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HR 5381 99th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Aircraft Armed forces reserves Aviation Coast guard Crime and Law Enforcement Crime prevention Criminal investigation Customs administration Defense budgets Department of Transportation Department of the Treasury Drugs and narcotics Economics and Public Finance Federal budgets Foreign Trade and Investments International Affairs Marine transportation Military personnel Narcotic traffic

A bill to require the use of the Armed Forces for interdiction of narcotics at United States borders.

Introduced: August 11, 1986 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 2, 1986
Referred to Subcommittee on Investigations.
Sep 2, 1986
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
Aug 15, 1986
Referred to Subcommittee on Crime.
Aug 11, 1986
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Aug 11, 1986
Referred to House Committee on Armed Services.
Aug 11, 1986
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Requires the President to: (1) deploy armed forces equipment and personnel to halt aircraft and vessels carrying narcotics across U.S. borders; (2) deploy radar aircraft for continuous aerial radar coverage of the southern U.S. border during darkness; (3) deploy both rotor and fixed wing aircraft for pursuit and seizure purposes; and (4) use National Guard and Reserve members and U.S. Customs Service and Coast Guard personnel and equipment for purposes of these activities. Prohibits such military personnel from making arrests aboard any aircraft or vessel, unless they are in hot pursuit. Requires the President to withhold Federal funding from any National Guard unit whose State does not cooperate in this drug interdiction program. Requires all program expenses to be borne by the Department of Defense.

Requires the President to substantially halt border crossings by narcotic-carrying aircraft and vessels within 45 days after enactment of this Act.

Requires the President to: (1) report to the Congress within a specified time; (2) request funds from the Congress for FY 1986 and 1987 for purposes of the program; and (3) submit a request in the budget for the Department of Defense for such funds every year beginning in 1988.

What's happening now September 2, 1986

Referred to Subcommittee on Investigations.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5381: A bill to require the use of the Armed Forces for interdiction of narcotics at United States borders.. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-5381/
MLA
"H.R. 5381: A bill to require the use of the Armed Forces for interdiction of narcotics at United States borders.." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-5381/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5381, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-5381/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5381: A bill to require the use of the Armed Forces for interdiction of narcotics at United States borders.](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-5381/)
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