Finish the Wall Act

Bill: 117-hr-2729
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]
Introduced: 2021-04-21
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Congressional oversight

Department of Homeland Security

Executive agency funding and structure

Genetics

Immigration status and procedures

Public contracts and procurement
Latest action: action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-04-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Finish the Wall Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume activities related to the construction of a barrier system along the U.S.-Mexico border and addresses other border-related issues.</p> <p>DHS must resume all such construction activities that were planned or underway prior to January 20, 2021. DHS must also expend all funds appropriated or explicitly obligated since October 1, 2016, for construction of this barrier system. DHS may not cancel contracts for activities related to such construction entered into on or before January 20, 2021. </p> <p>Furthermore, within 14 days of this bill's enactment, DHS must certify to Congress that U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities that process adults taken into custody at the border are fully compliant with certain laws related to the collection of DNA. (Among other things, these laws allow for the collection of DNA samples from non-U.S. persons detained under U.S. authority.)</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2729 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 21, 2021 Mr. Higgins of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. Katko , Mr. McCaul , Mr. Rogers of Alabama , Mr. Budd , Mr. Van Drew , Mr. Pfluger , Mr. Perry , Mr. Burchett , Mr. Steube , Ms. Herrell , Mr. Roy , Mr. Hice of Georgia , Mr. Biggs , Mr. Gimenez , Mr. Balderson , Mr. Green of Tennessee , Mr. Rosendale , Mr. Cawthorn , Mr. Graves of Louisiana , Mr. Nehls , Mr. Babin , Mr. Johnson of South Dakota , Mr. Bishop of North Carolina , Mr. Guest , Mr. C. Scott Franklin of Florida , Mrs. Miller of Illinois , Mrs. Harshbarger , Mr. Bergman , Mrs. Cammack , Mr. Sessions , Mr. Mast , Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia , Mr. Meijer , Mr. Young , Mr. McClintock , Mr. Norman , Mr. Johnson of Louisiana , Mr. Moore of Alabama , Mrs. Wagner , Mrs. Miller-Meeks , Mr. Clyde , Mr. Jordan , Mr. Weber of Texas , Mr. Allen , Mr. Murphy of North Carolina , Mr. Fleischmann , Mrs. Bice of Oklahoma , Mr. Mann , Mr. Baird , Mr. Garbarino , Mr. Feenstra , and Mr. LaTurner ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To immediately resume construction of the border wall system along the international border between the United States and Mexico to secure the border, enforce the rule of law, and expend appropriated funds as mandated by Congress, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Finish the Wall Act . 2. Border wall system construction (a) (1) Immediately resume border wall system construction Not later than 24 hours after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall resume all activities related to the construction of the border barrier system (also known as, and referred to in this Act as, the border wall system ) along the international border between the United States and Mexico that were underway or being planned for prior to January 20, 2021. (2) No cancellations The Secretary of Homeland Security may not cancel any contract for activities related to border wall system construction referred to in paragraph (1) that was entered into on or before January 20, 2021. (3) Use of funds The Secretary of Homeland Security shall expend all funds appropriated or explicitly obligated for border wall system construction referred to in paragraph (1) that were appropriated or obligated, as the case may be, beginning on October 1, 2016, to carry out this Act. (4) Implementation plan for border wall system Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an implementation plan to complete, by not later than September 30, 2024, border wall system construction referred to in paragraph (1) and funded in accordance with paragraph (3). (b) Plan To complete tactical infrastructure and technology elements of border wall system Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an implementation plan, including quarterly benchmarks and cost estimates, for satisfying all requirements of border wall system construction referred to in subsection (a)(1), including tactical infrastructure, technology, and other elements as identified by the Department of Homeland Security prior to January 20, 2021, through the expenditure of funds appropriated or explicitly obligated, as the case may be, for use beginning on October 1, 2016, as well as any future funds appropriated by Congress. (c) Uphold negotiated agreements The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that all agreements executed in writing between the Department of Homeland Security and private citizens, State, local, and Tribal governments, and other stakeholders are honored by the Department relating to current and future border wall system construction as required by such agreements. 3. DNA collection consistent with Federal law Not later than 14 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure and certify to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is fully compliant with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 at all border facilities that process adults, including as part of a family unit, in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the border. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (2) Tactical infrastructure The term tactical infrastructure includes boat ramps, access gates, checkpoints, lighting, and roads associated with a border wall system. (3) Technology The term technology includes border surveillance and detection technology, including linear ground detection systems, associated with a border wall system.