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 provi-
sions 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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Southern Border Sher-
iffs Community Impact Aid Act of 2011’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The international border of the United 
States constitutes Federal infrastructure that has a 
substantial economic impact on adjacent counties. 
(2) The high level of documented illegal activity 
on the United States southern border has placed a 
unique economic burden on border sheriffs’ depart-
ments. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Federal Government should offset the addi-
tional law enforcement costs on these counties in a similar 
manner to the Community Impact Aid program for local 
schools that incur additional costs from Federal infra-
structure. 
SEC. 3. COMMUNITY IMPACT AID GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity shall make grants to sheriffs’ departments along the 
southern border of the United States for the purpose of 
hiring additional deputies, including for salaries, benefits, 
training, uniforms, patrol vehicles, and arms. 
(b) GRANT CALCULATION FORMULA.—Except as 
provided in subsection (c), a grant made pursuant to sub-
section (a) shall be in an amount equal to 30 percent of 
an eligible sheriff’s department’s fiscal year 2010 budget 
for patrol deputies. 
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(c) MINIMUM BENEFIT.—Notwithstanding the cal-
culation provided for in subsection (b), a grant made pur-
suant to subsection (a) to an eligible sheriff’s department 
shall be in an amount that allows for the hiring of at least 
one additional deputy. 
(d) AVAILABILITY.—Grants made pursuant to sub-
section (a) are authorized to remain available until ex-
pended. 
(e) ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this section, a sheriff’s department 
shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security an ap-
plication at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require. 
(f) ELIGIBLE SHERIFFS’ DEPARTMENTS.—Sheriffs’ 
departments in the following counties are eligible to re-
ceive grants under this section: 
(1) In Texas, the following counties: El Paso, 
Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Brew-
ster, Terrell, Val Verde, Kinney, Maverick, Dimmit, 
Webb, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy, 
Jim Hogg, Zavala, and Pecos Counties. 
(2) In Arizona, the following counties: Yuma, 
Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise Counties. 
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