S. 3681: Keep Our Border Agents Paid Act

This bill, titled the Keep Our Border Agents Paid Act, aims to ensure that certain employees and contractors of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continue to receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown. Here are the main points:

Purpose of the Bill

The primary intention of the bill is to provide ongoing financial support to specific personnel involved in border security and immigration enforcement, even when government funding lapses.

Coverage of Employees and Contractors

The bill outlines several key categories of personnel who would benefit:

• Air and Marine Operations: Employees involved in operations that manage aerial and maritime border surveillance and enforcement activities.
• Office of Field Operations: Personnel working at ports of entry, overseeing the inspection of goods and people entering the country.
• U.S. Border Patrol: Agents responsible for monitoring and patrolling the borders to prevent illegal immigration and trafficking.
• Homeland Security Investigations: Special agents focusing on investigating violations of immigration laws and other related criminal activities.
• Enforcement and Removal Operations: Employees managing the detention and deportation of individuals without legal status in the U.S.

Financial Support During Lapses

In the event of a government shutdown, the bill proposes that:

• Funds shall be appropriated to continue paying excepted employees and covered contractors.
• Benefits related to employment—such as compensation for disability or death, as outlined in federal law—will remain available to affected personnel.

Definitions of Covered Personnel

The bill includes clear definitions for:

• Covered Component: Specific divisions within CBP and ICE that are identified for continuing appropriations.
• Covered Contractor: Individuals working under contract for the covered components who are deemed necessary for operations during a funding lapse.
• Excepted Employee: Defined under existing law to refer to employees who are needed to carry out essential functions during a government shutdown.

Termination of Appropriations

The appropriations provided by this bill would last until either:

• A new law is enacted that provides funding for employees and contractors mentioned.
• A regular appropriations Act is passed to fund government operations generally, which includes provisions for the same purposes.

Expenditure Management

Any funds utilized under the provisions of this bill will be charged to the relevant appropriations or authorizations once a new appropriation Act is enacted.

Apportionment of Funds

The bill allows the funds appropriated for the purposes defined to be used without strict adherence to submission deadlines for approving these funds, thus making it easier to manage the expenditure during urgent periods.

Relevant Companies

None found.