House Homeland Security Committee Republicans on Monday introduced a new border security bill that calls for Customs and Border Protection to develop a strategic technology investment plan for the northern and southern borders and would direct the Department of Homeland Security to quickly resume construction of border barriers that the Biden administration halted.
The five-year plan would cover technology needs and gaps at and between the nation’s ports of entry. Congress has mandated border security technology investments plans previously.
The Border Reinforcement Act of 2023 (H. R. 2794), which will be marked up by the committee on Wednesday, also would authorize $33 million in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to upgrade license plate reader technology deployed at ports of entry.
The bill would also require that CBP’s Office of Air and Marine Operations maintain at least 110,000 flight hours for its aircraft annually and fly unmanned aircraft systems 24 hours per day.
The bill is in response to increased numbers of illegal encounters at the southwest border during the first two years of the Biden administration. It also would direct the Department of Homeland Security to use previously appropriated and unexpired funds to resume construction of the border wall along the southwest border.