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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7074 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7074

     To affirm the State of Texas's right to implement operational 
   protections along the southern border, to authorize the State to 
   construct a physical border wall in areas where the international 
border is not adequately protected with physical barriers, and to allow 
               reimbursement from the Federal Government.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 22, 2024

Mr. Williams of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
     To affirm the State of Texas's right to implement operational 
   protections along the southern border, to authorize the State to 
   construct a physical border wall in areas where the international 
border is not adequately protected with physical barriers, and to allow 
               reimbursement from the Federal Government.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``State of Texas Operational 
Protections Act'' or the ``STOP Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Certain sections of the southern border within the 
        State of Texas lack sufficient protection posing a significant 
        threat to the safety and security of the State's residents.
            (2) The Department of Justice stated that the Federal 
        Government has the primary authority to regulate immigration 
        and manage United States international borders.
            (3) Due to the lack of action by the Federal Government, 
        the State of Texas has been forced to continually appropriate 
        funds and provide protections to secure the southern border of 
        the United States.
            (4) Since 2021, there have been over 6.7 million illegal 
        crossings at the southern border, which has impacted Texans 
        throughout the State.
            (5) The Governor of Texas must have the capability to act 
        and defend the State from the ongoing invasion at the southern 
        border.

SEC. 3. STATE OPERATIONAL PROTECTIONS.

    (a) The State of Texas reserves the right to implement operational 
protections along the international border, including physical 
barriers, increased law enforcement presence, surveillance 
technologies, and other measures deemed necessary to enhance border 
security and stop illegal crossings.
    (b) The Texas Department of Public Safety shall collaborate with 
Federal, State, and local authorities to coordinate and implement 
operational protections in a manner consistent with State and Federal 
laws.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION FOR BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) The State of Texas is hereby authorized to plan, design, and 
construct physical barriers, including but not limited to walls, 
fences, and other structures, along sections of the international 
border that are deemed vulnerable to illegal entry or other security 
risks by the Governor of Texas.
    (b) The Texas Department of Public Safety, in coordination with 
relevant State agencies, is tasked with identifying the specific areas 
in need of enhanced border security measures.

SEC. 5. REIMBURSEMENT.

    (a) The State of Texas may seek reimbursement from the Federal 
Government for costs associated with constructing physical barriers, as 
well as implementing operational protections along the international 
border.
    (b) The Texas Department of Public Safety shall submit requests for 
reimbursement to appropriate Federal agencies and work diligently to 
secure Federal funds to offset the expenses incurred by the State in 
carrying out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect 60 days after enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>
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