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H.R. 6061 109th Congress House

Secure Fence Act of 2006

Official title: To establish operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States.

Introduced: September 14, 2006 See on congress.gov
Immigration ArizonaArrestBorder patrolsBoundaries
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 Everywhere this bill has been 34 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 26, 2006
Signed by President.
Oct 26, 2006
Became Public Law No: 109-367.
Oct 23, 2006
Presented to President.
Sep 29, 2006
Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 80 - 19. Record Vote Number: 262.
Sep 29, 2006
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 80 - 19. Record Vote Number: 262.
Sep 29, 2006
Motion by Senator Frist to commit to Senate Committee on the Judiciary withdrawn in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 29, 2006
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10608-10616)
Sep 28, 2006
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10432-10433)
Sep 28, 2006
Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 - 28. Record Vote Number: 260. (consideration: CR S10431-10432; text: CR S10431)
Sep 26, 2006
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10136-10152)
Sep 25, 2006
Motion by Senator Frist to commit to Senate Committee on the Judiciary to report back forthwith the following amendment (SA 5038) made in Senate. (consideration: CR S10098)
Sep 25, 2006
Cloture motion on the bill presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S10097-10098; text: CR S10098)
Sep 25, 2006
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10097-10098)
Sep 21, 2006
Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S9886)
Sep 21, 2006
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Sep 21, 2006
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S9863-9886)
Sep 20, 2006
Cloture on the motion to proceed invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 0. Record Vote Number: 252. (consideration: CR S9745-9746; text: CR S9745)
Sep 20, 2006
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S9739-9746)
Sep 18, 2006
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S9685-9686; text: CR S9685)
Sep 15, 2006
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 615.
Sep 14, 2006
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Sep 14, 2006
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 14, 2006
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 283 - 138, 1 Present (Roll no. 446).
Sep 14, 2006
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 193 - 224 (Roll no. 445).
Sep 14, 2006
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H6595)
Sep 14, 2006
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Thompson (MS) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment which inserts a complete new text.
Sep 14, 2006
Mr. Thompson (MS) moved to recommit with instructions to Homeland Security. (consideration: CR H6593-6595; text: CR H6593-6594)
Sep 14, 2006
GENERAL DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 6061.
Sep 14, 2006
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6061 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted.
Sep 14, 2006
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1002. (consideration: CR H6581-6596; text: CR H6581-6582)
Sep 14, 2006
Rule H. Res. 1002 passed House.
Sep 13, 2006
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1002 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6061 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted.
Sep 13, 2006
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Sep 13, 2006
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Sep 14, 2006 House · vote #446 On Passage Passed 283–138 See who voted →
Sep 14, 2006 House · vote #445 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 193–224 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 60

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to 52 with no recorded outcome 7 withdrawn or other

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 5,040 – To amend the effective date Fell Sep 29, 2006
SAMDT 5,039 – To establish the effective date. Fell Sep 29, 2006
SAMDT 5,038 – To establish military commissions. Withdrawn Sep 29, 2006
SAMDT 5,037 – To establish the effective date Withdrawn Sep 29, 2006
SAMDT 5,036 – To establish military commissions. Withdrawn Sep 29, 2006
SAMDT 5,032 – To amend the effective date. Withdrawn Sep 25, 2006
SAMDT 5,031 – To establish the effective date. Withdrawn Sep 25, 2006
HAMDT 1,209 – An amendment made in order by the report from the Committee on Rules and considered as adopted pursuant to H.… Agreed to Sep 14, 2006
SAMDT 5,106 – – No recorded outcome –
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SAMDT 5,076 Durbin, Richard J. – No recorded outcome –
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SAMDT 5,043 – – No recorded outcome –

Showing the 50 most recent of 60 amendments.

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 Latest action October 26, 2006

Became Public Law No: 109-367.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on September 14, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Secure Fence Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, within 18 months of enactment of this Act, to take appropriate actions to achieve operational control over U.S. international land and maritime borders, including: (1) systematic border surveillance through more effective use of personnel and technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras; and (2) physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful border entry and facilitate border access by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, such as additional checkpoints, all weather access roads, and vehicle barriers.

Defines "operational control" as the prevention of all unlawful U.S. entries, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband.

Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on border control progress.

Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary to provide at least two layers of reinforced fencing, installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors extending: (1) from ten miles west of the Tecate, California, port of entry to ten miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry; (2) from ten miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to five miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry (requiring installation of an interlocking surveillance camera system by May 30, 2007, and fence completion by May 30, 2008); (3) from five miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to ten miles east of El Paso, Texas; (4) from five miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port of entry to five miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry; and (5) 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry (requiring fence completion from 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to 15 southeast of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry by December 31, 2008).

States that if an area has an elevation grade exceeding 10% the Secretary may use other means to secure such area, including surveillance and barrier tools.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) study and report to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on the necessity, feasibility, and economic impact of constructing a state-of-the-art infrastructure security system along the U.S. northern international land and maritime border; and (2) evaluate and report to such Committees on U.S. Customs and Border Protection authority (and possible expansion of authority) to stop fleeing vehicles that enter the United States illegally, including related training, technology, and equipment reviews.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6061: Secure Fence Act of 2006. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-6061/
MLA
"H.R. 6061: Secure Fence Act of 2006." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-6061/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6061, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-6061/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6061: Secure Fence Act of 2006](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-6061/)
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