Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2281
Sponsor: Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Coast guard
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Homeland security
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Law enforcement administration and funding
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Organized crime

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 

Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), before establishing a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) unit, to apply risk-based criteria that takes into consideration specified factors, including:
 
 
whether the area in which the unit would be established is significantly impacted by threats posed by transnational criminal organizations;
 
the extent to which the unit would advance DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and related objectives; and 
 
 whether departmental Joint Task Force operations would be enhanced, improved, or otherwise assisted by the unit.
 
 
The bill requires DHS to submit an annual report on the BEST program for the next five years, and such report must include:
 
 
a description of the effectiveness of BEST in disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations;
 
an assessment of how BEST enhances information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information, among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies;
 
a description of how BEST advances DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and effectiveness of BEST in achieving related objectives; and
 
an assessment of BEST's joint operational efforts with departmental Joint Task Force operations.
 

action_date: 2017-05-16
text: 

Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), before establishing a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) unit, to apply risk-based criteria that takes into consideration specified factors, including:
 
 
whether the area in which the unit would be established is significantly impacted by threats posed by transnational criminal organizations;
 
the extent to which the unit would advance DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and related objectives; and 
 
 whether departmental Joint Task Force operations would be enhanced, improved, or otherwise assisted by the unit.
 
 
A BEST unit with a port security nexus must be composed of at least one member of each of: (1) the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and (2) the geographically-responsible Coast Guard Sector Intelligence Office.
 
The bill requires DHS to submit an annual report on the BEST program for the next five years, and such report must include:
 
 
a description of the effectiveness of BEST in disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations;
 
an assessment of how BEST enhances information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information, among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies;
 
a description of how BEST advances DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and effectiveness of BEST in achieving related objectives; and
 
an assessment of BEST's joint operational efforts with departmental Joint Task Force operations.
 

action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 16, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), before establishing a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) unit, to apply risk-based criteria that takes into consideration specified factors, including:
 
 
whether the area in which the unit would be established is significantly impacted by threats posed by transnational criminal organizations;
 
the extent to which the unit would advance DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and related objectives; and 
 
 whether departmental Joint Task Force operations would be enhanced, improved, or otherwise assisted by the unit.
 
 
A BEST unit with a port security nexus must be composed of at least one member of each of: (1) the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and (2) the geographically-responsible Coast Guard Sector Intelligence Office.
 
The bill requires DHS to submit an annual report on the BEST program for the next five years, and such report must include:
 
 
a description of the effectiveness of BEST in disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations;
 
an assessment of how BEST enhances information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information, among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies;
 
a description of how BEST advances DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and effectiveness of BEST in achieving related objectives; and
 
an assessment of BEST's joint operational efforts with departmental Joint Task Force operations.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-18
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4271)
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4271)
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2281.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4271-4273)
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Mr. Katko moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 75.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-122.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-122.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in House