PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 4599: The Southern Border Communities Relief Act of 2019

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 4599: The Southern Border Communities Relief Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-10-01 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-10-01 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Torres Small, Xochitl [D-NM-2] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. 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

The Southern Border Communities Relief Act of 2019

Plain summary

The Southern Border Communities Relief Act of 2019 This bill authorizes assistance to jurisdictions and organizations providing services for aliens released from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody. It also directs DHS to develop a standard protocol related to releasing aliens from custody and issuing notices to such aliens to appear in immigration proceedings. The assistance authorized under this bill shall (1) be for FY2021, FY2022, and FY2023; (2) only be used to provide assistance for aliens released from DHS custody; (3) be distributed by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board; and (4) only be given to jurisdictions that have experienced a significant influx of released aliens or organizations in such jurisdictions. The protocols related to releasing aliens and issuing notices to appear shall include requirements related to (1) coordinating with local governments and organizations on a release date and time, (2) releasing aliens in locations where organizations can provide assistance, and (3) ensuring that notices to appear contain complete and accurate information.

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

The Southern Border Communities Relief Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Torres Small, Xochitl [D-NM-2] · 10 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO)

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.
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-cong116-hr4599 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116