,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cibj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #be1 #bjbf,mr4 ,scott of ,florida introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to strengthen homeland security by expanding ,urban ,areas ,security ,initiative grant eligibility criteria to promote cooperation with ,u4,s4 ,immigration and ,customs ,enforcement and to advance election security protections4 #a4 ,short titles ,this ,act may be cited as the ,unifying ,american ,security ,interests ,act or the ,,uasi ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,urban ,areas ,security ,initiative provides critical funding to high-risk urban areas to enhance preparedness against terrorism and other threats under the ,homeland ,security ,grant ,program4 7#b7 ,effective border security and immigration enforcement are integral to national homeland security1 requiring collaboration between ,federal1 ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 and territorial entities4 7#c7 ,the fiscal year #bjbe ,homeland ,security ,grant ,program ,notice of ,funding ,opportunity established ,national ,priority ,areas to address emerging threats1 including support for border crisis response through cooperation with ,u4,s4 ,immigration and ,customs ,enforcement4 7#d7 ,codifying the requirements referred to in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c7 will ensure consistent application and prevent future circumvention through administrative or judicial actions4 #c4 ,eligibility for ,urban ,areas ,security ,initiative grants ,section #bjjh of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #fji7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7h7 ,eligibility for ,urban ,areas ,security ,initiative grants 7#a7 ,national priority areas requirement ,as a condition of eligibility for a grant under the ,urban ,areas ,security ,initiative1 each applicant 7including ,state administrative agencies and eligible urban areas7 shall demonstrate in its application that it will allocate not less than #cj percent of the total award amount across the following ,national ,priority ,areas3 7,a7 ,enhancing cybersecurity4 7,b7 ,enhancing the protection of soft targets and crowded places4 7,c7 ,supporting ,homeland ,security ,task ,forces and ,fusion ,centers4 7,d7 ,enhancing election security4 7,e7 ,supporting border crisis response and enforcement4 7#b7 ,minimum allocations ,of the amount required to be allocated under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 not less than #c percent of the total award shall be dedicated to activities in support of enhancing election security2 and 7,b7 not less than #aj percent of the total award shall be dedicated to activities that supporting border crisis response and enforcement1 which shall include-- 7i7 participating in the program authorized under section #bhg7;g7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aceg7;g771 including training and authorizing local officers to perform immigration enforcement functions such as identifying and processing removable noncitizens in their custody2 7ii7 cooperating with detainers received from ,u4,s4 ,immigration and ,customs ,enforcement and other jurisdictional responsibilities related to immigration enforcement2 7iii7 training for law enforcement personnel in immigration law1 civil rights protections1 and procedures under the program referred to in clause 7i72 7iv7 developing information-sharing platforms or secure networks between local agencies and ,u4,s4 ,immigration and ,customs ,enforcement2 7v7 procuring technology for screening1 detection1 and communications to support immigration enforcement2 7vi7 participating in joint training exercises with ,u4,s4 ,immigration and ,customs ,enforcement to improve coordination2 and 7vii7 staffing and operational overtime directly tied to activities described in clause 7i71 such as expanding screening in correctional facilities4 7#c7 ,investment justification and coordination ,each applicant for a grant under the ,urban ,areas ,security ,initiative shall submit to the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security a dedicated investment justification for projects that supporting border crisis response and enforcement that details alignment with border security goals4 ,all such projects shall require coordination with ,u4,s4 ,immigration and ,customs ,enforcement field offices4 7#d7 ,compliance certifications ,each applicant for a grant under the ,urban ,areas ,security ,initiative shall certify to the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security that funded activities will comply with all applicable ,department of ,homeland ,security terms1 including prohibitions on benefitting or incentivizing illegal immigration4 7#e7 ,noncompliance penalties ,failure of a grantee to meet the minimum allocations required under this subsection may result in the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security-- 7,a7 denying eligibility for a grant under the ,urban ,areas ,security ,initiative2 7,b7 placing a hold on up to #cj percent of the award until such failure is remedied2 or 7,c7 imposing another remedy1 including award termination or debarment of the grantee from future grants4 7#f7 ,applicability ,the requirements under this subsection shall apply to all ,urban ,areas ,security ,initiative grants awarded for fiscal year #bjbg or for any fiscal year thereafter4 4 #d4 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this ,act may be construed to preempt ,state or local laws1 except to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with the conditions for ,federal grant funding established under section #bjjh7;h7 of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #fji7;h771 as added by section #c4