Sponsors (2)
The bill directs targeted, flexible federal grants to upgrade infrastructure and resilience around land ports of entry—boosting trade, public safety, and local quality of life—while concentrating benefits near ports, tying awards to federal security priorities, requiring local cost‑sharing, and creating fiscal and planning uncertainties that may sideline other local needs.
State, Tribal, and local governments and border communities can access federal grants to build and upgrade transportation, water/wastewater, utility, and port-related infrastructure that directly supports land ports of entry.
Businesses, commercial drivers, and cross-border travelers can experience reduced congestion and improved trade efficiency from funded improvements at land ports of entry.
Recipients can be reimbursed for eligible work performed on/after Nov 15, 2021 for up to 70% of project costs, lowering upfront fiscal barriers for communities undertaking eligible projects.
Local and state governments and taxpayers may face higher local costs because most projects require at least 30% non‑Federal matching funds, increasing fiscal pressure on communities.
The program and award criteria are likely to be skewed toward federal border‑security priorities (e.g., CBP modernization, seizure‑based prioritization, homeland‑security waivers), which can sideline locally driven projects, environmental remediation, and other community needs.
Authorizing 'such sums as may be necessary' creates potential unspecified, open‑ended federal spending that could increase taxpayer costs and complicate federal budget predictability.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DHS grant/reimbursement program to fund community infrastructure projects that support or are impacted by land ports of entry, with eligibility rules and cost‑share requirements.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Tony Gonzales · Last progress December 17, 2025
Authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to create a grant and reimbursement program to help state, tribal, and local governments and not-for-profit, member-owned utilities pay for community infrastructure projects that support or are impacted by land ports of entry. The program defines eligible community infrastructure (transportation, utilities, resilience, quality-of-life and local impact projects), requires the Secretary to set criteria and guidance, allows interagency consultation, and establishes a default 30% non‑Federal match with waivers or reductions for rural areas and high-priority homeland security projects. Grants and reimbursements may cover up to 70% of eligible project costs (for work done on or after Nov 15, 2021) unless a reduced match applies. Funding is subject to future appropriations and remains available until expended when provided.