant to sub7 section (a) are authorized to remain available until ex8 pended. 

9 (e) ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING.—To be eligible to re10 ceive a grant under this section, a sheriff’s department 

11 shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security an ap12 plication at such time, in such manner, and containing 

13 such information as the Secretary may require. 

14 (f) ELIGIBLE SHERIFFS’ DEPARTMENTS.—Sheriffs’ 

15 departments in the following counties are eligible to re16 ceive grants under this section: 

17 (1) In Texas, the following counties: El Paso, 

18 Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Brew19 ster, Terrell, Val Verde, Kinney, Maverick, Dimmit, 

20 Webb, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy, 

21 Jim Hogg, Zavala, and Pecos Counties. 

22 (2) In Arizona, the following counties: Yuma, 

23 Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise Counties. 


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1 (3) In New Mexico, the following counties: 

2 Dona Ana, Luna, Grant, Otero, and Hidalgo Coun3 ties. 

4 (4) In California, the following counties: San 

5 Diego and Imperial Counties. 

6 (g) CUT AS YOU GO.—To carry out this section, the 

7 Secretary of Homeland Security shall reprogram funds 

8 that would otherwise be obligated and expended under the 

9 account heading ‘‘Departmental Management and Oper10 ations’’. 

Æ 


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