Title: Secure Border Communications Act
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
Secure Border Communications Act
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that each U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer or agent is equipped with a secure radio or other two-way communication device, supported by system interoperability, that permits communication: (1) between ports of entry and inspection stations; and (2) with other federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement entities.
DHS shall: (1) ensure that U.S. Border Patrol agents in remote mission critical locations and at border checkpoints have multi- or dual-band encrypted portable radios, and (2) acquire radios or other devices with the option to connect to commercial mobile broadband networks for deployment in areas where such networks enhance operations and are cost effective.
DHS may evaluate new or emerging communications technologies to determine their suitability for border security operations.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6742 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6742

 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure that appropriate 
officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are equipped 
with secure radios or other two-way communication devices, supported by 
            system interoperability, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 7, 2018

 Mr. Mast (for himself and Mr. McCaul) introduced the following bill; 
   which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in 
    addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure that appropriate 
officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are equipped 
with secure radios or other two-way communication devices, supported by 
            system interoperability, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Secure Border Communications Act''.

SEC. 2. SECURE BORDER COMMUNICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle B of title IV of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 420. SECURE BORDER COMMUNICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall ensure that each U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection officer or agent, if appropriate, is 
equipped with a secure radio or other two-way communication device, 
supported by system interoperability, that allows each such officer or 
agent to communicate--
            ``(1) between ports of entry and inspection stations; and
            ``(2) with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local law 
        enforcement entities.
    ``(b) U.S. Border Patrol Agents.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
each U.S. Border Patrol agent assigned or required to patrol in remote 
mission critical locations, and at border checkpoints, has a multi- or 
dual-band encrypted portable radio.
    ``(c) Commercial Mobile Broadband Connectivity.--In carrying out 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall acquire radios or other devices 
with the option to connect to appropriate commercial mobile broadband 
networks for deployment in areas where such networks enhance operations 
and are cost effective.
    ``(d) Emerging Communications Technologies Considered.--In carrying 
out this section, the Secretary may evaluate new or emerging 
communications technologies to determine their suitability for the 
unique conditions of border security operations.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 419 the following new item:

``Sec. 420. Secure border communications.''.
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