CONGRESSWOMAN ELISE STEFANIK
CHAIRWOMAN
On Wednesday, October 28, 2015, the House will consider H.R. 455, the Northern Border Security Review Act, as amended, under suspension of the rules. H.R. 455 was introduced on January 21, 2015 by Rep. John Katko (R-NY) and was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, which ordered the bill reported, by voice vote, on June 25, 2015.
H.R. 455 requires the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit to Congress, within six months of enactment, a northern border threat analysis. The threat analysis must include:
The bill requires the Secretary, to the extent possible, to submit the required threat analysis in unclassified form, but allows the submission of a portion in classified form if the Secretary determines appropriate.
The DHS “has never before conducted a threat analysis for the Northern border, which would help inform future homeland security resourcing needs.”[1] Since the Northern border of the U.S. spans approximately 4,000 miles, “it would be cost prohibitive to allocate enforcement resources using a brute force model of additional agents, technology, and infrastructure in an ad hoc fashion.”[2] H.R. 455 requires an analysis of the security gaps and most pressing needs to inform the location and type of solutions required to secure the Northern border so resources can be allocated more efficiently and cost-effectively.
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[1] See House Report 114-232 at 2.
[2] Id.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing H.R. 455 would cost about $1 million in 2016, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Because enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
For questions or further information please contact Jerry White with the House Republican Policy Committee by email or at 5-0190.