,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #c1 #bjac ,ms4 ,jackson ,lee introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security1 and in addition to the ,committee on the ,judiciary1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to provide for emergency deployments of ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agents and to increase the number of ,,dea and ,,atf agents along the international border of the ,united ,states to increase resources to identify and eliminate illicit sources of firearms into ,mexico for use by violent drug trafficking organizations and for other lawful activities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,border ,security1 ,cooperation1 and ,act ,now ,drug ,war ,prevention ,act of #bjac4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,findings4 ,title ,i--,general ,provisions ,sec4 #aja4 ,emergency deployment of ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agents4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,emergency deployment of ,,dea agents4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,emergency deployment of ,,atf agents4 ,sec4 #ajd4 ,elimination of fixed deployment of ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agents4 ,sec4 #aje4 ,helicopters and power boats4 ,sec4 #ajf4 ,control of ,united ,state ,border ,patrol assets4 ,sec4 #ajg4 ,motor vehicles4 ,sec4 #ajh4 ,portable computers4 ,sec4 #aji4 ,radio communications4 ,sec4 #aaj4 ,hand-held global positioning system devices4 ,sec4 #aaa4 ,night vision equipment4 ,sec4 #aab4 ,border armor4 ,sec4 #aac4 ,weapons4 ,sec4 #aad4 ,uniforms4 ,sec4 #aae4 ,task force4 ,title ,,ii--,border ,relief ,sec4 #bja4 ,border relief grant program4 ,sec4 #bjb4 ,authorization of appropriations4 ,sec4 #bjc4 ,enforcement of ,federal immigration law4 ,sec4 #bjd4 ,regulations4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,in #bjjh1 the violence between ,mexican drug gangs fighting for trafficking routes to the ,united ,states killed approximately #f1jjj people in ,mexico1 including more than #ejj police officers and soldiers4 7#b7 ,in the first eight weeks of #bjji1 more than #a1jjj people were killed as a result of the drug war4 7#c7 ,in ,march #bjji1 ,mexico sent an additional #c1bjj soldiers to the border1 increasing the total number of ,mexican solders combating drug cartels to more than #de1jjj4 7#d7 ,over #bjj ,united ,states citizens have been killed in the drug war1 either because they were involved in the cartels or were innocent bystanders4 7#e7 ,the drug trade in ,mexico include marijuana1 heroin1 cocaine1 and methamphetamine 7meth74 7#f7 ,mexico is the conduit for most of the cocaine--approximately #ij percent--in the ,united ,states1 the source for much of the heroin consumed in this country1 and the largest foreign supplier of marijuana and meth to other markets4 7#g7 ,estimates indicate a vast majority of the cocaine available in the ,united ,states market is smuggled by ,mexican cartels across the ,united ,states-,mexico border4 7#h7 ,cartels are becoming increasingly involved in the trafficking of meth because of the large profit margins they obtain from controlling the drug from manufacture to distribution4 7#i7 ,the drug cartels have criminal earnings in excess of #be billion per year and physically send more than #aj billion a year in bulk cash back into ,mexico from the ,united ,states4 7#aj7 ,according to the #bjji ,national ,drug ,threat ,assessment1 ,mexican drug trafficking organizations are the greatest drug trafficking threat to the ,united ,states4 7#aa7 ,mexico's cartels have existed for some time1 but have become increasingly powerful in recent years with the demise of once powerful cartels in ,colombia and the closure of trafficking routes through ,florida4 7#ab7 ,the ,colombian cartels still play a role in the ,united ,states drug trade4 7#ac7 ,the ,drug ,enforcement ,administration 7,,dea7 maintains that the ,mexican cartels now command and control the drug trade and show the hallmarks of organized crime1 such as organizing into distinct cells with subordinate cells1 including gangs1 which operate throughout the ,united ,states4 7#ad7 ,mexican cartels control drug distribution in most ,united ,states cities1 and they are gaining strength in markets that they do not yet control4 ,the #bjji ,national ,drug ,threat ,assessment indicates that ,mexican cartels maintain drug distribution networks or supply drugs to distributors in at least #bcj ,united ,states cities1 including in ,alaska and ,hawaii4 7#ae7 ,the ,federal ,government provides ,states and local governments with assistance in covering the costs related to the fight against the drug cartels and the prosecution of such drug cases1 local law enforcement along the border is in need of assistance in covering expenses4 ,local law enforcement uses its limited resources to combat drug trafficking1 human smuggling1 kidnappings1 the destruction of private property1 and other border security related crimes4 ,the ,united ,states shares #a1ihi miles along its border with ,mexico4 ,federal assistance is required to help local law enforcement4 ,i ,general ,provisions #aja4 ,emergency deployment of ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agents 7a7 ,in general ,if the ,governor of a ,state on an international border of the ,united ,states declares an international border security emergency1 including actions involving ,mexican drug gangs fighting for trafficking routes involved in violent drug wars1 and requests additional ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agents from the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 the ,secretary is authorized1 subject to subsections 7b7 and 7c71 to provide the ,state with up to #ejj additional ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agents for the purpose of patrolling and defending the international border in order to prevent individuals from crossing the international border and entering the ,united ,states at any location other than an authorized port of entry4 7b7 ,consultation ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall consult with the ,president upon receipt of a request under subsection 7a71 and shall grant such request to the extent that providing the requested assistance will not significantly impair the ,department of ,homeland ,security's ability to provide border security for any other ,state4 7c7 ,collective bargaining ,emergency deployments under this section shall be made in accordance with all collective bargaining agreements and obligations4 #ajb4 ,emergency deployment of ,,dea agents 7a7 ,in general ,if the ,governor of a ,state on an international border of the ,united ,states declares an international border security emergency and requests additional ,drug ,enforcement ,administration 7,,dea7 agents from the ,attorney ,general1 the ,attorney ,general is authorized1 subject to subsections 7b7 and 7c71 to provide the ,state with up to #ejj additional ,,dea agents for the purpose of combating the inflow of drugs along trafficking routes to the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,consultation ,the ,attorney ,general shall consult with the ,president upon receipt of a request under subsection 7a71 and shall grant such request to the extent that providing the requested assistance will not significantly impair the ,attorney ,general's ability to provide ,,dea agents for any other ,state4 7c7 ,collective bargaining ,emergency deployments under this section shall be made in accordance with all collective bargaining agreements and obligations4 #ajc4 ,emergency deployment of ,,atf agents 7a7 ,in general ,if the ,governor of a ,state on an international border of the ,united ,states declares an international border security emergency and requests additional ,bureau of ,alcohol1 ,tobacco1 ,firearms1 and ,explosives 7,,atf7 agents from the ,attorney ,general1 the ,attorney ,general is authorized1 subject to subsections 7b7 and 7c71 to provide the ,state with up to #ejj additional ,,atf agents for the purpose of combating the inflow of firearms1 explosives1 alcohol1 and tobacco along smuggling routes to the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,consultation ,the ,attorney ,general shall consult with the ,president upon receipt of a request under subsection 7a71 and shall grant such request to the extent that providing the requested assistance will not significantly impair the ,attorney ,general's ability to provide ,,atf agents for any other ,state4 7c7 ,collective bargaining ,emergency deployments under this section shall be made in accordance with all collective bargaining agreements and obligations4 #ajd4 ,elimination of fixed deployment of ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agents ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall ensure that no ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agent is precluded from performing patrol duties and apprehending violators of law1 except in unusual circumstances where the temporary use of fixed deployment positions is necessary4 #aje4 ,helicopters and power boats 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall increase by not fewer than #ajj the number of ,united ,states ,border ,patrol helicopters1 and shall increase by not fewer than #bej the number of ,united ,states ,border ,patrol power boats4 ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall ensure that appropriate types of helicopters are procured for the various missions being performed4 ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security also shall ensure that the types of power boats that are procured are appropriate for both the waterways in which they are used and the mission requirements4 7b7 ,use and training ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall establish an overall policy on how the helicopters and power boats described in subsection 7a7 will be used and implement training programs for the agents who use them1 including safe operating procedures and rescue operations4 #ajf4 ,control of ,united ,states ,border ,patrol assets ,the ,united ,states ,border ,patrol shall have complete and exclusive administrative and operational control over all the assets utilized in carrying out its mission1 including aircraft1 watercraft1 vehicles1 detention space1 transportation1 and all of the personnel associated with such assets4 #ajg4 ,motor vehicles ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall establish a fleet of motor vehicles appropriate for use by the ,united ,states ,border ,patrol that will permit a ratio of at least one police-type vehicle per every three ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agents4 ,additionally1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall ensure that there are sufficient numbers and types of other motor vehicles to support the mission of the ,united ,states ,border ,patrol4 ,all vehicles will be chosen on the basis of appropriateness for use by the ,united ,states ,border ,patrol1 and each vehicle shall have a panic button and a global positioning system device that is activated solely in emergency situations for the purpose of tracking the location of an agent in distress4 ,the police-type vehicles shall be replaced at least every three years4 #ajh4 ,portable computers ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall ensure that each police-type motor vehicle in the fleet of the ,united ,states ,border ,patrol is equipped with a portable computer with access to all necessary law enforcement databases and otherwise suited to the unique operational requirements of the ,united ,states ,border ,patrol4 #aji4 ,radio communications ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall augment the existing radio communications system so all law enforcement personnel working in every area where ,united ,states ,border ,patrol operations are conducted have clear and encrypted two-way radio communication capabilities at all times4 ,each portable communications device shall be equipped with a panic button and a global positioning system device that is activated solely in emergency situations for the purpose of tracking the location of the agent in distress4 #aaj4 ,hand-held global positioning system devices ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall ensure that each ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agent is issued a state-of-the-art hand-held global positioning system device for navigational purposes4 #aaa4 ,night vision equipment ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall ensure that sufficient quantities of state-of-the-art night vision equipment are procured and maintained to enable each ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agent working during the hours of darkness to be equipped with a portable night vision device4 #aab4 ,border armor ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall ensure that every ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agent is issued high-quality body armor that is appropriate for the climate and risks faced by the individual officer4 ,each officer shall be allowed to select from among a variety of approved brands and styles4 ,officers shall be strongly encouraged1 but not mandated1 to wear such body armor whenever practicable4 ,all body armor shall be replaced at least every five years4 #aac4 ,weapons ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall ensure that ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agents are equipped with weapons that are reliable and effective to protect themselves1 their fellow officers1 and innocent third parties from the threats posed by armed criminals4 ,in addition1 the ,secretary shall ensure that the policies of the ,department of ,homeland ,security allow all such officers to carry weapons that are suited to the potential threats that they face4 #aad4 ,uniforms ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall ensure that all ,united ,states ,border ,patrol agents are provided with all necessary uniform items1 including outerwear suited to the climate1 footwear1 belts1 holsters1 and personal protective equipment1 at no cost to such agents4 ,such items shall be replaced at no cost to such agents as they become worn1 unserviceable1 or no longer fit properly4 #aae4 ,task force 7a7 ,in general ,there is established a task force to be known as the ,,atf1 ,,dea1 and ,border ,patrol ,task ,force4 ,the task force shall be composed of members appointed by the ,president from among representatives of the ,united ,states ,border ,patrol1 the ,drug ,enforcement ,administration1 and the ,bureau of ,alcohol1 ,tobacco1 ,firearms1 and ,explosives4 ,there shall be an equal number of representatives from each agency4 7b7 ,duties ,the task force shall meet not less than once per month during a two-year period in order to monitor and report to the ,congress and to the ,president on the trade and sale of drugs1 alcohol1 tobacco1 firearms1 and explosives along the borders of the ,united ,states4 ,twice a year during such period1 the task force shall submit a report to the ,committee on the ,judiciary and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,united ,states ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on the ,judiciary and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate4 7c7 ,termination ,the task force shall terminate upon the expiration of the two-year period beginning on the date of the appointment of the last member appointed under this section4 ,,ii ,border ,relief #bja4 ,border relief grant program 7a7 ,in general ,from amounts made available under section #bjb1 the ,attorney ,general may make border security grants to-- 7#a7 sheriffs' offices of counties any part of which is within #be miles of the southern border of the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 police departments serving a city1 town1 or other political subdivision in a county any part of which is within #be miles of the southern border of the ,united ,states 7including tribal police departments serving a community any part of which is within #be miles of such border74 7b7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,grant funds received under subsection 7a7 may be used for the following activities3 7,a7 ,to conduct law enforcement operations to enforce criminal laws1 prevent and punish criminal activity1 and protect the lives1 property1 and security of the people within the jurisdiction of the grant recipient4 7,b7 ,to transfer to appropriate ,federal law enforcement officials aliens unlawfully present in the ,united ,states who are detained or in the custody of the grant recipient4 7,c7 ,to enforce ,state and ,federal laws relating to securing the border and enforce other ,state and ,federal criminal laws4 7#b7 ,payment of costs ,use of funds under paragraph 7#a7 shall include payment for costs of hiring1 equipping1 training1 and otherwise controlling the operations and deployment of law enforcement officials engaged in duties described in paragraph 7#a71 as well as the costs of paying overtime to such officials4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,each eligible law enforcement agency seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the ,attorney ,general an application at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,attorney ,general may require4 7#b7 ,contents ,each application submitted pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought2 and 7,b7 provide such additional assurances as the ,attorney ,general determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section4 #bjb4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,attorney ,general to carry out this title #aej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjac and each succeeding fiscal year4 #bjc4 ,enforcement of ,federal immigration law ,nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize ,state or local law enforcement agencies or their officers to exercise ,federal immigration law enforcement authority4 #bjd4 ,regulations ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this title1 the ,attorney ,general shall issue regulations to carry out this title4