Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
Strong Ports, Strong Communities Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Strong Ports, Strong Communities Act" authorizes the Land Port of Entry Community Infrastructure Program. This program allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide grants or supplemental funds to assist State, Tribal, and local governments, as well as not-for-profit, member-owned utility services. The goal is to address deficiencies in community infrastructure that supports or is impacted by land ports of entry. Eligible projects include those focused on transportation, utilities, or modernization. The Secretary will establish specific criteria to prioritize these infrastructure improvements.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill authorizes funding for projects designed to enhance border security through improved illicit drug seizure rates.
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill allows the Secretary to reduce or waive matching requirements specifically for projects in rural areas.
- Scored +5
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
The bill funds projects to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of legitimate trade across international borders.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Trade and Travel: Projects designed to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of legitimate trade and travel across international borders can be funded (Section 3(b)(1)).
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Enhanced Border Security: Funding can be used for projects intended to enhance border security, specifically impacting illicit drug seizure rates (Section 3(b)(2)).
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Increased Port Resilience: The bill allows for projects that bolster the emergency preparedness and resilience of land ports of entry and their supportive infrastructure (Section 3(b)(3)).
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Improved Quality of Life for Personnel: The program can fund projects designed to enhance the family quality of life for U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel (Section 3(b)(4)).
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Mitigation of Local Community Impacts: Projects can address direct impacts on surrounding communities, such as traffic congestion, waste and wastewater infrastructure, pollution, and environmental degradation (Section 3(b)(5)).
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Support for Rural Areas: The Secretary has the authority to reduce or entirely waive matching requirements for projects carried out in rural areas (Section 3(f)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Funding Requirements for Local Governments: Generally, recipients must contribute at least 30 percent of the total project funding from non-Federal sources (Section 3(f)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill authorizes funding for projects designed to enhance border security through improved illicit drug seizure rates. Does this make housing cost less? — The bill allows for consultation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address community infrastructure impacts.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill allows the Secretary to reduce or waive matching requirements specifically for projects in rural areas. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill funds water and utility infrastructure which can benefit local low-income communities.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill funds transportation infrastructure projects to support or mitigate the impact of land ports of entry. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill targets projects to address environmental degradation caused by land ports of entry.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill funds projects to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of legitimate trade across international borders.
- 12/16/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John CornynRepublican · Texas