Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act

Bill: 112-hr-915
Sponsor: Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28]
Introduced: 2011-03-03 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Border security and unlawful immigration
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Homeland Security
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Executive agency funding and structure
Firearms and explosives
Government information and archives
Homeland security
Human trafficking
Intergovernmental relations
International organizations and cooperation
Law enforcement administration and funding
Smuggling and trafficking
State and local government operations
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-03
text: 
Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act - Establishes in United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) program to enhance border security by addressing and reducing border security threats and violence by: (1) facilitating collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies to execute coordinated activities in furtherance of border security and homeland security; and (2) enhancing information-sharing among such agencies.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), acting through the Assistant Secretary for ICE, to establish BEST units after considering: (1) whether the area where the unit would be established is significantly impacted by cross-border threats; (2) the availability of federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement resources to participate in the unit; and (3) the extent to which border security threats are having a significant harmful impact in the area and in other jurisdictions. Authorizes the Secretary, in order to provide federal assistance to the area so designated, to: (1) obligate such sums as are appropriated for the BEST program; (2) direct the assignment of federal personnel to that program; and (3) take other actions to assist state, local, tribal, and foreign jurisdictions to participate.
 
Directs the Secretary to report on the effectiveness of the program in enhancing border security and reducing the drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across U.S. borders.

action_date: 2011-11-04
text: 
Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act - Establishes in United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) program to enhance border security by addressing and reducing border security threats and violence by: (1) facilitating collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies to execute coordinated activities in furtherance of border security and homeland security; and (2) enhancing information-sharing among such agencies.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), acting through the Assistant Secretary for ICE, to establish BEST units after considering: (1) whether the area where the unit would be established is significantly impacted by cross-border threats; (2) the availability of federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement resources to participate in the unit; (3) the extent to which border security threats are having a significant harmful impact in the area and in other jurisdictions; and (4) whether or not an Integrated Border Enforcement Team already exists in the area where the BEST unit would be established. Authorizes the Secretary, in order to provide federal assistance to the area so designated, to: (1) obligate such sums as are appropriated for the BEST program; (2) direct the assignment of federal personnel to that program; and (3) take other actions to assist state, local, tribal, and foreign jurisdictions to participate.
 
Directs the Secretary to report on the effectiveness of the program in enhancing border security and reducing the drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across U.S. borders.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2012-FY2016 to: (1) establish and operate the BEST program; and (2) investigate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals engaged in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking, and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the U.S. borders.

action_date: 2012-05-30
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on November 4, 2011. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act - Establishes in United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) program to enhance border security by addressing and reducing border security threats and violence by: (1) facilitating collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies to execute coordinated activities in furtherance of border security and homeland security; and (2) enhancing information-sharing among such agencies.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), acting through the Assistant Secretary for ICE, to establish BEST units after considering: (1) whether the area where the unit would be established is significantly impacted by cross-border threats; (2) the availability of federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement resources to participate in the unit; (3) the extent to which border security threats are having a significant harmful impact in the area and in other jurisdictions; and (4) whether or not an Integrated Border Enforcement Team already exists in the area where the BEST unit would be established. Authorizes the Secretary, in order to provide federal assistance to the area so designated, to: (1) obligate such sums as are appropriated for the BEST program; (2) direct the assignment of federal personnel to that program; and (3) take other actions to assist state, local, tribal, and foreign jurisdictions to participate.
 
Directs the Secretary to report on the effectiveness of the program in enhancing border security and reducing the drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across U.S. borders.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2012-FY2016 to: (1) establish and operate the BEST program; and (2) investigate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals engaged in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking, and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the U.S. borders.

action_date: 2012-09-22
text: 
Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), which shall establish units to enhance border security by addressing and reducing border security threats and violence by: (1) facilitating collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies to execute coordinated activities in furtherance of border security and homeland security; and (2) enhancing information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information among such agencies.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish BEST units in jurisdictions in which such units can contribute to BEST missions, after considering: (1) whether the area in which the unit would be established is significantly impacted by cross-border threats; (2) the availability of federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement resources to participate in the unit; (3) the extent to which border security threats are having a significant harmful impact in the area and in other U.S. jurisdictions; and (4) whether an Integrated Border Enforcement Team already exists in the area. Directs the Secretary, in determining whether to establish or expand a BEST unit in a given jurisdiction, to ensure that the unit under consideration does not duplicate the efforts of other existing interagency task forces or centers within that jurisdiction.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, after determining the jurisdictions in which to establish BEST units and in order to provide federal assistance to such jurisdictions, to: (1) direct the assignment of federal personnel to BEST; and (2) take other actions to assist federal, state, local, and tribal entities to participate in BEST, including providing financial assistance for operational, administrative, and technological costs associated with such participation.
 
Directs the Secretary to report annually on the effectiveness of the program in enhancing border security and reducing the drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across U.S. borders.

action_date: 2012-12-07
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on September 22, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), which shall establish units to enhance border security by addressing and reducing border security threats and violence by: (1) facilitating collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies to execute coordinated activities in furtherance of border security and homeland security; and (2) enhancing information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information among such agencies.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish BEST units in jurisdictions in which such units can contribute to BEST missions, after considering: (1) whether the area in which the unit would be established is significantly impacted by cross-border threats; (2) the availability of federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement resources to participate in the unit; (3) the extent to which border security threats are having a significant harmful impact in the area and in other U.S. jurisdictions; and (4) whether an Integrated Border Enforcement Team already exists in the area. Directs the Secretary, in determining whether to establish or expand a BEST unit in a given jurisdiction, to ensure that the unit under consideration does not duplicate the efforts of other existing interagency task forces or centers within that jurisdiction.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, after determining the jurisdictions in which to establish BEST units and in order to provide federal assistance to such jurisdictions, to: (1) direct the assignment of federal personnel to BEST; and (2) take other actions to assist federal, state, local, and tribal entities to participate in BEST, including providing financial assistance for operational, administrative, and technological costs associated with such participation.
 
Directs the Secretary to report annually on the effectiveness of the program in enhancing border security and reducing the drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across U.S. borders.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-07
text: Became Public Law No: 112-205.
action_date: 2012-12-07
text: Became Public Law No: 112-205.
action_date: 2012-12-07
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2012-12-07
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2012-11-30
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2012-11-30
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2012-11-27
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-11-27
text: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 397 - 4 (Roll no. 610). (text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H6437)
action_date: 2012-11-27
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 397 - 4 (Roll no. 610).(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H6437)
action_date: 2012-11-27
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6437-6439, H6443-6444)
action_date: 2012-11-27
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2012-11-27
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 915.
action_date: 2012-11-27
text: Mr. McCaul moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
action_date: 2012-09-24
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2012-09-22
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR 9/21/2012 S6664-6665; text as passed Senate: CR S6664-6665)
action_date: 2012-09-22
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR 9/21/2012 S6664-6665; text as passed Senate: CR S6664-6665)
action_date: 2012-08-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 497.
action_date: 2012-08-28
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/02/2012 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 112-206.
action_date: 2012-08-28
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/02/2012 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 112-206.
action_date: 2012-06-29
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2012-06-04
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-05-30
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-05-30
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 391 - 2 (Roll no. 296). (text: CR H3243-3244)
action_date: 2012-05-30
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 391 - 2 (Roll no. 296).(text: CR H3243-3244)
action_date: 2012-05-30
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3249-3250)
action_date: 2012-05-30
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2012-05-30
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 915.
action_date: 2012-05-30
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3243-3245)
action_date: 2012-05-30
text: Mr. King (NY) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2011-11-04
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 179.
action_date: 2011-11-04
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 112-268.
action_date: 2011-11-04
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 112-268.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2011-06-02
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2011-06-02
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2011-03-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2011-03-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2011-03-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-03-03
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 112-205