I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 837 

To prohibit construction of a continuous wall or fence between the United 

States and Mexico, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 2, 2017 

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico (for herself, Mr. CORREA, 

Mr. EVANS, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. GALLEGO, Ms. MENG, Mr. RUIZ, Ms. 

BARRAGA ́N, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. POCAN, 

Mr. SOTO, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mrs. WATSON

COLEMAN, Mr. VARGAS, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mrs. 

TORRES, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas, Mr. SWALWELL

of California, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. KIHUEN, Ms. HANABUSA, Mr. VELA, 

Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. RASKIN, 

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. O’ROURKE, Mr. VEASEY, Ms. 

CLARKE of New York, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. NADLER, Ms. NORTON, Ms. 

PINGREE, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. MOORE, Ms. 

MCCOLLUM, Ms. LEE, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. WELCH, Ms. SA ́NCHEZ, Mr. 

TONKO, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. GUTIE ́RREZ, Ms. JUDY

CHU of California, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. ENGEL, and Ms. TITUS) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 

and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Foreign 

Affairs, 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 prohibit construction of a continuous wall or fence between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes. 


smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 837 IH

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 ‘‘Build Bridges Not 

5 Walls Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) The existing United States-Mexico border 

9 infrastructure already includes physical barriers, 

10 drones, cameras, motion detectors, thermal imaging 

11 sensors, ground sensors, and other surveillance tools. 

12 (2) The United States already maintains ap13 proximately 650 miles of border fence in areas that 

14 most effectively stop the unauthorized entry of peo15 ple, vehicles, drugs, arms, and illicit items. 

16 (3) The number of U.S. Border Patrol agents 

17 nearly doubled from 10,717 in 1993 to 21,370 in 

18 2016. 

19 (4) Most experts believe that the Trump Ad20 ministration’s border wall will cost between $15 bil21 lion to $25 billion, not including additional mainte22 nance costs. 

23 (5) Harsh terrain and conditions along remote 

24 parts of the United States-Mexico border make the 


smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 837 IH

1 construction of a wall or fence impractical, ineffec2 tive, and costly. 

3 (6) Former CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske 

4 stated that building a continuous wall is not ‘‘fea5 sible’’ or the ‘‘smartest way to use taxpayer money’’. 

6 (7) A continuous border wall would likely harm 

7 wildlife, destroy sensitive habitat for endangered 

8 species, damage the environment and the natural 

9 flow of floodwaters, and lead to costly litigation with 

10 landowners, the Native American community, and 

11 stakeholders. 

12 (8) Border security is a complex issue that de13 pends on effectively using resources to maintain 

14 operational control of the border while also facili15 tating the movement of people, goods, and services. 

16 (9) The American people want Congress to use 

17 taxpayer dollars wisely and focus on middle-class 

18 priorities, including economic development, edu19 cation, and health care. 

20 SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON CONSTRUCTION OF A UNITED 

21 STATES-MEXICO BORDER WALL. 

22 The Executive order entitled ‘‘Border Security and 

23 Immigration Enforcement Improvements’’ signed by the 

24 President on January 25, 2017, or any other substantially 

25 similar Executive order, memorandum, or other action by 


smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 837 IH

1 the President to use taxpayer dollars or fees to construct 

2 a continuous wall or fence between the United States and 

3 Mexico, shall have no force or effect. 

Æ 


smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS