I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 761 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
to establish a grant program to reimburse individuals for loss or damage 
to property near the southern border of the United States caused by 
an individual illegally crossing the border, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 2, 2023 
Mrs. BICE (for herself, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas, Mr. 
FALLON, and Mr. JACKSON of Texas) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to 
the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency to establish a grant program to reim-
burse individuals for loss or damage to property near 
the southern border of the United States caused by an 
individual illegally crossing the border, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H761.IH
H761
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing American 
Families from Exploitation at the Border Act’’ or the 
‘‘SAFE Border Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) IMPACTED
PARTY.—The term ‘‘impacted 
party’’ means an individual who— 
(A) owns real property within, the border 
zone; and 
(B) has experienced property theft or prop-
erty damage on the property, as applicable, by 
an individual illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico 
border. 
(2) AT-RISK PARTY.—The term ‘‘at-risk party’’ 
means an individual who— 
(A) owns property within the border zone 
that does not have a bollard-style border barrier 
that is adjacent to such property; and 
(B) reasonably believes to be at risk of ex-
periencing property theft or property damage 
on the property, as applicable, by an individual 
illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. 
(3) BORDER ZONE.—The term ‘‘border zone’’ 
means the area of the United States that is within 
10 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H761.IH
H761
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
SEC. 3. SOUTHERN BORDER LANDOWNER SECURITY GRANT 
PROGRAM. 
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency shall establish a grant program to be 
known as the Southern Border Landowner Security Grant 
Program to provide grants to impacted parties to cover 
losses or damage to property and to at-risk parties to im-
prove the security of certain property. 
SEC. 4. GRANTS TO IMPACTED PARTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may provide 
grants under this Act to an impacted party to cover loss 
or damages not otherwise covered by insurance to the im-
pacted property if such party certifies, to the satisfaction 
of the Administrator, that the property— 
(1) was located in the border zone at the time 
such loss or damage occurred; and 
(2) the loss or damage was caused by an indi-
vidual illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible for a grant under 
this section, an impacted party shall submit to the Admin-
istrator an application that includes documentation of the 
loss or damage and an estimate of the value of such loss 
or an estimate of the cost to repair such damage. 
SEC. 5. GRANTS TO AT-RISK PARTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may provide 
grants under this Act to an at-risk party to improve the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H761.IH
H761
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
physical security of property located within the border 
zone if such party certifies, to the satisfaction of the Ad-
ministrator, that the party reasonably believes that the 
property of such party is at risk of loss or damage caused 
by an individual illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. 
(b) REPORT ON USE OF FUNDS.—Not later than 290 
days after an at-risk party receives funds under this sec-
tion, such party shall submit to the Administrator docu-
mentation on how the party spends such funds. Any funds 
that remain unspent on the day on which such documenta-
tion is submitted shall be returned to the Administrator 
for further provision under this section. 
SEC. 6. FUNDING. 
(a) TRANSFER
OF FUNDS.—Of the funds appro-
priated under the heading ‘‘Procurement, Construction, 
and Improvement’’ for use by the U.S. Customs and Bor-
der Patrol that are unobligated and unexpended as of the 
date of enactment of this Act, $75,000,000 shall be trans-
ferred to the Administrator to provide grants under this 
Act. 
(b) FISCAL YEAR LIMITATION.—Of the funds trans-
ferred under subsection (a), the Administrator may ex-
pend $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
2024. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H761.IH
H761
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(c) LIMITATION ON GRANT AMOUNT.—An individual 
may not receive more than a total of $25,000 under this 
section for fiscal years 2022 through 2024. 
SEC. 7. REGULATIONS. 
The Administrator may issues such regulations as are 
necessary to carry out this Act, including— 
(1) requirements that applicants for funds 
under this Act submit evidentiary documentation, in-
cluding property deeds, police reports, insurance cov-
erage documentation, and other documentation con-
sidered appropriate by the Administrator; 
(2) a review process conducted by the Adminis-
trator or the inspector general of the Agency to re-
view applications annually for waste, fraud, and 
abuse; and 
(3) the applicable penalties for fraudulent 
claims or false statements. 
SEC. 8. SUNSET. 
The authority to provide grants under this Act shall 
cease on the last date of fiscal year 2026. Any funds that 
have not been obligated under this section before that date 
shall be transferred to the heading ‘‘Procurement, Con-
struction, and Improvement’’ for use by the U.S. Customs 
and Border Patrol. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H761.IH
H761
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB