I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 506 
To require assessments for Foreign Terrorist Organization designations, au-
thorize certain appropriations for certain fiscal years for Operation 
Stonegarden, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 16, 2025 
Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas (for himself, Mr. CISCOMANI, Ms. SALAZAR, 
Ms. DE LA CRUZ, Mr. FEENSTRA, Mr. EVANS of Colorado, Mr. 
VALADAO, Mrs. KIM, Mr. KEAN, Mr. BABIN, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. 
WEBER of Texas, Mrs. HINSON, Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana, and Mr. 
MOYLAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the 
Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require assessments for Foreign Terrorist Organization 
designations, authorize certain appropriations for certain 
fiscal years for Operation Stonegarden, 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 ‘‘Security First Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:50 Feb 12, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H506.IH
H506
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Since FY2021, there were more than 8.72 
million encounters at the Southwest border. 
(2) Since FY2021, there have been roughly 2 
million known ‘‘gotaways’’ that have evaded United 
States Border Patrol. 
(3) Since FY2021, there were 395 encounters 
in between our borders with individuals on the Ter-
rorist Screening Dataset, also known as the terrorist 
watchlist. 
(4) Since FY2021, 9,254 pounds of fentanyl 
have been seized between ports of entry nationwide. 
(5) In 2023, there were 105,007 opioid deaths, 
with 72,776 deaths involving synthetic opioids like 
fentanyl. 
(6) Mexican cartels and transnational criminal 
organizations have been linked to committing severe 
crimes including homicides, rape, sexual assault, and 
kidnappings, and significantly influence drug traf-
ficking and human trafficking across the Southwest 
border, organizing and profiting off these illicit oper-
ations. 
(7) In 2024, U.S. Border Patrol sent out mul-
tiple alerts to personnel warning of Mexican cartel 
members being permitted to shoot at Border Patrol 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:50 Feb 12, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H506.IH
H506
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Agents and engage in retaliatory shootings, a direct 
threat to homeland security. 
(8) In 2024, Homeland Security Investigations 
(HSI) sent out an alert to personnel that Ven-
ezuelan gang Tren de Aragua had been given the 
‘‘green light’’ to fire on or attack law enforcement 
in Colorado, a direct threat to homeland security. 
(9) State and local law enforcement continue to 
assume a larger and critical role aiding federal law 
enforcement in border security operations with lim-
ited, finite resources. 
(10) Federal, State, and local law enforcement 
need the resources necessary to secure U.S. borders 
and protect the homeland. 
SEC. 3. OPERATION STONEGARDEN APPROPRIATIONS AND 
TRUST FUND. 
(a) CERTAIN APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2025 through 
2028 $110,000,000 for the Operation Stonegarden grant 
program, and not less than $36,666,666 for each of fiscal 
years 2025 through 2028 to procure technology and equip-
ment, including communications equipment, sensors, and 
drone technology. 
(b) OPERATION STONEGARDEN TRUST FUND.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:50 Feb 12, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H506.IH
H506
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) CREATION OF TRUST FUND.—There is es-
tablished in the Treasury of the United States a 
trust fund to be known as the ‘‘Operation 
Stonegarden Trust Fund’’ (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘‘Trust Fund’’), consisting of amounts 
transferred to the Trust Fund under paragraph (2). 
(2) TRANSFERS
TO
TRUST
FUND.—The Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Trust 
Fund, from the general fund of the Treasury, for 
fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter until 
2028, an amount equivalent to the amount received 
into the general fund during that fiscal year attrib-
utable to unreported monetary instruments seized by 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection from individ-
uals crossing the United States and Mexico border. 
(3) USE
OF
TRUST
FUND.—Amounts in the 
Trust Fund shall be made available to the Secretary 
of Homeland Security, without further appropria-
tion, to fund the Operation Stonegarden grant pro-
gram. 
(4) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may only ex-
pend funds made available from the Trust Fund to 
carry out the activity described in paragraph (3). 
(5) MONETARY INSTRUMENT.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:50 Feb 12, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H506.IH
H506
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS