H.R. 4209 would require the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategic plan for identifying and remediating cross-border tunnels into the United States within six months of the bill’s enactment. The plan would include ways of using technology and sharing information to identify and block tunnels as well as an assessment of staffing needs. The bill would require CBP to report to the Congress on implementation of the plan after one year.
H.R. 4209 would authorize the appropriation of $1 million for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023 for CBP to develop the strategic plan and carry out tunnel remediation operations. Using historical patterns of spending for similar programs and assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates CBP would spend $2 million over the 2022-2026 period to implement the bill.
