S3479-118

Introduced

To amend title 40, United States Code, to modify certain requirements for regional commissions, to reauthorize the Southwest Border Regional Commission, and for other purposes.

118th Congress Introduced Dec 12, 2023

Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.

Summary

What This Bill Does

This bill reauthorizes the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC), a federal-state partnership that provides economic development grants to counties along the U.S.-Mexico border. It extends funding through 2033, expands the geographic coverage to include more counties in New Mexico and Texas, and creates new programs for healthcare facilities, water infrastructure, and state capacity building.

Who Benefits and How

Counties along the Southwest border benefit from expanded grant eligibility and new funding programs for infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development. Colonias (impoverished border communities) and Indian tribes receive 100% federal funding with no local matching requirement. Hospitals, universities, and local governments in the border region gain access to demonstration health project grants. States (Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas) receive capacity building grants to support workforce development and economic planning.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal taxpayers bear the cost of increased appropriations ($100M annually through 2028, then $200M annually through 2033, plus $10M annually for capacity building). There are minimal direct burdens on private industry, though Commission States must submit annual work plans and reports to receive grants.

Key Provisions

  • Authorizes $100M/year for FY2024-2028 and $200M/year for FY2029-2033 for each regional commission
  • Creates new demonstration health project grants for hospitals and healthcare facilities in the border region
  • Establishes water and wastewater infrastructure grant program for public water systems
  • Provides 100% federal funding (no matching requirement) for colonias and Indian tribes
  • Expands eligible counties in New Mexico to include Bernalillo, Cibola, Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Lea, Roosevelt, Torrance, and Valencia counties

Evidence Chain:

This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.

At a Glance

What This Bill Does

Reauthorizes and expands the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC) to provide economic development grants, health facility funding, and water infrastructure support to counties along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.

Key Policy Areas

Regional Economic Development, Healthcare, Water Infrastructure, Workforce Development, Housing

Primary Purpose

Reauthorizes and expands the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC) to provide economic development grants, health facility funding, and water infrastructure support to counties along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.

Policy Domains

Regional Economic Development Healthcare Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Housing

Southwest Border Regional Commission Reauthorization

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Border counties in AZ, CA, NM, TX
  • Colonias (impoverished border communities)
  • Indian tribes
  • Rural hospitals and healthcare facilities
  • Public water systems
  • Local governments and development districts
  • Universities in distressed counties
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Federal taxpayers
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Legislative Progress

Introduced
Introduced Committee Passed
Dec 12, 2023

Mr. Heinrich (for himself, Mr. Luján, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Butler, …

Stakeholder Effects

cui bono?

How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.

State & Local Government
11 mentions across 10 clauses
+11 positive

Border counties facing economic emergencies, Border counties in AZ, CA, NM, TX receiving SBRC grants, Colonias (impoverished border communities)

Government
5 mentions across 5 clauses
+5 positive

Indian tribes in Southwest border region, Local development districts in border counties, Southwest Border Regional Commission

General Public
3 mentions across 3 clauses
+3 positive

Border region residents lacking clean water access, Border region residents needing healthcare, Residents of colonias

Construction
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive

Construction industry in Southwest border region, Water and wastewater construction contractors

Educational Services
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive

Universities in distressed border counties, Universities with health programs in border region

Healthcare
2 mentions across 1 clause
+2 positive

Critical access hospitals within 50 miles of U.S.-Mexico border, Hospitals and health centers in Southwest border region

Utilities
2 mentions across 1 clause
+2 positive

Public water systems in Southwest border region, Wastewater treatment facilities in border counties

Social Services
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Nonprofits and community organizations in border region

15/16
sections analyzed
Full impact breakdown

Bill Structure & Actor Mappings

Who is "The Secretary" in each section?

Domains
Regional Economic Development Healthcare Water Infrastructure Workforce Development
Actor Mappings
"the_commission"
→ Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC)
"commission_states"
→ States of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas
"federal_cochairperson"
→ Federal Cochairperson of the SBRC

Key Definitions

Terms defined in this bill

4 terms
"SBRC" §15901

The Southwest Border Regional Commission established by section 15301(a)(2) of title 40, United States Code

"Colonia" §15509(a)

During the first 2 years, means a colonia as defined by the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of HUD, or applicable State agency; after 2 years, the definition developed by the SBRC in consultation with federal agencies

"Commission State" §15902(a)(1)

Each of the States of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas

"Eligible county" §15902(a)(2)

A county described in section 15732 of title 40, United States Code

We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.

Learn more about our methodology