HR 1277
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1277
To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants for
public-private partnerships that finance equipment and infrastructure to improve
the public safety of persons who are residents of rural areas of the United
States near the border with Mexico by enhancing access to mobile communications,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 31, 2011
Mr. POE of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants for
public-private partnerships that finance equipment and infrastructure to improve
the public safety of persons who are residents of rural areas of the United
States near the border with Mexico by enhancing access to mobile communications,
and for other purposes.
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 `Southern Borderlands Public Safety Communications
Act'.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to improve the public safety of persons living
in rural areas of the United States near the border with Mexico by enhancing
mobile communications capabilities.
SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General- The Secretary of Homeland Security may make competitive grants
for public-private partnerships that finance equipment and infrastructure
to improve the public safety of persons who are residents of rural areas of
the United States near the border with Mexico, by enhancing access to mobile
communications for such persons who do not currently have access to reliable
mobile communications networks.
(b) Focus Areas- In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall
focus on projects that improve mobile communications in areas impacted by
the illegal smuggling and trafficking of people and drugs from Mexico into
the United States.
(c) Eligible Applicants- Persons eligible for grants under this section include
States, counties, municipalities, organizations representing agricultural
producers and other rural Americans, and telecommunications providers.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations- For grants under this section there is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for the 3-fiscal-year
period following the date of enactment of this Act.
(e) Funding Offset- To offset amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization
of appropriations in subsection (d), the International Forestry Cooperation
Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.) is repealed.
END
