HR 285

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2025

Mr. Joyce of Ohio (for himself, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr. Ciscomani, and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Homeland Security, 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 establish Joint Operations Centers along the southern border of the United States, 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 “Advanced Border Coordination Act of 2025”.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT OPERATIONS CENTERS.

(a) In General.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Department shall establish not fewer than 2 Joint Operations Centers along the southern border of the United States to provide unified coordination centers, where law enforcement from multiple Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies can collaborate in accordance with the purposes described in subsection (b).

(b) Matters Covered.—The Centers shall provide centralized operations hubs for matters related to the following:

(1) Implementing coordination and communication for field operations between participating Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies, as needed.

(2) Coordinating operations across participating Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies, as needed, including ground, air, and sea or amphibious operations.

(3) Coordinating and supporting border operations, including deterring and detecting criminal activity related to—

(A) transnational criminal organizations;

(B) illegal border crossings;

(C) the seizure of weapons;

(D) the seizure of drugs;

(E) the seizure of high valued property;

(F) terrorism;

(G) human trafficking;

(H) drug trafficking; and

(I) such additional matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(c) Information Sharing.—To ensure effective transmission of information between participating Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies, for purposes of subsection (b), coordination and communication shall include—

(1) Federal agencies sharing pertinent information with participating State, local, and Tribal agencies through the Centers; and

(2) Federal agencies notifying participating State, local, and Tribal agencies of operations occurring within the jurisdictions of those agencies.

(d) Workforce Capabilities.—The Centers shall—

(1) track and coordinate deployment of participating personnel; and

(2) coordinate training, as needed.

(e) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall consult with participating Federal agencies, and shall seek feedback from participating State, local, and Tribal agencies, to report to Congress—

(1) a description of the efforts undertaken to establish the Centers;

(2) an identification of the resources used for the operations of the Centers;

(3) a description of the key operations coordinated and supported by each Center;

(4) a description of any significant interoperability and communication gaps identified between participating Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies within each Center;

(5) recommendations for improved coordination and communication between participating Federal agencies in developing and operating current and future Centers; and

(6) other data as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(f) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Centers.—The term “Centers” means the Joint Operations Centers established under section 3(a).

(2) Department.—The term “Department” means the Department of Homeland Security.

(3) Participating federal agency.—The term “participating Federal agency” means—

(A) the Department;

(B) the Department of Defense;

(C) the Department of Justice; and

(D) any other Federal agency as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(4) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(5) State.—The term “State” means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of the United States. <all>