H.R. 4872

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4872 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4872

To amend the Wilderness Act to authorize U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection to conduct certain activities to secure the international 
land borders of the United States, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 25, 2023

Mr. Johnson of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. Moylan, and Mr. Lamborn) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 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 amend the Wilderness Act to authorize U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection to conduct certain activities to secure the international 
land borders 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 ``Securing Our Borders and Wilderness 
Act''.

SEC. 2. U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION ACCESS TO WILDERNESS AREAS.

Section 4(d) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
``(8) U.S. customs and border protection access.--
``(A) Permissible activities.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection may conduct the following 
activities within a wilderness area for the purpose of 
securing the international land borders of the United 
States:
``(i) Access structures, installations, and 
roads.
``(ii) Execute search and rescue 
operations.
``(iii) Use motor vehicles, motorboats, and 
motorized equipment.
``(iv) Conduct patrols on foot and on 
horseback.
``(v) Notwithstanding any other law or 
regulation relating specifically to use of 
aircraft in a wilderness area or in the 
airspace above a wilderness area, use aircraft, 
including approach, landing, and takeoff.
``(vi) Deploy tactical infrastructure and 
technology.
``(vii) Construct and maintain roads and 
physical barriers.
``(B) Protection of wilderness character.--Any 
activity conducted by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection under subparagraph (A) shall be 
carried out in a manner that, to the extent possible, 
protects the wilderness character of the area.''.
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