I 

119TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 163 

To immediately resume construction of the border wall system along the 

international border between the United States and Mexico to secure 

the border, enforce the rule of law, and expend appropriated funds 

as mandated by Congress, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 3, 2025 

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. BRECHEEN, Mr. BERGMAN, Mr. 

MEUSER, Mr. CLINE, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. 

FEENSTRA, Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. ROSE, Mr. EZELL, Ms. MACE, Mr. 

BOST, Mr. FLEISCHMANN, Mr. ROY, Mrs. HOUCHIN, Mr. KUSTOFF, Mrs. 

LUNA, Mr. HUIZENGA, Mr. CRANK, Mr. TAYLOR, Mrs. HARSHBARGER, 

and Mr. GUEST) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Homeland Security 

A BILL 

To immediately resume construction of the border wall system along the international border between the United 

States and Mexico to secure the border, enforce the 

rule of law, and expend appropriated funds as mandated 

by Congress, 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 ‘‘Finish the Wall Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. BORDER WALL SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION. 

2 (a)(1) IMMEDIATELY RESUME BORDER WALL SYS3 TEM CONSTRUCTION.—Not later than 24 hours after the 

4 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home5 land Security shall resume all activities related to the con6 struction of the border barrier system (also known as, and 

7 referred to in this Act as, the ‘‘border wall system’’) along 

8 the international border between the United States and 

9 Mexico that were underway or being planned for prior to 

10 January 20, 2021. 

11 (2) NO CANCELLATIONS.—The Secretary of Home12 land Security may not cancel any contract for activities 

13 related to border wall system construction referred to in 

14 paragraph (1) that was entered into on or before January 

15 20, 2021. 

16 (3) USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary of Homeland 

17 Security shall expend all funds appropriated or explicitly 

18 obligated for border wall system construction referred to 

19 in paragraph (1) that were appropriated or obligated, as 

20 the case may be, beginning on October 1, 2016, to carry 

21 out this Act. 

22 (4) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR BORDER WALL

23 SYSTEM.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the 

24 enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 

25 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

26 an implementation plan to complete, by not later than 


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1 September 30, 2026, border wall system construction re2 ferred to in paragraph (1) and funded in accordance with 

3 paragraph (3). 

4 (b) PLAN TO COMPLETE TACTICAL INFRASTRUC5 TURE AND TECHNOLOGY ELEMENTS OF BORDER WALL

6 SYSTEM.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the 

7 enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 

8 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

9 an implementation plan, including quarterly benchmarks 

10 and cost estimates, for satisfying all requirements of bor11 der wall system construction referred to in subsection 

12 (a)(1), including tactical infrastructure, technology, and 

13 other elements as identified by the Department of Home14 land Security prior to January 20, 2021, through the ex15 penditure of funds appropriated or explicitly obligated, as 

16 the case may be, for use beginning on October 1, 2016, 

17 as well as any future funds appropriated by Congress. 

18 (c) UPHOLD NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS.—The Sec19 retary of Homeland Security shall ensure that all agree20 ments executed in writing between the Department of 

21 Homeland Security and private citizens, State, local, and 

22 Tribal governments, and other stakeholders are honored 

23 by the Department relating to current and future border 

24 wall system construction as required by such agreements. 


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1 SEC. 3. DNA COLLECTION CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL 

2 LAW. 

3 Not later than 14 days after the date of the enact4 ment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 

5 ensure and certify to the Committee on Homeland Secu6 rity of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

7 on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 

8 Senate that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is fully 

9 compliant with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 at all 

10 border facilities that process adults, including as part of 

11 a family unit, in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border 

12 Protection at the border. 

13 SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 

14 In this Act: 

15 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT16 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com17 mittees’’ means the Committee on Homeland Secu18 rity and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

19 House of Representatives and the Committee on 

20 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and 

21 the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 

22 (2) TACTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term 

23 ‘‘tactical infrastructure’’ includes boat ramps, access 

24 gates, checkpoints, lighting, and roads associated 

25 with a border wall system. 


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1 (3) TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘‘technology’’ in2 cludes border surveillance and detection technology, 

3 including linear ground detection systems, associated 

4 with a border wall system. 

Æ 


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