Securing Our Borders and Wilderness Act

Bill: 115-hr-3593
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4]
Introduced: 2017-07-28
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Border security and unlawful immigration

Motor vehicles

Roads and highways

Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Latest action: action_date: 2018-12-10
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 831.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-07-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Securing Our Borders and Wilderness Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Wilderness Act to allow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct the following activities within a wilderness area for the purpose of securing the international land borders of the United States: </p> <ul> <li> access structures, installations, and roads;</li> <li>use motor vehicles and aircraft;</li> <li>deploy temporary infrastructure in response to emergencies; or</li> <li>construct and maintain roads and fences, subject to the approval of the Department of the Interior. </li> </ul> <p>Any such activity shall be carried out in a manner that protects the wilderness character of the area. </p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3593 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 28, 2017 Mr. Johnson of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources , and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security , 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 Wilderness Act to authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct certain activities to secure the international land borders of the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing Our Borders and Wilderness Act . 2. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Access to Wilderness Areas Section 4(d) of the Wilderness Act is amended by adding at the end the following: (8) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Access (A) Permissible activities Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may conduct the following activities within a wilderness area for the purpose of securing the international land borders of the United States: (i) Access structures, installations, and roads. (ii) Use motor vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles, motorboats, and motorized equipment. (iii) Notwithstanding any other law or regulation relating specifically to use of aircraft in a wilderness area or in the airspace above a wilderness area, use aircraft, including approach, landing, and takeoff. (iv) In response to emergency situations, deploy temporary infrastructure, including forward operating bases. (v) Subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, construct and maintain roads and fences. (B) Protection of wilderness character Any activity conducted by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under subparagraph (A) shall be carried out in a manner that, to the greatest extent possible, protects the wilderness character of the area. .

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 831 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3593 [Report No. 115–1070, Part I] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 28, 2017 Mr. Johnson of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources , and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security , 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 December 10, 2018 Additional sponsors: Mr. McClintock , Mr. Palmer , Mr. Duncan of South Carolina , Mr. Wilson of South Carolina , Mr. Gibbs , Mr. Gosar , Mr. Rokita , Mr. Bucshon , Mr. Westerman , and Mr. Weber of Texas December 10, 2018 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic December 10, 2018 Committee on Homeland Security discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on July 28, 2017 A BILL To amend the Wilderness Act to authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct certain activities to secure the international land borders of the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing Our Borders and Wilderness Act . 2. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Access to Wilderness Areas Section 4(d) of the Wilderness Act is amended by adding at the end the following: (8) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Access (A) Permissible activities Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may conduct the following activities within a wilderness area for the purpose of securing the international land borders of the United States: (i) Access structures, installations, and roads. (ii) Execute search and rescue operations. (iii) Use motor vehicles, motorboats, and motorized equipment. (iv) Conduct patrols on foot and on horseback. (v) Notwithstanding any other law or regulation relating specifically to use of aircraft in a wilderness area or in the airspace above a wilderness area, use aircraft, including approach, landing, and takeoff. (vi) Deploy tactical infrastructure and technology. (vii) Construct and maintain roads and physical barriers. (B) Protection of wilderness character Any activity conducted by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under subparagraph (A) shall be carried out in a manner that, to the greatest extent possible, protects the wilderness character of the area. .

December 10, 2018 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment December 10, 2018 Committee on Homeland Security discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed