H.R. 3534: BE REAL Act of 2003

108th Congress · introduced 2003-11-19 · Immigration · Latest: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4754-4758)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2003-11-19 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Tancredo, Thomas G. [R-CO-6] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4754-4758) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

BE REAL Act of 2003

Plain summary

Border Enforcement and Revolving Employment to Assist Laborers Act of 2003 or the BE REAL Act of 2003 - Amends the Posse Comitatus Act to authorize the use of the U.S. military for border enforcement. Suspends the visa waiver program until such time as the Secretary of Homeland Security certifies full implementation of an automated entry-exit system and the use of biometric machine readers and passports. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to establish criminal penalties for unlawful presence. Enhances civil and criminal penalties for document fraud and false statements of citizenship. Amends Federal law concerning passports to require fingerprinting and background checks of applicants for U.S. passports. Establishes a visa term compliance bond. Requires the development and use of more secure Social Security cards and birth certificates. Amends the INA to permit employers who seek work eligibility verification for new hires within three days after the date of hire to claim an affirmative defense to employer sanctions. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to create an electronic employment verification system. Exempts from liability those who rely on the verification system in good faith. Establishes a new guest worker program that replaces the current H nonimmigrant visa category with a single H visa covering all aliens coming to the United States temporarily to perform skilled or unskilled work, where U.S. workers are not available. Requires that the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency make specified certifications to Congress as a prerequisite to implementation of the program.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

BE REAL Act of 2003

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Tancredo, Thomas G. [R-CO-6] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bond: A way to borrow money. A government sells bonds to raise money now and promises to pay it back with interest over time. Bonds repaid from taxes often need voter approval.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108hr3534.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/hr>

Record fed-us-cong108-hr3534 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108