HR 76 · 119th CongressIn Committee

Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act

Latest updateJan 3, 2025

Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

Immigration

Sponsor

Andy Biggs

Introduced

January 3, 2025

Latest action

January 3, 2025

Legislative Progress

How far this bill has traveled through Congress

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

Plain-Language Summary

AI Generated

Currently, federal law authorizes border barrier construction but lacks a dedicated funding mechanism. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires the Department of Homeland Security to construct physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, but appropriations depend on annual congressional action. Additionally, existing law limits how remittance transfers—money sent abroad by individuals—can be taxed, and the Form I-94 arrival/departure fee remains fixed at $6. These constraints have created uncertainty about sustained funding for border infrastructure and maintenance.

This bill establishes a dedicated "Secure the Southern Border Fund" within the Treasury and directs multiple revenue streams into it. The Department of Homeland Security gains authority to use these funds for designing, constructing, and maintaining physical barriers and roads along the southern border, plus purchasing vehicles and equipment for Border Patrol agents. The bill requires the Department of State to reduce foreign aid to countries by $2,000 per apprehended illegal border crosser and transfer those savings to the fund. It also imposes a 5 percent fee on remittance transfers sent outside the United States and increases the Form I-94 processing fee from $6 to $25, with portions of both directed to the border fund.

Implementation begins within 60 days of enactment, with the Department of Homeland Security required to complete border barrier construction by December 31, 2025. The Secretary gains broad authority to waive legal requirements to expedite construction. Foreign aid reductions take effect after annual reporting of apprehension data. The remittance fee system must be operational within 90 days. The bill modifies Fair Labor Standards Act requirements for Border Patrol agents, allowing compensation at 150 percent of regular rate for hours 80-100 in a 14-day work period. These changes create a permanent, multi-source funding stream independent of annual appropriations cycles.

Key Provisions

1Establish a dedicated Secure the Southern Border Fund in the Treasury to receive deposits from multiple revenue sources for border barrier construction and maintenance.
2Require the Department of State to reduce foreign assistance to countries by $2,000 per apprehended illegal border crosser and transfer those funds to the border fund.
3Impose a 5 percent fee on remittance transfers sent outside the United States, with collected fees transferred to the border fund within 90 days.
4Increase the Form I-94 processing fee from $6 to $25, allocating $9 per form to the border fund and $10 per form for Border Patrol agent salaries.
5Direct the Department of Homeland Security to design, construct, and install physical barriers, roads, and technology along the U.S.-Mexico border by December 31, 2025, with authority to waive legal requirements to expedite construction.

★ Why this matters

The bill creates a permanent, dedicated funding stream for border infrastructure independent of annual congressional appropriations, potentially accelerating barrier construction timelines. It redirects foreign aid and imposes new fees on international money transfers and border crossing processing, generating revenue without traditional budget appropriations. The Department of Homeland Security gains broad authority to waive legal requirements during construction, potentially streamlining environmental and consultation processes. Border Patrol agents gain new overtime compensation structures, affecting labor costs. The remittance fee may increase costs for individuals and families sending money abroad.

● Who this affects

Individuals and families sending remittances to recipients outside the United States (subject to new 5 percent fee); travelers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border (subject to increased Form I-94 fees); Border Patrol agents (eligible for new overtime compensation); citizens and residents in border communities where construction occurs; foreign governments receiving reduced U.S. foreign assistance; remittance transfer providers (required to collect and remit fees); the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and Department of the Treasury (responsible for implementation and fund management).

Bill Text

View on Congress.gov

Show / hide bill text preview

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 H. R. 76

To establish a separate account in the Treasury to hold deposits to be 
used to secure the southern border of the United States, and for other 
                               purposes.

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 3, 2025

    Mr. Biggs of Arizona (for himself and Ms. Mace) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland 
  Security, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the 
     Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Education and 
    Workforce, and Appropriations, 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 a separate account in the Treasury to hold deposits to be 
used to secure 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 ``Fund and Complete the Border Wall 
Act''.

SEC. 2. BORDER WALL TRUST FUND.

    (a) Establishment of Fund.--At the end of subchapter III of chapter 
33 of title 31, United States Code, insert the following:
``Sec. 3344. Secure the Southern Border Fund
    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
establish an account in the Treasury of the United States, to be known 
as the `Secure the Southern Border Fund', into which funds shall be 
deposited in accordance with the Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act 
and the amendments made by that Act.
    ``(b) Appropriation.--Funds deposited in the Secure the Southern 
Border Fund shall be available until expended. Such funds are 
authorized to be appropriated, and are appropriated, to the Secretary 
of Homeland Security only--
            ``(1) to plan, design, construct, or maintain a barrier 
        along the international border between the United States and 
        Mexico; and
            ``(2) to purchase and maintain necessary vehicles and 
        equipment for U.S. Border Patrol agents.
    ``(c) Limitation.--Not more than 5 percent of the funds deposited 
in the Secure the Southern Border Fund may be used for the purpose 
described in subsection (b)(2).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 33 of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the 
following:

``3344. Secure the Southern Border Fund.''.

SEC. 3. BORDER CROSSING ACCOUNTABILITY AND SECURITY.

    (a) Estimation of Annual Illegal Border Crossings.--Beginning with 
the first fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, not later than 30 days after t…

Auto-Whip

Where House representatives currently stand

Built from official statements, public releases, and voting records where they exist. Members without enough evidence are marked as no position.

448 tracked

Support

443

No Position

Oppose

Support

Members whose public record points toward backing the bill.

No members in this group yet.

Opposition

Members whose public record points toward opposition.

Kristen McDonald Rivet

D-Michigan · District 8

Likely oppose

Rep. McDonald Rivet is a Democrat from Michigan's 8th District and serves in the New Democrat Coalition, focusing on affordability and working families. The public record shows her priorities are tax relief for working families, addressing the Flint water crisis, and expanding SNAP benefits. There is no explicit statement about the border wall bill. However, her Democratic party affiliation and focus on domestic social spending suggest likely opposition to a border wall funding bill, which is typically a Republican priority. The absence of any border security rhetoric on her website, combined with her focus on social programs and typical Democratic positions on immigration, suggests she would likely reject this bill. However, confidence is moderate due to lack of explicit voting record or direct statements on this specific legislation.

Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

Where House representatives currently stand

Support

Opposition

No Position

Party Positions

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Take Action

Active Organizations

Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

Where House representatives currently stand

Support

Opposition

No Position

Party Positions

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Take Action

Active Organizations