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H.R. 3548: Border Security for America Act of 2017

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H.R. 3548: Border Security for America Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-07-28 · Immigration · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 471.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-07-28 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 471. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Border Security for America Act of 2017

Plain summary

Border Security for America Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) achieve situational awareness and operational control of the southern border and develop infrastructure and technology to deter illegal border activity in high traffic areas, (2) deploy additional capabilities to specified border sectors, (3) submit a plan for using independent verification resources for border security technology, (4) establish a National Border Security Advisory Committee, (5) implement the Border Security Deployment Program, (6) establish a biometric exit data system, (7) submit a southern border threat analysis, and (8) begin eradicating the carrizo cane plant and any salt cedar along the Rio Grande River. The bill provides for: (1) U.S. Border Patrol personnel increases and infrastructure improvements, (2) National Guard and Department of Defense border assistance, (3) Tunnel Task Forces to stop border tunnel breaches, and (4) a demonstration to deploy a rapid non-intrusive passenger vehicle inspection system at not fewer than three high-entry land ports along the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill: (1) prohibits federal agency restrictions on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activities on federal land within 100 miles of the southern border; and (2) requires increases in immigration and law enforcement personnel and agricultural specialists, CBP training and continuing education, and electronic passport screening and biometric matching at airports of entry. The Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010 is amended to provide for hiring flexibility. Operation Stonegarden is established as a DHS program to provide border security grants. This bill authorizes DHS to construct new ports of entry along the northern and southern borders.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House amended, Part I), 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

Border Security for America Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House amended, Part I)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · 77 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3548, Border Security for America Act of 2017 (2018-05-10)

Cosponsors on this site

Pete Sessions (R-TX), John R. Carter (R-TX), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Ron Estes (R-KS), Jodey C. Arrington (R-TX), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Roger Williams (R-TX), Brian Babin (R-TX), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (R-TN), Robert J. Wittman (R-VA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and 17 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] reported raising $276,976 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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 (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr3548 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115