Border communities get federal infrastructure funding—with a CBP employee perk.

What it does

This bill creates a federal grant program allowing the Department of Homeland Security to fund infrastructure projects in communities near U.S. land borders—roads, water systems, utilities, and facilities that support ports of entry or are affected by their presence. States, tribes, local governments, and non-profit utilities can apply; rural areas and projects deemed important for border security can receive grants with reduced or waived local matching funds. The program reimburses past spending (back to November 2021) and supplements existing federal infrastructure programs.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core mechanism is a federal grant program for local infrastructure near land ports of entry. It is straightforward infrastructure authorization with no hidden riders or deceptive framing.

What the text implies

• The program's eligibility criteria include projects to 'enhance U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel family quality of life,' which may fund housing, schools, or community amenities primarily benefiting federal employees and their families rather than the broader public.
• DHS discretion to designate infrastructure as 'disproportionately impacted' by a port of entry is broad and standardized only by future guidance, creating potential for inconsistent application across border regions.
• Retroactive reimbursement authority (back to November 2021) may incentivize states to front-load spending claims, and the 70% reimbursement cap leaves 30% as a permanent local cost even for projects deemed homeland-security critical.
• The program supplements existing federal infrastructure funding but does not specify how it coordinates with or displaces other grant programs, risking duplication or fragmentation of border-region infrastructure investment.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Communities near land ports of entry gain access to federal funding for infrastructure improvements (roads, water, utilities, emergency preparedness) that address congestion, pollution, and other direct impacts of border operations. The program includes flexibility for rural and economically disadvantaged areas, reducing local matching burdens. Citizens in affected border communities are the primary beneficiaries.

Who stands to gain

• State and local governments near land ports of entry
• Tribal governments
• Not-for-profit, member-owned utility services
• Construction and engineering firms (indirect, as project contractors)

Named in the bill

Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, State governments, Tribal governments, Local governments

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Dec 17, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Dec 17, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce and House Committee on Homeland Security · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and…”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.