Border Security Results Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-683
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2013-04-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement officers
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-09
text: 
Border Security Results Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) report, every 180 days, on the state of operational control of the international borders of the United States; and (2) achieve situational awareness of such borders within two years. 
 
Requires the Secretary to submit: (1) a comprehensive strategy for gaining and maintaining operational control of all sectors of such borders within a two-year period, (2) an implementation plan for each DHS border security component to carry out such strategy, and (3) an updated strategy and implementation plan after submission of each Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. Requires such strategy to include: (1) an assessment of principal border security threats, (2) efforts to analyze and disseminate border security and threat information between DHS border security components, (3) a comprehensive border security technology plan, (4) Department of Defense (DOD) surveillance capabilities, (5) the use of manned aircraft and unmanned aerial systems, (6) agreements with foreign governments that support U.S. border security efforts, (7) staffing requirements for all border security functions, (8) measures necessary to achieve a 50% reduction in the average wait times for vehicles at international land ports of entry, and (9) specified metrics. 
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) implement metrics to measure the effectiveness of security between ports of entry, at ports of entry, and in the maritime environment; (2) request the head of a national laboratory within the DHS laboratory network with prior expertise in border security to provide an independent assessment of, and ensure statistical validity of, such metrics; and (3) make such assessment and the metrics data and methodology available to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for a report to Congress.
 
Directs: (1) the Secretary to submit a certification to Congress and the Comptroller General upon determining that operational control of such borders has been achieved, and (2) the Comptroller General to verify the accuracy of such certification. 
 
Directs the Comptroller General to submit a report addressing areas of overlap in responsibilities within DHS's border security functions.
 
Directs the Secretary to report annually on: (1) a resource allocation model for current and future year staffing requirements for optimal staffing levels at all land, air, and sea ports of entry; (2) detailed information on the level of manpower available at and between such ports of entry; and (3) detailed information describing the difference between such optimal and actual levels.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2013-04-09
text: Introduced in Senate