Congressional Legislation · bill 119hr495 · built from our database

Both sides have signed this (Bill Ranking)

Subterranean Border Defense Act

H.R. 495 · 119th Congress (2025-2026)

H.R. 495119TH CONGRESSINTRODUCED 01/16/2025REP. CRANER-AZ · SPONSORLeft: no (Sponsor Ranking)Lean left: no (Sponsor Ranking)Center: no (Sponsor Ranking)Lean right: no (Sponsor Ranking)Right: DW-NOMINATE +0.75 (Sponsor Ranking)RIGHT(SPONSOR RANKING)IMMIGRATION

9 members · Left 1 · Center 1 · Right 7 (Bill Ranking)

SponsorRep. Crane, Elijah (R-AZ) (Introduced 01/16/2025)
Sponsor Voting RecordRight · DW-NOMINATE +0.75 · measured from every roll-call vote this member has cast (voteview.com) (Sponsor Ranking)
Support
LLLCLRR

support across the spectrum: 9 members signed on (Bill Ranking) this bill: sponsor + current cosponsors, each once

CommitteesSenate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; House - Homeland Security Committee
Latest Action03/11/2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Roll Call Votes1
Sourceview on congress.gov →
IntroducedPassed HousePassed SenateResolving DifferencesTo PresidentBecame Law

Summary (1)

Introduced in House (01/16/2025)

Subterranean Border Defense Act

This bill requires recurring annual reporting by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the implementation of a strategic plan to counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations. Currently, CBP is only required to report once no later than one year after the plan's development. 

Text (3)

Engrossed in House (EH)

119 HR 495 EH: Subterranean Border Defense Act U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS1st Session H. R. 495

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require annual reports on counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Subterranean Border Defense Act.

2.Annual reports on counter illicit cross-border tunnel operationsParagraph (2) of section 7134(a) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 6 U.S.C. 257 note) is amended by inserting and annually thereafter after development of the strategic plan. Passed the House of Representatives March 10, 2025.Kevin F. McCumber,Clerk.

Introduced in House (IH)

117 HR 495 IH: Subterranean Border Defense Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-01-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 495IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 16, 2025Mr. Crane (for himself, Mr. Correa, Mr. Biggs of Arizona, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Luttrell, and Mr. Ogles) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland SecurityA BILLTo require annual reports on counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Subterranean Border Defense Act.

2.Annual reports on counter illicit cross-border tunnel operationsParagraph (2) of section 7134(a) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 6 U.S.C. 257 note) is amended by inserting and annually thereafter after development of the strategic plan.

Referred in Senate (RFS)

117 HR 495 : Subterranean Border Defense Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-03-11 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IIB119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 495IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 11 (legislative day, March 10), 2025Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsAN ACTTo require annual reports on counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Subterranean Border Defense Act.

2.Annual reports on counter illicit cross-border tunnel operationsParagraph (2) of section 7134(a) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 6 U.S.C. 257 note) is amended by inserting and annually thereafter after development of the strategic plan.Passed the House of Representatives March 10, 2025.Kevin F. McCumber,Clerk.

The bill's own words, from our database (synced from the GPO BILLS XML); paragraph breaks added at the bill's section boundaries, nothing else changed.

All Actions (13)

DateChamberAll Actions
01/16/2025Library of CongressIntroduced in House
01/16/2025Library of CongressIntroduced in House
01/16/2025House floor actionsReferred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
01/16/2025House committee actionsReferred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
03/10/2025House floor actionsMr. Green (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
03/10/2025House floor actionsConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1045-1046)
03/10/2025House floor actionsDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 495.
03/10/2025House floor actionsAt the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
03/10/2025House floor actionsConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1057-1058)
03/10/2025Library of CongressPassed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 1 (Roll no. 63). (text: CR H1046)
03/10/2025House floor actionsOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 1 (Roll no. 63). (text: CR H1046)
03/10/2025House floor actionsMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
03/11/2025SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Titles (6)

Title TypeTitle
Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill textTo require annual reports on counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations, and for other purposes.
Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill textSubterranean Border Defense Act
Short Title(s) as Passed HouseSubterranean Border Defense Act
Display TitleSubterranean Border Defense Act
Short Title(s) as IntroducedSubterranean Border Defense Act
Official Title as IntroducedTo require annual reports on counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations, and for other purposes.

Amendments (0)

There are no amendments to this bill.

Cosponsors (8)

* = Original cosponsor

Committees (2)

CommitteeActivity
Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee03/11/2025 Referred To
House - Homeland Security Committee01/16/2025 Referred To

Related Bills (0)

No related bill information was received for H.R. 495.

Subjects (2)

Policy Area: Immigration

All data on this page comes from our own database (legislation.congress_* tables), synced daily from the GPO govinfo BILLSTATUS and BILLS collections. Formatted after congress.gov; nothing is generated. Member placement is their DW-NOMINATE score (voteview.com, Lewis et al.) - a measurement of roll-call voting behavior, not our judgement. Buckets: Left below −0.50 · Lean Left to −0.25 · Center to +0.25 · Lean Right to +0.50 · Right above +0.50. The bill's Support meter aggregates the people who signed the bill - sponsor and current cosponsors, each counted once - nothing else.