Border Infrastructure Grants: Who Decides Which Communities Get Federal Funding?
H.R. 6791 — To authorize the Land Port of Entry Community Infrastructure Program to address deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of land ports of entry, and for other purposes. · Filed by Tony Gonzales (R-TX) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Dec 17, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill creates a federal grant program allowing the Department of Homeland Security to fund infrastructure projects near U.S. land borders—roads, water systems, utilities, and other facilities within 25 miles of ports of entry. States, local governments, and utility companies can apply for grants to address infrastructure damaged or strained by border traffic, with the federal government covering up to 70% of costs in rural areas or for security-related projects, and 30% in other cases.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is straightforward: it authorizes federal grants for infrastructure projects near land ports of entry. The mechanism is transparent, though the eligibility criteria and selection process are left largely to agency discretion.
What the text implies
- The bill grants DHS broad discretion to define 'disproportionately impacted' and select projects, with minimal statutory guardrails. This could enable political allocation of funds to favored districts or states.
- The 30% local match requirement may effectively exclude the poorest rural border communities most in need, unless DHS waives it—creating a two-tier system based on agency discretion rather than need.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
construction and engineering firms; utility companies; state and local governments