Ciscomani Leads Effort to Strengthen Safety of Federal Lands along the Border and Address Environmental Concerns
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March 5, 2025
'Deliver on our promise to enhance Border Patrol’s ability to do their job, clean up hazardous trash piles harming our environment, empower states to secure their border, and safeguard taxpayer dollars.'
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani reintroduced legislation to strengthen public safety on federal lands, empower Customs and Border Protection agents and officers to more effectively carry out their mission, and address hazardous trash piles along the southern border.
The Federal Lands Amplified Security for the Homeland (FLASH) Act (H.R. 1820) would strengthen border security by providing for the construction of navigable roads along the border, allow states to place temporary barriers on federal lands, and direct federal managers to develop a strategy to address hazardous trash piles which harm the environment.
“Under the previous administration, the crisis at the southern border made our communities less safe and degraded the environment of our federal lands,” said Ciscomani. “Republicans are committed to continue working to reverse course and deliver on our promise to the American people to secure the border and protect our communities. My bill will enhance Border Patrol’s ability to do their job, clean up hazardous trash piles harming our environment, empower states to secure their border, and safeguard taxpayer dollars.
Ciscomani is joined in reintroducing the legislation by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) and Reps. Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), David Rouzer (NC-07), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) in this effort.
“In the last four years, America’s southern border suffered a sustained security, environmental and humanitarian disaster, " said Chairman Westerman. “We’ve seen our federal lands pay the price of illegal immigration as trash piled up and wildlife habitats deteriorated. Mr. Ciscomani’s bill addresses this problem head-on, providing critical resources to Border Patrol agents and our public lands while fulfilling President Trump’s promise to secure our border against violent, destructive threats.”
A congressional field hearing on this issue was held last year in Ciscomani’s border district. News coverage of the hearing can be found here and a guest opinion on the topic by Ciscomani can be found here.
Bill text can be found here.
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Issues:
Border Security