HR 4987
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4987
To require construction of fencing and security improvements
in the border area from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 16, 2008
Mr. JONES of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. KING of New York) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
A BILL
To require construction of fencing and security improvements
in the border area from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Fence By Date Certain Act'.
SEC. 2. CONSTRUCTION OF FENCING AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS IN BORDER
AREA FROM PACIFIC OCEAN TO GULF OF MEXICO.
(a) In General- Section 102(b)(1) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208; 8 U.S.C. 1103
note) is amended to read as follows:
`(A) REINFORCED FENCING- In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary
of Homeland Security shall ensure construction of at least 2 layers
of reinforced fencing, and the installation of additional physical
barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors--
`(i) extending from 10 miles west of the Tecate, California, port
of entry to 10 miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry;
`(ii) extending from 10 miles west of the Calexico, California,
port of entry to 5 miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry;
`(iii) extending from 5 miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico,
port of entry to 10 miles east of El Paso, Texas;
`(iv) extending from 5 miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port
of entry to 5 miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of
entry; and
`(v) extending 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of
entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry.
`(B) PRIORITY AREAS- With respect to the border described--
`(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary shall ensure that fence
construction is completed by May 30, 2008; and
`(ii) in subparagraph (A)(v), the Secretary shall ensure that fence
construction from 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port
of entry to 15 southeast of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry is
completed by December 31, 2008.
`(C) ADDITIONAL AREAS- With respect to the duties described in subparagraph
(A) that are not otherwise assigned a deadline under subparagraph
(B), the Secretary shall ensure that such duties are completed by
June 30, 2009.
`(D) EXCEPTION- If the topography of a specific area has an elevation
grade that exceeds 10 percent, the Secretary may use other means to
secure such area, including the use of surveillance and barrier tools.'.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary to carry out the amendment made by subsection
(a).
(c) Repeals- Subsection (b) of section 564 of division E of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-161) is repealed. The amendment
made by subsection (a)(2)(A) of such section is repealed.
END
