H.R. 915Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act

2 recorded actions81 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Henry Cuellar [D-TX-28]
Cosponsors: 3 · 2 Republicans · 1 Democrat
Policy area: Immigration
Committees: Homeland Security Committee, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Latest action: Dec 7, 2012 · Became Public Law No: 112-205.

IntroducedMar 3, 2011
Passed the HouseMay 30, 2012
Passed the SenateSep 22, 2012
Sent to the PresidentNov 30, 2012
Became lawDec 7, 2012

What the measure doesCRS summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on September 22, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), which shall establish units to enhance border security by addressing and reducing border security threats and violence by: (1) facilitating collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies to execute coordinated activities in furtherance of border security and homeland security; and (2) enhancing information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information among such agencies.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish BEST units in jurisdictions in which such units can contribute to BEST missions, after considering: (1) whether the area in which the unit would be established is significantly impacted by cross-border threats; (2) the availability of federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement resources to participate in the unit; (3) the extent to which border security threats are having a significant harmful impact in the area and in other U.S. jurisdictions; and (4) whether an Integrated Border Enforcement Team already exists in the area. Directs the Secretary, in determining whether to establish or expand a BEST unit in a given jurisdiction, to ensure that the unit under consideration does not duplicate the efforts of other existing interagency task forces or centers within that jurisdiction.

Authorizes the Secretary, after determining the jurisdictions in which to establish BEST units and in order to provide federal assistance to such jurisdictions, to: (1) direct the assignment of federal personnel to BEST; and (2) take other actions to assist federal, state, local, and tribal entities to participate in BEST, including providing financial assistance for operational, administrative, and technological costs associated with such participation.

Directs the Secretary to report annually on the effectiveness of the program in enhancing border security and reducing the drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across U.S. borders.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 915 as public Law on Dec 7, 2012. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

Roll calls on H.R. 9152 roll calls on this measure

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May 30, 2012Each bar: ✓ Yea from the bottom, ✕ Nay aboveNov 27, 2012

How every member votedHouse roll call 296

House May 30, 2012 · the primary vote

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Jamie Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act

Passed · Two-thirds required

391 Yea 2 Nay 38 not voting

Crossed both parties 2 of 393 voting members broke with their own party: 2 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members431 members

Democratic190 members

Republican241 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors3 · 2 Republicans · 1 Democrat

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 915 and vote against it. 1 signed when it was filed.

RMichael T. McCaul [R-TX-10]Original

RBlake Farenthold [R-TX-27]Joined Mar 8, 2011

DHansen Clarke [D-MI-13]Joined Jun 3, 2011

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 91511 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 915 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

CITY OF SAN ANTONIOfiled by MR. BALTAZAR SERNA, JR., SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS

Transportation · Aviation/Airlines/Airports · Budget/Appropriations12 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2012Filing

NETJETS INC.Its PAC: Netjets Inc. PAC

Transportation7 filings · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2012Filing

MAVERICK AIRSTAR, LLCfiled by CROWELL & MORING LLP

Aviation/Airlines/Airports · Travel/Tourism6 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2012Filing

GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPIts PAC: General Dynamics Corp. PAC

Energy/Nuclear · Aerospace · Defense · Transportation +5 more4 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2011Filing

CITY OF AKUTANfiled by BLANK ROME GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries · Aviation/Airlines/Airports3 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2011Filing

FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM

Immigration3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2012Filing

AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAfiled by THE RUSSELL GROUP, INC.

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Aviation/Airlines/Airports · Energy/Nuclear1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2011Filing

CITY OF TUCSONfiled by BRACY TUCKER BROWN & VALANZANO, INC.

Urban Development/Municipalities · Health Issues · Budget/Appropriations · Aviation/Airlines/Airports +2 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2011Filing

FEDEX CORPORATION (THROUGH O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP)filed by PRIME POLICY GROUP

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2011Filing

MARTIN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERSfiled by CLARK & WEINSTOCK

Roads/Highway · Environment/Superfund · Natural Resources1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2011Filing

40 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.