Securing Our Borders and Wilderness Act

Bill: 116-hr-612
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4]
Introduced: 2019-01-16
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: 2019-02-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-01-16
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>execute search and rescue operations;</li> <li>use motor vehicles, motorboats, and motorized equipment;</li> <li>conduct patrols on foot and on horseback;</li> <li>use aircraft;</li> <li>deploy tactical infrastructure and technology; or</li> <li>construct and maintain roads and physical barriers. </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 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 612 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 16, 2019 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 ( 16 U.S.C. 1133 ) 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. .