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To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, under certain circumstances and subject to certain…

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To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, to assist the Department of Homeland Security in the performance of border protection functions.

Introduced: January 8, 2003 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 13, 2003
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
Jan 20, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Jan 8, 2003
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Select 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.
Jan 8, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense, upon request of the Secretary of Homeland Security, to assign members of the armed forces to assist: (1) the Bureau of Border Security of the Department of Homeland Security in preventing the entry of terrorists, drug traffickers, and illegal aliens into the United States; and (2) the U.S. Customs Service in the inspection of cargo, vehicles, and aircraft at U.S. points of entry to prevent the entry of weapons of mass destruction and their components, prohibited narcotics or drugs, or other terrorist or drug trafficking items. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to certify that such request is necessary to respond to a threat to national security.

Requires the Secretaries to establish a training program that must be completed by military personnel serving in such capacity. Requires any member so serving to be accompanied by a civilian law enforcement officer from the agency concerned.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish ongoing joint task forces to respond to threats to national security posed by the entry of terrorists, drug traffickers, or illegal aliens.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify the governor and local governments of the State involved of the deployment of such members and the types of tasks to be performed.

Prohibits any such assignment after September 30, 2005.

What's happening now February 13, 2003

Executive Comment Requested from DOD.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Sep 4, 2003
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · May 22, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 277: To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, to assist the Department of Homeland Security in the performance of border protection functions.. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-277/
MLA
"H.R. 277: To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, to assist the Department of Homeland Security in the performance of border protection functions.." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-277/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 277, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-277/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 277: To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, to assist the Department of Homeland Security in the performance of border protection functions.](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-277/)
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