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Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017

USA115th CongressS-1199| Senate 
| Updated: 10/30/2017
Claire McCaskill

Claire McCaskill

Democratic Senator

Missouri

Cosponsors (2)
Ron Johnson (Republican)Jon Tester (Democratic)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), before establishing a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) unit, to apply risk-based criteria that takes into consideration specified factors, including: whether the area in which the BEST unit would be established is significantly impacted by threats posed by transnational criminal organizations; the extent to which the unit would advance DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and related objectives; and whether departmental Joint Task Force operations would be enhanced, improved, or otherwise assisted by the unit. A BEST unit with a port security nexus must be composed of at least one member of: (1) the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and (2) the geographically responsible Coast Guard Sector Intelligence Office. The bill modifies the DHS annual reporting requirement on the BEST program to require:: a description of the effectiveness of BEST in disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations and reducing child exploitation; an assessment of how BEST enhances information-sharing; a description of how BEST advances DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and effectiveness of BEST in achieving related objectives; an assessment of BEST's joint operational efforts with departmental Joint Task Force operations; an assessment of whether additional authorities are needed to accomplish the BEST mission; an assessment of whether additional Memos of Understanding are needed to address intelligence and coordination gaps; and an assessment of whether funding has an impact on the overall mission of BEST operations to assist in advancing DHS's homeland and border security priorities and related objectives. (Sec. 3) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that providing personnel danger pay to U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who are assigned to dangerous overseas posts will: (1) help modernize ICE's overseas workforce compensation system, and (2) place ICE on equal footing with the law enforcement agencies of the Department of Justice. The Department of State may not deny a request by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or ICE to authorize a danger pay allowance for any employee of such agencies. ICE must submit a report to the congressional foreign affairs and homeland security committees that specifies the overseas posts that have been designated as locations at which ICE agents will receive a danger pay allowance and the justification for each such designation.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline
May 18, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2281
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
May 22, 2017
Introduced in Senate
May 22, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 26, 2017
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Oct 30, 2017
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-179.
Oct 30, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 254.
  • May 18, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2281
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • May 22, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 22, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • July 26, 2017
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.


  • October 30, 2017
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-179.


  • October 30, 2017
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 254.

Emergency Management

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2281: Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017
Border security and unlawful immigrationCoast guardCongressional oversightCrimes against childrenCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDepartment of Homeland SecurityDepartment of JusticeDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHomeland securityIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersNavigation, waterways, harborsOrganized crime

Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017

USA115th CongressS-1199| Senate 
| Updated: 10/30/2017
Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), before establishing a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) unit, to apply risk-based criteria that takes into consideration specified factors, including: whether the area in which the BEST unit would be established is significantly impacted by threats posed by transnational criminal organizations; the extent to which the unit would advance DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and related objectives; and whether departmental Joint Task Force operations would be enhanced, improved, or otherwise assisted by the unit. A BEST unit with a port security nexus must be composed of at least one member of: (1) the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and (2) the geographically responsible Coast Guard Sector Intelligence Office. The bill modifies the DHS annual reporting requirement on the BEST program to require:: a description of the effectiveness of BEST in disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations and reducing child exploitation; an assessment of how BEST enhances information-sharing; a description of how BEST advances DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and effectiveness of BEST in achieving related objectives; an assessment of BEST's joint operational efforts with departmental Joint Task Force operations; an assessment of whether additional authorities are needed to accomplish the BEST mission; an assessment of whether additional Memos of Understanding are needed to address intelligence and coordination gaps; and an assessment of whether funding has an impact on the overall mission of BEST operations to assist in advancing DHS's homeland and border security priorities and related objectives. (Sec. 3) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that providing personnel danger pay to U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who are assigned to dangerous overseas posts will: (1) help modernize ICE's overseas workforce compensation system, and (2) place ICE on equal footing with the law enforcement agencies of the Department of Justice. The Department of State may not deny a request by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or ICE to authorize a danger pay allowance for any employee of such agencies. ICE must submit a report to the congressional foreign affairs and homeland security committees that specifies the overseas posts that have been designated as locations at which ICE agents will receive a danger pay allowance and the justification for each such designation.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 18, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2281
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
May 22, 2017
Introduced in Senate
May 22, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 26, 2017
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Oct 30, 2017
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-179.
Oct 30, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 254.
  • May 18, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2281
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • May 22, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 22, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • July 26, 2017
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.


  • October 30, 2017
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-179.


  • October 30, 2017
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 254.
Claire McCaskill

Claire McCaskill

Democratic Senator

Missouri

Cosponsors (2)
Ron Johnson (Republican)Jon Tester (Democratic)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Emergency Management

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2281: Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Border security and unlawful immigrationCoast guardCongressional oversightCrimes against childrenCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDepartment of Homeland SecurityDepartment of JusticeDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHomeland securityIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersNavigation, waterways, harborsOrganized crime