Economic Opportunity for Border Communities Act

This bill tells the Commerce Department to create a national plan to grow jobs and businesses in towns near U.S. land border crossings. The plan should focus on key industries like logistics, international trade, manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture. It aims to make U.S. manufacturing stronger, lower the costs of imports and exports, and expand job training, including vocational programs for these fields.

The plan must look at possible incentives, including tax incentives, and suggest any law or rule changes needed. It also requires working with Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture on rural housing, infrastructure, and economic development, and with Transportation on highways and railways that support border-area economies. A report to Congress is due within one year after the bill becomes law. A “border community” is defined as a city or town within 15 miles of a land port of entry.

• Who is affected: Towns within 15 miles of a land border crossing; local workers and businesses in logistics, trade, manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture.
• What changes: A national strategy to boost jobs and training, review incentives (including tax incentives), and coordinate on housing and transportation needs that support local growth.
• When: The Commerce Department must submit a report on the strategy within one year of the bill becoming law.