HR 1707 · 117th Congress 2021–2023, ended

Border Visibility and Security Act

Introduced Mar 9, 2021 Originated House Sponsor Chip Roy R-TX

Fact sheet Spreadsheet

Latest action · May 18, 2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedMar 9, 2021
  2. Passed HouseNot reached
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Border Visibility and Security Act

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to install surveillance technology and take other actions with respect to the U.S.-Mexico border.

DHS shall deploy the most practical and effective technology available to achieve situational awareness and operational control of the border. Such technology may include radar surveillance systems, tunnel detection technology, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

DHS is authorized to waive legal requirements as necessary in order to implement the necessary surveillance technology along the border.

DHS shall also (1) construct a navigable road along at least 700 miles of the southwest border, (2) permanently eradicate certain foliage that grows along the Rio Grande river, and (3) report to Congress a comprehensive strategy about the barriers and technologies needed to secure operational control along the border.

Drug cartel funds that have been criminally forfeited to the U.S. government shall be reserved for security measures along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Cosponsors 23

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Mar 9, 2021 to Jan 11, 2022; 17 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
R-TXBeth Van DuyneOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-TXBrian BabinOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-TXDan CrenshawOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-AZDavid SchweikertOriginalMar 9, 2021
D-TXHenry CuellarOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-GAJody B. HiceOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-TXLance GoodenOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-TXLouie GohmertOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-NCMadison CawthornOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-TNMark E. GreenOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-TXMichael C. BurgessOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-TXMichael CloudOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-TXPete SessionsOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-TXRandy K. Weber, Sr.OriginalMar 9, 2021
R-CATom McClintockOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-TXVan TaylorOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-FLW. Gregory SteubeOriginalMar 9, 2021
R-OHAnthony GonzalezMar 10, 2021
R-FLBrian J. MastMar 10, 2021
R-MTMatthew M. Rosendale, Sr.Jun 28, 2021
R-ALMo BrooksJun 28, 2021
R-ILMary E. MillerJan 10, 2022
R-AZPaul A. GosarJan 11, 2022

Committees 2

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
HouseHomeland Security Committee
Referred Mar 9, 2021
Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee
Referred Mar 10, 2021
HouseJudiciary Committee
Referred Mar 9, 2021
Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee
Referred May 18, 2021

Actions 4

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. May 18, 2021Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  2. Mar 10, 2021Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.
  3. Mar 9, 2021Introduced in House
  4. Mar 9, 2021Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Constitutional authority

Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 of the United States Constitution--to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or any Department or Officer thereof.

The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 167, no. 44, March 9, 2021, page H1190.

Related bills 3

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
S 4642Comprehensive Southern Border Strategy ActRelated billJul 27, 2022
HR 5793Border Visibility and Security ActReintroduction ofMar 10, 2020
HR 7260Comprehensive Southern Border Strategy ActRelated billApr 6, 2022

Titles 2

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
To ensure operational control of the southwest border, and for other purposes.
Short Title(s) as Introduced
Border Visibility and Security Act

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Immigration.

Text 1

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Mar 9, 2021Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.