HR4679-119

What This Bill Does

The FASTER Act requires recurring DHS assessment and expedited correction of southern border tactical infrastructure deficiencies. Within 180 days after enactment and every two years after that, the DHS Secretary must survey existing tactical infrastructure along the southern border. Each survey must measure the number of border miles without tactical infrastructure, describe structural deficiencies in existing infrastructure, and describe technology deficiencies. Within 90 days after each survey, DHS must report findings and results to the House Homeland Security Committee and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in unclassified format, with a classified annex if appropriate. If a survey identifies a deficiency, DHS must take necessary actions to correct it in an expedited manner, including exercising section 102(c) authority under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act to waive all legal requirements. A deficiency means tactical infrastructure or technology that is not operational or cannot serve its intended purpose because of damage, deterioration, or unmet maintenance or repair.

Who Benefits and How

Border Patrol operational planners benefit from biennial data on missing miles, structural problems, and technology deficiencies. DHS border infrastructure offices benefit from explicit authority to correct identified deficiencies quickly. Congressional homeland security committees benefit from recurring reports on tactical infrastructure status. Border security contractors benefit if surveys trigger repair, maintenance, or technology work.

Who Bears the Burden and How

DHS Secretary must conduct surveys, submit reports, and take corrective action for identified deficiencies. Environmental review stakeholders may lose procedural leverage when DHS uses IIRIRA section 102(c) waiver authority. Federal land managers along the southern border may face expedited infrastructure work that waives legal requirements. Federal taxpayers bear costs for biennial surveys and repairs to tactical infrastructure or technology.

Key Provisions

• Requires DHS to survey southern border tactical infrastructure within 180 days and biennially thereafter.
• Requires each survey to measure border miles without infrastructure and describe structural and technology deficiencies.
• Requires a report to House and Senate homeland security committees within 90 days after each survey.
• Directs DHS to correct deficiencies in an expedited manner, including through IIRIRA section 102(c) waiver authority.
• Defines deficiencies as nonoperational infrastructure or technology unable to serve its purpose because of damage, deterioration, or unmet maintenance or repair.