IB 
Union Calendar No. 831 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3593 
[Report No. 115–1070, Part I] 
To amend the Wilderness Act to authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protec-
tion to conduct certain activities to secure the international land borders 
of the United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 28, 2017 
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security, 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 
DECEMBER 10, 2018 
Additional sponsors: Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. PALMER, Mr. DUNCAN of South 
Carolina, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. GIBBS, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. 
ROKITA, Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. WESTERMAN, and Mr. WEBER of Texas 
DECEMBER 10, 2018 
Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
DECEMBER 10, 2018 
Committee on Homeland Security discharged; committed to the Committee of 
the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on July 28, 2017] 
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A BILL 
To amend the Wilderness Act to authorize U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection to conduct certain activities to 
secure the international land borders of the United 
States, and for other purposes. 
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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 ‘‘Securing Our Borders 
and Wilderness Act’’. 
SEC. 2. U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION ACCESS 
TO WILDERNESS AREAS. 
Section 4(d) of the Wilderness Act is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION 
ACCESS.— 
‘‘(A) PERMISSIBLE
ACTIVITIES.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of this Act, the 
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Pro-
tection may conduct the following activities 
within a wilderness area for the purpose of se-
curing the international land borders of the 
United States: 
‘‘(i) Access structures, installations, 
and roads. 
‘‘(ii) Execute search and rescue oper-
ations. 
‘‘(iii) Use motor vehicles, motorboats, 
and motorized equipment. 
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‘‘(iv) Conduct patrols on foot and on 
horseback. 
‘‘(v) Notwithstanding any other law or 
regulation relating specifically to use of air-
craft in a wilderness area or in the airspace 
above a wilderness area, use aircraft, in-
cluding approach, landing, and takeoff. 
‘‘(vi) Deploy tactical infrastructure 
and technology. 
‘‘(vii) Construct and maintain roads 
and physical barriers. 
‘‘(B) PROTECTION OF WILDERNESS CHAR-
ACTER.—Any activity conducted by the Commis-
sioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
under subparagraph (A) shall be carried out in 
a manner that, to the greatest extent possible, 
protects the wilderness character of the area.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 831 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3593 
[Report No. 115–1070, Part I] 
A BILL 
To amend the Wilderness Act to authorize U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection to conduct cer-
tain activities to secure the international land 
borders of the United States, and for other pur-
poses. 
DECEMBER 10, 2018 
Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with 
an amendment 
DECEMBER 10, 2018 
Committee on Homeland Security discharged; committed 
to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
the Union and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:38 Dec 10, 2018
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
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Sfmt 6651
E:\BILLS\H3593.RH
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