I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1678 
To increase transparency, accountability, and community engagement within 
the Department of Homeland Security, to provide independent oversight 
of border security activities, to improve training for agents and officers 
of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2025 
Ms. ESCOBAR introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on 
Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To increase transparency, accountability, and community en-
gagement within the Department of Homeland Security, 
to provide independent oversight of border security activi-
ties, to improve training for agents and officers of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, 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 ‘‘Homeland Security 
Improvement Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. STAKEHOLDER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 
(a) DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BORDER 
OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an 
independent commission, which shall be known as 
the ‘‘Department of Homeland Security Border 
Oversight Commission’’ (referred to in this Act as 
the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(2) ORGANIZATION.— 
(A) LEADERSHIP.—The Commission shall 
be led by a Chair and a Vice Chair. 
(B) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 30 members, who— 
(I) shall be appointed by the 
Speaker and the minority leader of 
the House of Representatives and the 
majority and minority leaders of the 
Senate, in consultation with the Presi-
dent; and 
(II) shall have expertise in migra-
tion, local crime indices, civil and 
human rights, community relations, 
cross-border trade and commerce, 
quality of life indicators, or other per-
tinent experience. 
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(ii) REGIONAL REPRESENTATION.—Of 
the 30 members appointed pursuant to 
clause (i)(I)— 
(I) 13 members shall be from the 
northern border region and shall com-
prise 
the 
northern 
border 
sub-
committee; and 
(II) 17 members shall be from 
the southern border region and shall 
comprise the southern border sub-
committee. 
(iii) 
NORTHERN
BORDER
SUB-
COMMITTEE.—Of the 13 members from 
the northern border region— 
(I) 2 shall be elected local gov-
ernment officials; 
(II) 2 shall be local law enforce-
ment officials; 
(III) 2 shall be civil rights advo-
cates; 
(IV) 1 shall represent the busi-
ness community; 
(V) 1 shall represent institutions 
of higher education; 
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(VI) 1 shall represent a faith 
community; 
(VII) 2 shall be U.S. Border Pa-
trol officers or agents, including at 
least 1 member of the National Bor-
der Patrol Council; and 
(VIII) 2 shall be tribal officials. 
(iv) 
SOUTHERN
BORDER
SUB-
COMMITTEE.—Of the 17 members from 
the southern border region— 
(I) 3 shall be elected local gov-
ernment officials; 
(II) 3 shall be local law enforce-
ment officials; 
(III) 3 shall be civil rights advo-
cates; 
(IV) 2 shall represent the busi-
ness community; 
(V) 1 shall represent institutions 
of higher education; 
(VI) 1 shall represent a faith 
community; 
(VII) 2 shall be U.S. Border Pa-
trol officers or agents, including at 
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